Russian Rule 1815 - 1914
This material has been collected from personal memories and archival materials.
"The Draft"
Compulsory Military Service
Until 1827, Jews in Russia were forbidden to serve in the military. Instead they were taxed for being denied the right to serve their country, but this is simply another discriminatory variation of the Jew's tax.
In 1827, personal military duty for Jews was first introduced in Russia, with recruits being from 12 to 25 years of age. The fact that 10 Jewish males were selected each year for every 1,000 Jews in the population, while only 7 non-Jewish males were selected every two years for each 1,000 non-Jews in the population shows that the conscription had an important discriminatory purpose.
How to avoid military service
The main idea was to appear at the examinations for military service being underdeveloped and underweight for a man of twenty-one. Many subterfuges were employed to fool the Russian authorities, such as recording the infant son older than he actually was, so that he could present himself at eighteen, presumably aged twenty-one, and not meet the physical standards. Many a father was in a quandary about how to register his little one. To record his son younger than his actual age, was an advantage when it came to evading military service, but a handicap when it concerned marriage. It is told that a confused father once came to the rabbi for advice in regard to this matter. When the good man told him that the best thing to do was to register his son at his true age the father conceded that he had never thought of such a simple solution.
When a Jewish young man emigrated before he reported for military service the family was forced to pay a five hundred ruble fine, a very considerable amount in those days.
On the eve of the Great War, the young men of Vilkaviškis were called to serve in the Imperial Russian Army. This list documents those conscripted in 1914—many of whom would never return to the streets of their youth."
"The 1914 Conscripts & Reservists of Vilkaviskis: A Domestic Snapshot"
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ABELSON Household
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Conscript: Iakov Leib (son of Ovsei) — Born Jan. 15/27, 1893
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Mother: Tsyrla — Age 62
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Brothers: Abel (32), Todres (23)
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ABRAMSON Household
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Conscript: Aron Leiba (son of Shimel Iankel) — Born Nov. 21, 1893
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Father: Shimel Iankel — Age 60
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Mother: Braina Styrka
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Brothers: Abram Movsha (25), Leizer Mikhel (22)
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🔗 Connection: Family lived at Kladbishchenskaya Street #45.
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ALINSKI Household
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Conscript: Abram Leiba (son of Berko) — Born Oct. 31/Nov. 12, 1893
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Father: Berko — Age 44
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Stepmother: Sora Rivka
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Brothers: David Shlema (5), Movsha Itsko (2)
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AMBUTER Household
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Conscript: Iudel (son of Iosel) — Born Apr. 10/22, 1893
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Father: Iosel — Age 52
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Mother: Rysha
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Brothers: Movsha Aizyk (28), Khaim Nisel (23), Mordkhai Girsh (18), David (17)
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ARONBERG Household (Unit 1 - The Conscript)
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Conscript: Moisei (son of Abram Aron) — Born Feb. 8/20, 1893
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Father: Abram Aron — Age 49
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Mother: Khana
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Brothers: Nekhemia Kopel (10), Iuda (7)
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ARONBERG Household (Unit 2 - The Reservists)
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Reservist: Efroim (son of Aron)
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Wife: Khana Rokha — Age 37
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Children: Shmuel (13), Abram (6), Izrael (1), Zislia (15), Ginda (10), Genia (7)
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Reservist: Aron (son of Aron)
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Son: Iudel (19)
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Reservist: Iudel (son of Aron)
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Below you will see the aspects of Jewish life in Vilkaviskis during the Russian period