List of defunct paramilitary organizations

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The following is a list of defunct paramilitary organizations.

Contents

List of defunct governmental paramilitary units (in alphabetical order)

NameRegionActive betweenTypeNotes
Auxiliary Division (ADRIC) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Ireland) 1920-1922 Counterinsurgency police unitFormed as part of the Royal Irish Constabulary by the British government during the Irish War of Independence. Distinct from - but sometimes confused with - the Black and Tans.
Barracked People's Police (KVP) Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany 1948–1956gendarmerieFormed by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany as the precursor to the National People's Army
B-Gendarmerie Flag of Austria.svg Allied-occupied Austria 1949–1954gendarmerieFormed as the precursor to the Austrian Armed Forces
Black and Tans Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Ireland) 1920-1922Paramilitary police reinforcementMade up of former soldiers recruited from Great Britain to serve in the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence. Distinct from - but sometimes confused with - the Auxiliary Division.
Bundesgrenzschutz Flag of Germany.svg Germany 1951–2005border guardResponsible for border patrol and transport security. Also precursor to the Bundeswehr
Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany 1954–1990light infantryParamilitary unit of the East German secret service Stasi. Responsible for the security of the government leaders and government facilities. Dissolved during German reunification.
Grenztruppen Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany 1946–1990border guardResponsible for border patrol and prevention of Republikflucht , including along the inner-German border and the Berlin Wall. Dissolved during German reunification.
Dignity Battalions Flag of Panama.svg Panama 1988–1990light infantryCreated to oppose a foreign invasion. Dissolved after the U.S. invasion of Panama.
Fedayeen Saddam Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg Iraq 1995–2003irregular unitCreated as an irregular military force separate from the Iraqi Armed Forces reporting directly to President Saddam Hussein. Dissolved after the U.S.-lead invasion of Iraq.
Haganah Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mandatory Palestine 1920–1948Precursor of the Israeli army Origins in guarding Jewish colonies
Kuva-yi Miliye Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 1918–1921irregular unitCreated as irregular military forces serving the Grand National Assembly during the Turkish War of Independence. Integrated into the Turkish Army.
National Police Reserve Flag of Allied Occupied Japan.svg Allied-occupied Japan 1951–1954 police reserve Formed by the Japanese government and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers as a precursor for the Japan Self-Defense Forces during the Korean War.
ORMO Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Poland 1946–1989police reserveResponsible for aiding the Milicja Obywatelska in suppressing demonstrations. Declined during the period of martial law in the 1980s and was officially dissolved by the Sejm in 1989.
Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) 1920-1970 Special constable police reserveQuasi-military police reserve formed shortly before the partition of Ireland in what would later become Northern Ireland. After its official disbandment in 1970, former members formed the Ulster Special Constabulary Association.
Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany 1955–1990police reserveServed as riot control and anti-insurgency regiment functioning alongside the Stasi. Dissolved during German unification.
Sarandoy Flag of Afghanistan (1978-1980).svg Democratic Republic Of Afghanistan 1978–1992gendarmerieNicknamed "Defenders of the Revolution", Sarandoy was founded after the Saur Revolution and specialized in counterinsurgency and internal security. At its peak Sarandoy had 115,000 men and women under their command. Sarandoy was run by the Khalq faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan and would occasionally clash with the Parchamite-dominated KHAD.
Sicherheitspolizei Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Germany 1919–1935security policeFormed by Gustav Noske and the Reichswehr to control political violence from paramilitary parties after the German Revolution. Integrated into the Gestapo and the Reichswehr after the Nazi takeover.
Zelene Beretke Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1998).svg Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991–1992ParamilitaryThey were mostly active during the war in the early part of 1992 in northern and central Bosnia

List of defunct non-governmental paramilitary units

Australia

Austria

Czechoslovakia

Finland

Germany

Hungary

India

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Mandatory Palestine

Pakistan

Poland

Romania

Sweden

Yugoslavia

Others

See also