Labour battalion

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Labour battalions were a form of alternative service or unfree labor in various countries. In some cases they were the result of some kind of discriminative segregation of population, while in some others they were a conscious choice.

[edit] Forced labor

Forced labor battalions were created from part of population which for various reaseons were not suitable for regular military service, often because this population was cosidered "undesirable" or "unreliable", e.g., political enemies, population of occupied territories or "lower races".

Examples include labour battalions in the late Ottoman Empire and early Turkish Republic, labour service in Hungary during the World War II, as well as labor battalions in other teritories held by Nazi Germany and its allies.

[edit] Alternative service

In some countries labour battalions were a form of alternative conscription for people who could not join military service for various reasons, e.g., due to bad health or being conscientious objectors to any forms of violence.

See Military service, Conscription in Germany, Conscription in Greece, American Friends Service Committee, Selective Service System, Civilian Public Service.