Patriotic Battalions

Minas Gerais volunteers in the Revolution of 1930

In Brazil's military history, Patriotic Battalions (Portuguese: batalhões patrióticos) were irregular paramilitary forces, usually made up of civilian volunteers, mobilized in times of crisis.[1][2] They were created by local chiefs and could be paid by the chiefs or by the government.[3] Their combat effectiveness was variable.[1] The battalions of the countryside colonels were not adapted to conventional warfare, artillery and, outside of the Pampas, cavalry. On the other hand, they were effective in a typically Brazilian and hinterland guerrilla.[4]

  1. ^ a b Savian, Elonir José (2020). Legalidade e Revolução: Rondon combate tenentistas nos sertões do Paraná (1924/1925). Curitiba: edição do autor. pp. 80-81; 209.
  2. ^ Lago, Moacyr Ferraz do (2008). Índices de criminalidade e investimentos em segurança pública - um estudo de caso do estado do Piauí (PDF) (Masters thesis). Fortaleza: UFC. Retrieved 9 November 2022. pp. 44-45.
  3. ^ Dallanora, Cristina (2019). Conflitos no ex-Contestado: coronelismo e bandoleirismo numa região de fronteira (PDF) (Doctorate thesis). Florianópolis: UFSC. Retrieved 9 November 2022. p. 87.
  4. ^ Santiago, Luís Carlos Mendes (2019). O mandonismo mágico do sertão: corpo fechado e violência política nos sertões da Bahia e de Minas Gerais – 1856-1931 (PDF) (Masters thesis). Montes Claros: Unimontes. Retrieved 9 November 2022. pp. 79; 85-87; 92; 127.