diff --git a/Strategic/strategicmap.cpp b/Strategic/strategicmap.cpp
index d01faa026..906554343 100644
--- a/Strategic/strategicmap.cpp
+++ b/Strategic/strategicmap.cpp
@@ -6133,11 +6133,11 @@ BOOLEAN HandleDefiniteUnloadingOfWorld( UINT8 ubUnloadCode )
 	else if( ubUnloadCode == ABOUT_TO_TRASH_WORLD )
 	{
 		//if we arent loading a saved game
-		/*if( !(gTacticalStatus.uiFlags & LOADING_SAVED_GAME ) )
+		if( !(gTacticalStatus.uiFlags & LOADING_SAVED_GAME ) )
 		{
 			// Flugente: cause all militia whose equipment is from this sector to drop it
 			TeamDropAll( MILITIA_TEAM );
-		}*/
+		}
 
 		//Save the current sectors open temp files to the disk
 		if( !SaveCurrentSectorsInformationToTempItemFile() )
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp
index a6896ca44..afc97538e 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Control.cpp	
@@ -15721,6 +15721,13 @@ BOOLEAN	SOLDIERTYPE::UpdateMultiTurnAction()
 
 void	SOLDIERTYPE::DropSectorEquipment()
 {
+	// not if we already dropped the gear
+	if ( this->bSoldierFlagMask & SOLDIER_EQUIPMENT_DROPPED )
+		return;
+
+	// set marker: we are about to drop our gear
+	this->bSoldierFlagMask |= SOLDIER_EQUIPMENT_DROPPED;
+
 	OBJECTTYPE* pObj = NULL;
 	UINT8 size = this->inv.size();
 
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Control.h b/Tactical/Soldier Control.h
index e30f84a53..473b98981 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Control.h	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Control.h	
@@ -365,8 +365,8 @@ enum
 #define SOLDIER_ASSASSIN			0x00000800	//2048		// we are an enemy assassin, and thus we will behave very different from normal enemies
 
 #define SOLDIER_POW_PRISON			0x00001000	//4096		// this guy is a prisoner of war in a prison sector. SOLDIER_POW refers to people we capture, this refers to people we hold captive
-/*#define SOLDIER_EQ_EMPTY			0x00002000	//8192		// this militia has no equipment and is to be equipped from the sector inventory
-#define ENEMY_NET_3_LVL_4 		0x00004000	//16384
+#define SOLDIER_EQUIPMENT_DROPPED	0x00002000	//8192		// under certain circumstances, militia can be ordered to drop their gear twice. Thus we set a marker to avoid that.
+/*#define ENEMY_NET_3_LVL_4 		0x00004000	//16384
 #define ENEMY_NET_4_LVL_4		0x00008000	//32768
 
 #define PLAYER_NET_1_LVL_1		0x00010000	//65536
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Create.cpp b/Tactical/Soldier Create.cpp
index 04e5f4bcf..11991406e 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Create.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Create.cpp	
@@ -2967,6 +2967,9 @@ SOLDIERTYPE* ReserveTacticalMilitiaSoldierForAutoresolve( UINT8 ubSoldierClass )
 				if( !pSoldier )
 					return NULL;
 
+				// the militia in autoresolve will drop their gear after combat. For this reason, there is no need for MercPtrs[i] to also drop it
+				MercPtrs[i]->bSoldierFlagMask |= SOLDIER_EQUIPMENT_DROPPED;
+
 				//Assign a bogus ID, then return it
 				pSoldier->ubID = 255;
 				return pSoldier;