Wiktionary
n. 1 An army that an invading country forms by recruiting people from already-occupied areas of the country being invaded. 2 (context specifically English) Such an army in China during the Sino-Japanese War.
Usage examples of "puppet army".
I am supposed to use them to provide flank security for the armored column as it moves north into the area where the American-sponsored puppet army is holed up.
The dead soldiers of the puppet army were being stripped of their uniforms.
The United States had sent in a puppet army of Cuban exiles to conquer the Soviets' puppet regime in Cuba, and instead suffered the humiliation that became known as the Bay of Pigs.
He broke off, showing the whites of his eyes as he glanced up at the crevice where a pale shimmer flickered now and then as the Alien urged its puppet army on.
It has Whites and all sorts of Soviet Army deserters mixed up with ex-Vlassov men (a Nazi puppet army).