Osprey Men-at-Arms 29 : The Soviet Army

In the years between the Russian Revolution of 1917 and World War II, the Soviet Army underwent dramatic changes in conscription, organization and effectiveness. The Russian Army in World War I had been lacking in leadership and drive, but was transformed by the Soviets into a force to be reckoned with, as evidenced by its crucial victory at Stalingrad. Enhanced by colour plates, illustrations and photographs, this book traces the development of the Soviet Army from its Tsarist heritage, through the tumultuous years of the Red Army, to its full modernization in 1957. Text by Albert Seaton with illustrations by Michael Roffe.

Contents

• Introduction
• The Tsarist Heritage
• The Revolution
• The Birth of the Red Army
• The Civil War
• The Russo-Polish War
• The End of the Civil War
• An Army without confidence
• The Great Purges
• Soviet Expansionism and the Threat of War
• The Russo-Finnish Winter War
• The Trial of Strength - June 1941
• Moscow 1941
• Stalingrad
• From Victory to Victory
• The Far East
• The Soviet Army
• A Modern Army
• Uniforms
• The Plates