Overview

Stalin's Red Army entered the Second World War as a relatively untried fighting force. In 1941, with the launch of Operation 'Barbarossa', it joined the battle with Hitler's army, the most powerful in history. After a desperate war of attrition over four years, the Red Army defeated the Nazis on the Eastern Front and won lasting fame and glory in 1945 by eclipsing the military might of the Third Reich. This book begins with a review of the historical background of the Red Army in the years leading up to the outbreak of war in 1939, followed by a discussion of the major themes in the development of Soviet forces during the 'Great Patriotic War' that ensued in 1941. The Red Army's organisational structures are examined, from high command down to divisional level and below, which helps Western readers to understand the differences between the terminology of the Soviet and common Western (British, US and German) armies. Soviet combat arms - infantry, armour and mechanised forces, cavalry, airborne and special forces - are described, along with a technical overview of infantry weapons, armoured vehicles, artillery and support equipment. Fully illustrated with a comprehensive selection of archive photographs, charts and tables of organisation, this is an indispensable source of reference for anyone interested in the armies of the Second World War.

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9780752454757

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Steven Zaloga knows his subject . . . His comprehensive knowledge makes this book one of those rare should not be missed volumes that come along from time to time. The Wargamer on Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II

Steven Zaloga knows his subject . . . His comprehensive knowledge makes this book one of those rare should not be missed volumes that come along from time to time. -- The Wargamer on Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War II

Author Information

Steven J. Zaloga has written more than 70 books on military history, including Armored Thunderbolt: The U.S. Army Sherman in World War and Poland 1939: The Birth of Blitzkrieg. Leland S. Ness served as a Pentagon correspondent for International Defense Review and now publishes a newsletter for the ground defense industry.

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