The Soviet Army, 1945-1991 : Tank Armies, Warsaw Pact Doctrine, Nuclear Battlefields, Afghanistan and the Military Power of the USSR
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Overview
Behind the formidable image of Soviet tanks, massed artillery and vast military parades stood an extraordinary system of soldiers, doctrine, industry and strategic planning. Discover how that system shaped the Cold War, prepared for continental conflict and confronted the realities of modern warfare.
The Soviet Army, 1945-1991 takes readers inside one of the twentieth century's most influential military institutions, tracing its transformation from the victorious Red Army of 1945 to the final dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Military historian Kian O'Sullivan explores the tank armies, motor-rifle divisions, nuclear battlefield doctrines and operational concepts that defined Soviet land power. Through detailed historical analysis, the book reveals how the USSR organized its forces, trained millions of conscripts, developed sophisticated armoured formations and prepared to fight across Central Europe.
Inside this volume, discover:
- The Soviet armoured system: From the T-54 and T-55 to the T-72 and T-80, discover how tanks, BMPs, artillery and mechanized infantry formed an integrated fighting force.
- The secrets of Soviet operational planning: Explore deep operations, successive echelons, front-level warfare, Warsaw Pact strategy and declassified nuclear war plans for Europe.
- The soldiers behind the military machine: Understand conscription, officer training, political control, reserve divisions, mobilization and the everyday experiences of Soviet servicemen.
- The challenges that reshaped Soviet power: Follow the war in Afghanistan, the evolution of artillery and air defence, the struggle for operational readiness and the reforms preceding the USSR's collapse.
From Cold War garrisons in East Germany to armoured exercises, missile formations and Afghanistan's mountain roads, each chapter connects military technology with the people, institutions and decisions that determined its effectiveness.
Discover the organization, ambition, capabilities and limitations of Soviet land power-and gain a deeper understanding of the military system that stood at the centre of the Cold War.
An essential addition to the Contemporary Armies collection for readers of military history, armoured warfare, Cold War strategy and modern military institutions.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9781809270658
- ISBN-10: 1809270650
- Publisher: Oscar Publications
- Publish Date: October 2026
- Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.22 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.34 pounds
- Page Count: 108
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