Inside the Soviet Army / by Viktor Suvorov

by Viktor Suvorov

Viktor Suvorov describes the general organization, doctrine, and strategy of the Soviet armed forces (the term "Army"; being used to cover not only the Land Forces, but also Strategic Rocket, Air Defense, Air, and Naval forces). Suvorov explains his view on the political realities of the USSR, where everything is subordinated to maintain the Communist regime's dominance, thus explaining the rationale behind Soviet strategic planning. He then goes on to explain the organization of the Soviet armed forces, from the top down, emphasizing the Land Forces/Soviet Army. Technical details are presented where useful, but the primary concern is explaining the underlying philosophy and culture, often contrasted with the Western military approach. Suvorov then concludes with descriptions of the daily life inside the Soviet Army for the soldier and the officer, including the bullying and hazing practice known as dedovshchina, a practice then almost unknown to the West at the time of publication, which has become notorious in the Russian Ground Forces of the post-Soviet period.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Russia, War, Reference

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Former Soviet-Union army officer fled in 1978 to England. Where he worked as a teacher and a adviser for news agencies.

Author of a number of bestsellers about the history of the World War II, the Soviet Army special operations troops and military intelligence, and the Red Army.

He is one of the historians who believes that Hitler started the war against Russia to prevent Stalin attacking Germany first.

See also Виктор Суворов and Wiktor Suworow

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another good book by Viktor Suvorov giving us a tour into a specific area of the Soviet machine. The book gives breakdowns of the different services (Land Forces, Strategic Rocket Forces, Naval Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Forces, Airborne Forces, etc.) and the specialties they bring to preserving the USSR. Other chapters include mobilization, strategic and tactical operations, and review of weapons and armament systems. The author gives a glimpse into the life of an enlisted man and an officer. Cool read in my opinion. Thanks!

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I was looking for accounts of how life was for the average soldier in the Soviet Army. It was written in the early 1980s by a former Soviet military officer who had escaped and defected to the west. The complete hell and utter brutality of the Soviet and current Russian military is legendary. I've talked to people who were in the Soviet and Russian Army as well as read some about it. About 3 months ago I talked to a guy who was in the Soviet Army who told me for two years straight he more or less did nothing but work on schedule where he did grunt labor for three hours and then slept two hours on a continuous cycle 24-7. The current Russian Army is supposed to be brutal also. From what I can tell it either makes you or breaks you. Its no wonder so many Russians are either broken down drunks or they are the strongest, toughest people you will ever meet.

Most of whats in this book is boring. Stuff about Russian military weaponry and tactics. Whats interesting is when he talks about how the Soviet got over by bluffing the west and other eastern European nations as to their capabilities, as well as how there was a constant back and forth power play in Soviet Russia between the KGB, the Military and the Communist Party. When he does go into how life was for the average grunt soldier or the Officers it was interesting and he did a good job of capturing the bleakness and brutality of that existence. Another interesting tidbit is he claimed many of the USSRs Olympic level athletes (including some of the women) were covert trained killers who were just as much expected to scout out terrain for future wars as they were expected to win medals when they visited cities in the west for sports meets.

[Mark Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read, and was (apparently) written by a high-level defector from the army. He likens the Soviet state to a bunch of hoodlums who hold a neighbourhood to ransom, and run protection rackets. How little has changed since the fall of communism. The appeasers in charge of EU diplomacy would do well to read this in the context of their response to Russian destabilisation of Ukraine.

What's interesting is what he says about the relative inefficiency of the war machine, the philosophy and the brutal management tactics used to prevent wholesale defections. However far-fetched this might seem, I've fact-checked with female friends from former Warsaw Pact countries and found that they all had to be able to take apart, clean and reassemble an AK47 before being allowed to graduate from high school.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a young man, I dreamed/feared of being involved in World War III, and so I tried to learn all I could of tactics, strategy and the Soviets. This book was a somewhat frightening eye-opener. I've read all I could get my hands on by "Suvorov," up until the Berlin Wall came down. It didn't seem as urgent then, of course.
I understand that Suvorov's later writings have become some kind of rallying point for neo-Stalinists in Russia, but I haven't really delved into that issue.
This book is a rather comprehensive look at the whole Soviet war machine, may it rest in peace.

[Otto]

An understanding of the supremacy of the politburo over the military. The unintentional troika of soviet state powers.

A love of mortars.

[André Swanström · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book not just from a historical perspective but also when it comes to the current war in Ukraine. Forget about Carl von Clausewitz or Sun Tzu – you should read Suvorov if you want to understand the strategic thinking behind the Russian invasion! If you want to understand the poor defensive performance of the Russians in September 2022, read Suvorov’s chapter The Strategic Offensive, where he argues persuasively that the Red Army was trained just to attack, and that the best way to conduct defensive operations was to go on the offensive. When the Ukrainians managed to take the initiative and started to counterattack, the Russian seemed to be at a loss what to do. Reading Suvorov illuminates this dilemma. The Russian strategic and tactical thinking has apparently not evolved significantly since the early 80’s. The same goes for military hardware, as the classic T-72, BTR-80 and BMP-2 still dominate the piles of destroyed and abandoned armored vehicles.

Reading Suvorov can also give you perspectives on possible scenarios concerning the future of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Suvorov’s analysis of the balance of power in the Soviet Union is based on the triangle Army – KGB – Communist Party. According to Suvorov, these were rival powers, intent on ensuring that none of the others would become too powerful. If one component became too powerful, the others intervened in order to keep things in balance. After the fall of Communism, the Party was canceled. Putin, the former KGB agent, made the FSB, successor of the KGB, the sole source of power in Russia. The Army has no potential ally to consult with if the generals want to topple Putin. The Russian oligarchs have no influence that would match the power of the Communities Party, so Suvorov’s Bermuda Triangle is defunct. This makes deposing Putin extremely difficult.

Suvorov’s book contains a chilling outline of a smooth military plan geared at grabbing enormous swathes of land. Implemented as the Soviet generals had chiseled it out, this plan would probably have worked in Ukraine. So what went wrong from Putin’s point of view? Perhaps the build-up of troops was insufficient. At least the concept of a limited ”Special Operation” was against the grain of classical Soviet doctrine. The main problem seems to have been that the operation was planned and directed by Putin, a former intelligence officer, and Shoigu, a mining engineer. They had apparently not read Suvorov.

P.S. The book is available online at http://militera.lib.ru/research/suvor...
(The website may have some issues with copyright rules, which is not uncommon with Russians online...)

Slava Ukraini!

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Inside the Soviet Army" is a true classic of its genre, an illuminating reading experience that reveals the true nature of the Soviet military and the men behind it. Though the end of the Cold War rendered many of the writer's specific points obsolete, the chapters on the psychology of war, the design and implementation of strategy and tactics, and military economy are timeless. While many of the author's opinions are highly debatable to say the least, his sympathies clearly lie with the United States and its allies and his final question, "Why don't you resist?" is a resonant challenge to every free man to take up the fight against tyranny--wherever it may be--before it's too late.

[Rahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book does provide good details and information on the subjects of soviet tactics and whatnot, it is heavily biased. It makes the outrageous claim that the USSR had killed 60,000,000. Also claiming that Konstantin Rokossovsky was used to manipulate Poland by the government of the USSR, whereas he was placed as marshal because of his nationality much rather then for manipulation, however the book mentions he was born in Russia, whereas he was born within Warsaw, Poland.

[Dean Marquis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. There was and still is a lot of misconception about the Soviet Army then and now. Suvurov does a lot in explaining the Soviet Power Heirarchy. He stated that their was three Power Groups. The Party, The Army and the KGB. He stated that no one Group could "take over" because the other two would block it.

[Tyler M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible insight into the Russian doctrine with parallels seen in today's conflict. Extremely eye opening first hand account of how evn their officer corps is treated poorly, the bureaucratic nonsense they endured and the unrealistic expectations set forth in a state of constant readiness.

With what I know now, it is no surprise that Russia is years into a "two day operation".

[Kevin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might be a bit dated... but I am sure most of what is in this book still rings a bit true. Very informative.

[Reuben Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A now dated snapshot of Soviet army tactics of the early 80s.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book everywhere with me for a while during college, just absorbing a passage here, a chapter there. Nevermind that the Cold War was over, the thought of what this army was capable of was compelling enough to read again and again. A nice reference for my own writing.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Written by a Soviet defector, it offers the sort of insight only possible from someone who's worn the "green suit." It still has a treasured place on my bookshelf even to this day.

[Steven Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A technical if dated tome detailing the Soviet Army as it was at the height of the Cold War. Interesting read for those inclined but would probably bore must readers. The book did give me some ideas for my characters in my Ruth zombie stories.

[Fred Schwarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all the study I’ve done on the Soviet Army, I finally got around to reading this book. A must read if you are into Cold War history. It gives some insight into the Red Army and how it functioned or malfunctioned, some of which we are seeing in the war in Ukraine right now.

[Mick Maye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent coverage from the other side so to speak. Enjoyable book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on the Soviet Army from a unique perspective. I believe that his descriptions of the Soviet Armed Forces represent the "ideal" vice the actual capabilities of those forces.

[George Mazurek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly unbelievable, yet true picture of Russian Army in the 1960s and 1970s. A must-read for every socialist and communist...