Spetsnaz - The Inside Story of the Soviet Special Forces

This is the first comprehensive insight for the West into a Soviet "army within an army" whose existence has been known until recently only to a few highly placed people--most of whom would deny it.

The spetsnaz Soviet special forces are one of the more shadowy and ruthless secret special forces in the world. Controlled by military intelligence (the GRU), spetsnaz units are recruited from the ranks of the toughest officers and men in the Soviet Army, the cutting edge of Soviety military might. In modern warfare their primary task is the destruction of enemy tactical nuclear weapons, but the training of anyone selected for spetsnaz prepares him or her for an unlimited range of tasks--from undercover activity as a member of a Soviet Olympic sports team to piloting a midget submarine.

As an officer in the GRU, the author was directly involved in the control and planning of spetsnaz. In this revealing and sometimes shocking book, he talks about his own experience; about the military code of an armed force that kills its own wounded; about the weapons, strategy, and training. For anyone interested in the true military capability of the Soviet Union, this book is essential reading.

About the author

Viktor Suvorov is a Russian writer and a former Soviet military intelligence officer.

Product details

• Authors: Viktor Suvorov, Suvorov Viktor
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 09.01.1988
• EAN: 9780393335576
• ISBN: 978-0-393-33557-6
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Russia, HISTORY / Military / General, HISTORY / World, military history, Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe), USSR, Soviet Union, History of other geographical groupings and regions, History of other lands, HISTORY / Russia / Soviet Era