The Red Army of the Great Patriotic War 1941–45

Osprey Men at Arms #216

by Steven J. Zaloga, Ronald Volstad (Illustrator)

The German invasion in 1941 led to a series of staggering defeats for the Russians. In the first five months of fighting, the Soviets lost about four million men, amounting to 80 per cent of the total strength of the ground forces at the time of the outbreak of the war. Yet the Red Army managed to hold on. The Soviets had been steadily growing throughout in capability and effectiveness, and after the smashing of the German offensive at the battle of the Kursk salient, they were never again seriously checked, advancing to the ruins of Berlin itself. This title examines the organisation, equipment and uniforms of the Red Army of the Great Patriotic War.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Russia, Nonfiction, Russian History, Soviet Union

48 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 1989

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Dalinar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars cause looking images of the soviets fighting the IIWW is inspiring.
Too much "analysis" base on the mediocre critic of communism and the USSR. Military "analisis" base on how much a tank can fear Stalin so its armor runs from it. Just absurd.
If you clear the liberal absurd critic about how Stalin is the worst, you can reach a very simple explanation of the war and the soviet front. Although is too simple, the soviet imagery is always good.

The book is suspense, but Slava USSR and Slava Stalin

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many types of history books of the Second World War in Europe, in this one the emphasis is on the uniforms and equipment of the ground troops of the Soviet Red Army. While there is some actual history of how the war was conducted, most of the text deals with the specifics, even down to a list of the various rank insignias.
This is not a book for the person interested in battle tactics or what the military leaders did. However, if you are interested in what the Red Army soldiers wore and the weapons they used, then this is a book that you will find very valuable.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good reference material. I read it specifically to figure out how to paint my Soviet infantry miniatures but there was some really interesting history to read here as well.

[Alex MacKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good overall introduction to the subject.
Fantastic illustrations by the great Ron Volstad.

[Andrea Aragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buena descripción de las armas y los uniformes del ejército rojo ♥️. Es una revista, de modo que no profundiza sobre el arte bélico.

[Michael Dorosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This primer covers uniform insignia, basic organization of the Red Army, and a brief history of the Army as a social institution in the context of the Second World War. Good sidebar illustrations on both the old and new rank systems, and some very good photographs. Would love to see the Red Army get the same current MAA treatment - ie a multivolume set dealing with insignia and specialists in greater detail - but this volume stands the test of time. Great artwork by Volstad, as always and in particular he has capture the ethnicity of the subjects very well, something Stephen Andrew has not been able to achieve in the newer titles. Good lips and cheekbones on these Slavic looking characters! A very nice introduction to a little written about subject in the English world.

Would benefit in a future series by a look at decorations, the wound badges, and perhaps a finer breakdown of sample infantry battalions, armoured battalions etc. and finally perhaps a look at training and recruitment in the Red Army.