The Russian Civil War (1): The Red Army

Osprey Men at Arms #293

by Mikhail Khvostov, Andrei Karachtchouk (Illustrator)

The main instrument with which the Bolsheviks imposed communism on Russia was the Red Army. Traditionally the origins of this army were among the factory workers who laid down their tools and took up arms as a way of expressing their grievances. Already formed by the time of the revolutions of 1905 and February 1917, these militant workers organised themselves into parliamentary detachments known as the krasnogvardeytsi, or 'Red Guards'. In this first of two volumes [see Men-at-Arms 305: White Armies] focusing on the Russian Civil War (1917-1923), Mikhail Khvostov examines the Red Army's organisation, weaponry, uniforms and insignia.

Genres: Russia, Nonfiction, Russian History, Military History, Soviet Union, History

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jereme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good edition. Khvostov goes out of his way to describe a lot of the details of the uniforms of the time. I do kind of wish there was a bit more flavour text on the units themselves however. Plates are excellent quality.

[Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mikhail Khvostov's view of the Red Army is refreshingly surprising with text rich in some old style Russian which would be fun to Cyrillize.