Unfulfilled Promise: The Soviet Airborne Forces 1928-1945 - Softcover

Thompson, Leroy

9781470007072: Unfulfilled Promise: The Soviet Airborne Forces 1928-1945

Softcover

ISBN 10: 147000707X ISBN 13: 9781470007072

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Merriam Press Military Monograph No. 8

Fifth Edition, 2012

The Soviet Union pioneered the use of parachute troops during the 1930s. However, few of the large-scale Soviet parachute drops attempted by the Soviets during World War II were successes by Western standards. There were inherent differences in the Soviet philosophy of airborne warfare which caused them to view many of their airborne operations in a far different light than other countries. The relationship between the Soviet airborne forces and the partisans was constantly considered by the Soviet High Command when planning airborne operations and that relationship is stressed here. This is a comprehensive history of the weapons, equipment, aircraft and gliders, training, and combat history of the elite of the Soviet armed forces in the period up to and including World War II.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Training

Chapter 2: Uniforms, Equipment and Parachutes

Chapter 3: Weapons

Chapter 4: The Planes

Chapter 5: Gliders

Chapter 6: The Partisans

Chapter 7: From the Beginnings to BARBAROSSA

Chapter 8: The First Six Months of War and the Near Annihilation of the Soviet Airborne

Chapter 9: 1942: The First Large Soviet Airborne Operation and the Conversion of the Airborne Corps to Rifle Divisions

Chapter 10: 1943: The Last Major Airborne Assault