Armed Forces of the U. S. S. R.

When the first edition of The Armed Forces of the USSR appeared in 1979, it was reviewed as "the first real textbook on the Soviet military. . . . [It] fills the needs of students and teachers and is a boon to the analyst of Soviet affairs." An updated second edition of the work appeared in 1981, shortly after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, while Leonid Brezhnev was still the Communist Party's general secretary.
Since then, the top Party leadership in the Kremlin has changed significantly. The Soviet Ground Forces, Air Forces, and Air Defense Forces have undergone major reorganizations, and many new faces now are seen among the generals, marshals, and admirals. New and improved weapons have entered the arsenals of the Strategic Rocket Forces and Navy. There have been changes in the laws of war and of armed combat, both of which affect military doctrine and strategy.
This third edition of The Armed Forces of the USSR has been completely revised and, using the most recent sources, shows the changes that have taken place both in the Soviet military structure and the concepts upon which it is based. It is essential reading for those interested in arms control, national security, and military affairs in general.