The Red Army, 1918-1941: From Vanguard of World Revolution to America's Ally (Strategy and History Series)

Supported in large part by evidence released after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this book follows the career of the Red Army from its birth in 1918 as the designated vanguard of world revolution to its affiliation in 1941 with 'the citadel of capitalism', the United States. Effectiveness of leadership and military doctrine are particular concerns here, and Josef Stalin is the dominant personality.On the basis of the Russian Civil War (1918-20), the Red Army began to bill itself as 'an army of a new type', inherently superior to all others. However, in late 1920, the Poles trounce it soundly. Later, Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) reveals widespread obsolescence in armament and equipment. The Nazi--Soviet Pact of August 1939 gives Germany and the USSR a free hand to act against Poland. However, slack performance by the Red Army in the unopposed occupation of eastern Poland and the bungled war with Finland in the winter of 1939-40 necessitate sweeping military reforms. Germany was an enemy in 1918, ally in the 1920s, enemy again in 1933, ally again in 1939, and the enemy once more in 1941, following the German invasion on 22 June 1941. This brings on a catastrophe that by the year's end has consumed nearly the entire pre-invasion Red Army. The United States' entry into the war on 7 December 1941 and the Red Army's subsequent recovery raise the question: Who won the Second World War? Supported in large part by evidence released after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this book follows the career of the Red Army from its birth in 1918 as the designated vanguard of world revolution to its affiliation in 1941 with 'the citadel of capitalism', the United States. Effectiveness of leadership and military doctrine are particular concerns here, and Josef Stalin is the dominant personality. On the basis of the Russian Civil War (1918-20), the Red Army began to bill itself as 'an army of a new type', inherently superior to all others. However, in late 1920, the Poles trounce it soundly. Later, Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) reveals widespread obsolescence in armament and equipment. The Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939 gives Germany and the USSR a free hand to act against Poland. However, slack performance by the Red Army in the unopposed occupation of eastern Poland and the bungled war with Finland in the winter of 1939-40 necessitate sweeping military reforms. Germany was an enemy in 1918, ally in the 1920s, enemy again in 1933, ally again in 1939, and the enemy once more in 1941, following the German invasion on 22 June 1941. This brings on a catastrophe that by the year's end has consumed nearly the entire pre-invasion Red Army. The United States' entry into the war on 7 December 1941 and the Red Army's subsequent recovery raise the question: Who won the Second World War? Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of Maps......Page 12 List of Illustrations......Page 13 Series Editor's Preface......Page 15 Preface......Page 17 Glossary of Terms......Page 18 List of Abbreviations......Page 21 The Military Revolutionary Committee......Page 24 'All Power to the Soviets'......Page 38 Birth of the Red Army, War, and Peace......Page 53 'In a Fiery Ring of Fronts'......Page 71 An Armed Camp......Page 86 The Test of Battle on Three Fronts......Page 109 The Decisive Battles......Page 124 Defeat and Victory......Page 140 Class War and Military Reform......Page 158 The New Order......Page 176 The Red Army and the Reichswehr......Page 192 The Tukhachevskiy Era......Page 211 Stalin's Military Reform......Page 242 Approaching the 'Second Imperialist War'......Page 256 The 'Most Pressing and Deadly Threat'......Page 271 War Plans......Page 286 Stalin Deceived......Page 299 The Red Army at Bay......Page 313 The Heartland in Peril......Page 330 The Heartland Preserved......Page 344 Conclusion......Page 359 Code Names......Page 372 Notes on Historiography......Page 373 Notes......Page 389 Bibliography......Page 427 Index......Page 442 This Book Fills A Notable Gap In The Scholarly And General Literature By Providing A History Of The Red Army From Its Inception Through To The German Invasion In 1941. The Book Will Be Of Great Interest To All Scholars Of Russian Military History As Well As Informed General Readers.--jacket. The Military Revolutionary Committee -- 'all Power To The Soviets' -- Birth Of The Red Army, War, And Peace -- 'in A Fiery Ring Of Fronts' -- An Armed Camp -- The Test Of Battle On Three Fronts -- The Decisive Battles -- Defeat And Victory -- Class War And Military Reform -- The New Order -- The Red Army And The Reichswehr -- The Tukhachevskiy Era -- Stalin's Military Reform -- Approaching The 'second Imperialist War' -- The 'most Pressing And Deadly Threat' -- War Plans -- Stalin Deceived -- The Red Army At Bay -- The Heartland In Peril -- The Heartland Preserved. Earl F. Ziemke. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [388]-402) And Index.