Special Forces
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The Cold War was a war of secrecy. While politicians and leaders gave pompous speeches on both sides, elite soldiers and agents waged battles that have only recently come to light. The Soviet Union employed scores of elite troops and agents in its war to expand its influence and socialism. The Spetsnaz and the Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti or KGB executed the majority of covert missions during the Cold War. However, the conflicts with China and the United States led to the fortified area troops and airborne assault troops.
Preceding Nixon’s visit to China, Mao had often flexed Chinese military might with border excursions with the Soviet Union. Security had always been paramount for the Soviet Union, and the possibility of another powerful foe right on the border convinced the Soviet Command to create the fortified area and assault airborne troops[1]. The airborne troops’ primary purpose was to give the rest of the Soviet Land Forces an edge over the Chinese in the advent of war. The airborne troops would secure strategic points and knock out strong points. These airborne troops bore no relation to those in the air force[2]. The fortified area troops came out of conflict with China but also the United States. The Soviet Union’s desire for security led them to build fortresses since and even before World War II. Tensions with China led to the creation of even more in east Siberia. These fortresses would also serve as fallout shelters in the likelihood of nuclear war. Fortress troops would be the ones to guard them[3].
However, these two forces rarely executed convert operations. Airborne assault troops saw a fair amount of use in Afghanistan while the fortified area troops rarely moved. They were special units with the Land Forces, but they were only niche units. The KGB and Spetsnaz worked hand in hand as the covert striking force of the Soviet Union. These covert units clashed with enemies and rival forces all over the globe during the Cold War.
The KGB served as the intelligence gathering organization of the Soviet Union. They had existed in various forms prior to officially becoming the KGB in 1954. Their initial goal was to subvert American society and gather military intelligence for the Soviet leadership[4].However, other than a few isolated successes the KGB made minimal headway. From the late 1960s to the end of the Cold War, the KGB focused on espionage and subversion in the Third World as well as internal suppression of dissidence. While little evidence is available, assassinations, double crosses, and subversion have all been attributed to the KGB. Of the provable claims, the KGB along with the Spetsnaz helped to start the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Though the KGB undoubtedly took part in special operations, the larger part of their role was intelligence gathering[5]. When push came to shove, the Soviet Union would employ their best soldiers, the Spetsnaz.
The Spetsnaz were the elite of the Soviet Union. Trained by the KGB in subversion, the Spetsnaz were excellent for undercover operations. The Spetsnaz were also known for their sheer toughness. Intense training, both physically and mentally, made them extremely effective and dangerous. While trained by the KGB in secrecy, they rarely worked side by side. Usually, Spetsnaz acted on the information secured by the KGB[6]. The Spetsnaz operated all over the world and were known for their effectiveness in dealing with the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. When Soviet Command desperately needed something done quietly, they would use the Spetsnaz.
While much of the regular Soviet Land Forces dispersed after the end of the Cold War, the Spetsnaz and KGB continued to live on in Russia in more ways than one. In a world plagued by radical guerilla armies, counter-insurgency operations have become more important. The Spetsnaz continue to react to terrorist threats and hostage situations to today. The KGB of Russia still gathers information to protect Russia’s global and domestic interests. Finally, Vladimir Putin is the largest shadow cast by the soviet KGB today. Putin served 16 years as a KGB officer during the last portion of the Cold War. Now the president of Russia, Putin brings this experience with him[7]. Throughout the cold War unto the present, Soviet/Russian special forces have earned their fearsome reputation.
[1] Tudda, Chris, A Cold War Turning Point: Nixon and China, 1969-1972, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2012, 18-19.
[2] Glantz, David M., A History of Soviet Airborne Forces, New York: Routledge, 1994, 5-12.
[3] Suvorov, Viktor, Inside the Soviet Army. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1982, 77-78.
[4] Barron, John, KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents, New York: Reader’s Digest Press, 1974, 38-45.
[5] Andrew, Christopher, KGB: The Inside Story of Its Foreign Operations from Lenin to Gorbachev, New York: Harpercollins, 1990,
[6] Suvorov, Viktor, Spetsnaz: The Inside Story of the Soviet Special Forces, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1988, 3-18.
[7] Gessen, Masha, The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin, New York: Riverhead Trade, 2013, 71-100.
Article Bibliography:
Andrew, Christopher. KGB: The Inside Story of Its Foreign Operations from Lenin to Gorbachev. New York: Harpercollins. 1990.
Barron, John. KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents. New York: Reader’s Digest Press. 1974.
Glantz, David M. A History of Soviet Airborne Forces. New York: Routledge. 1994.
Gessen, Masha. The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. New York: Riverhead Trade. 2013.
Schofield, Carey. The Russian Elite: Inside Spetsnaz and the Airborne Forces. New York: Greenhill Press. 1993.
Suvorov, Viktor. Inside the Soviet Army. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company 1982.
Suvorov, Viktor. Spetsnaz: The Inside Story of the Soviet Special Forces. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 1988.
Tudda, Chris. A Cold War Turning Point: Nixon and China, 1969-1972. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. 2012.
Preceding Nixon’s visit to China, Mao had often flexed Chinese military might with border excursions with the Soviet Union. Security had always been paramount for the Soviet Union, and the possibility of another powerful foe right on the border convinced the Soviet Command to create the fortified area and assault airborne troops[1]. The airborne troops’ primary purpose was to give the rest of the Soviet Land Forces an edge over the Chinese in the advent of war. The airborne troops would secure strategic points and knock out strong points. These airborne troops bore no relation to those in the air force[2]. The fortified area troops came out of conflict with China but also the United States. The Soviet Union’s desire for security led them to build fortresses since and even before World War II. Tensions with China led to the creation of even more in east Siberia. These fortresses would also serve as fallout shelters in the likelihood of nuclear war. Fortress troops would be the ones to guard them[3].
However, these two forces rarely executed convert operations. Airborne assault troops saw a fair amount of use in Afghanistan while the fortified area troops rarely moved. They were special units with the Land Forces, but they were only niche units. The KGB and Spetsnaz worked hand in hand as the covert striking force of the Soviet Union. These covert units clashed with enemies and rival forces all over the globe during the Cold War.
The KGB served as the intelligence gathering organization of the Soviet Union. They had existed in various forms prior to officially becoming the KGB in 1954. Their initial goal was to subvert American society and gather military intelligence for the Soviet leadership[4].However, other than a few isolated successes the KGB made minimal headway. From the late 1960s to the end of the Cold War, the KGB focused on espionage and subversion in the Third World as well as internal suppression of dissidence. While little evidence is available, assassinations, double crosses, and subversion have all been attributed to the KGB. Of the provable claims, the KGB along with the Spetsnaz helped to start the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Though the KGB undoubtedly took part in special operations, the larger part of their role was intelligence gathering[5]. When push came to shove, the Soviet Union would employ their best soldiers, the Spetsnaz.
The Spetsnaz were the elite of the Soviet Union. Trained by the KGB in subversion, the Spetsnaz were excellent for undercover operations. The Spetsnaz were also known for their sheer toughness. Intense training, both physically and mentally, made them extremely effective and dangerous. While trained by the KGB in secrecy, they rarely worked side by side. Usually, Spetsnaz acted on the information secured by the KGB[6]. The Spetsnaz operated all over the world and were known for their effectiveness in dealing with the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. When Soviet Command desperately needed something done quietly, they would use the Spetsnaz.
While much of the regular Soviet Land Forces dispersed after the end of the Cold War, the Spetsnaz and KGB continued to live on in Russia in more ways than one. In a world plagued by radical guerilla armies, counter-insurgency operations have become more important. The Spetsnaz continue to react to terrorist threats and hostage situations to today. The KGB of Russia still gathers information to protect Russia’s global and domestic interests. Finally, Vladimir Putin is the largest shadow cast by the soviet KGB today. Putin served 16 years as a KGB officer during the last portion of the Cold War. Now the president of Russia, Putin brings this experience with him[7]. Throughout the cold War unto the present, Soviet/Russian special forces have earned their fearsome reputation.
[1] Tudda, Chris, A Cold War Turning Point: Nixon and China, 1969-1972, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2012, 18-19.
[2] Glantz, David M., A History of Soviet Airborne Forces, New York: Routledge, 1994, 5-12.
[3] Suvorov, Viktor, Inside the Soviet Army. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1982, 77-78.
[4] Barron, John, KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents, New York: Reader’s Digest Press, 1974, 38-45.
[5] Andrew, Christopher, KGB: The Inside Story of Its Foreign Operations from Lenin to Gorbachev, New York: Harpercollins, 1990,
[6] Suvorov, Viktor, Spetsnaz: The Inside Story of the Soviet Special Forces, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1988, 3-18.
[7] Gessen, Masha, The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin, New York: Riverhead Trade, 2013, 71-100.
Article Bibliography:
Andrew, Christopher. KGB: The Inside Story of Its Foreign Operations from Lenin to Gorbachev. New York: Harpercollins. 1990.
Barron, John. KGB: The Secret Work of Soviet Secret Agents. New York: Reader’s Digest Press. 1974.
Glantz, David M. A History of Soviet Airborne Forces. New York: Routledge. 1994.
Gessen, Masha. The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. New York: Riverhead Trade. 2013.
Schofield, Carey. The Russian Elite: Inside Spetsnaz and the Airborne Forces. New York: Greenhill Press. 1993.
Suvorov, Viktor. Inside the Soviet Army. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company 1982.
Suvorov, Viktor. Spetsnaz: The Inside Story of the Soviet Special Forces. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 1988.
Tudda, Chris. A Cold War Turning Point: Nixon and China, 1969-1972. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. 2012.