BOOKS & MORE: A little history of the Spetsnaz

Special forces in the tradition of the Russian armed forces may have a longer history than in Western countries. This little booklet from OSPREY gives you an overview of it.

This is a look into the content: it spans around 100 years, from the time of the Russian Revolution to today. The history of the Spetsnaz is covered in a concise 64 pages.

Irregular warfare is also linked to the history of the modern Russian army emerging from the Red Army. At the beginning is a civil war with all its cruelties and crimes – and also its guerrilla warfare.

This history continues into World War II. The fight of the partisans against the German occupiers is another essential strand that has enriched the history of the Spetsnaz. And one can also see what is so special about the OSPREY booklets, the excellent illustration.

In addition, there are photos and maps that help understand the topic. The modern Spetsnaz emerged from the experience of the long war in Afghanistan, which ultimately ended in defeat for the Russian army.

Russians in Afghanistan: whether in the uniform of the Afghan army (top left), in Russian KLMK camouflage (top right), or in the uniform for the Afghanistan theater (bottom). OSPREY also explains essential Spetsnaz equipment.

The second major modern experience was in the Caucasus, specifically Chechnya. Spetsnaz have fought a war against Islamists here and won, who wanted to establish a caliphate in Chechnya and were globally networked.

The little book about "Russia's Special Forces" concludes with the modern Spetsnaz, where you can already see the current Ratnik equipment issued to the Russian army.

Here is the text on the back of the book.

CONCLUSION: The most compact presentation of the history of the Spetsnaz, well illustrated and easy to understand. Recommended for those interested in Russian military history.

“Spetsnaz: Russia’s Special Forces (Elite, Band 206)“ by Mark Galeotti, Osprey Publishing, Oxford 2015, 64 pages, Euro 13.11