'Roger Reese has written a multi-faceted and well-considered study of the development of the Soviet armed forces.' - SEER'This is a valuable and lively intorduction to an important subject.' - War in History

• Acknowledgements, List of abbreviations, List of Russian words and phrases, Map, Introduction, 1. The birth of the Red Army, 2. The Civil War, and Polish–Soviet War, 1917–21, 3. The Red Army between the wars, 1922–39, 4. PUR and the Army: the political side of military service, 5. The Red Army and the Second World War, 1939–45, 6. The cold war years, 1946–91, 7. The war in Afghanistan and the Gorbachev era, 1979–91, Conclusion, Notes, Select bibliography, Index

'Roger Reese has written a multi-faceted and well-considered study of the development of the Soviet armed forces.' - SEER'This is a valuable and lively intorduction to an important subject.' - War in History

• Acknowledgements, List of abbreviations, List of Russian words and phrases, Map, Introduction, 1. The birth of the Red Army, 2. The Civil War, and Polish–Soviet War, 1917–21, 3. The Red Army between the wars, 1922–39, 4. PUR and the Army: the political side of military service, 5. The Red Army and the Second World War, 1939–45, 6. The cold war years, 1946–91, 7. The war in Afghanistan and the Gorbachev era, 1979–91, Conclusion, Notes, Select bibliography, Index