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+----- Thread: Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. (/Thread-Soviet-Naval-Infantry-During-The-Great-Patriotic-War)
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - vikingraider1 - 08-15-2003
Can anybody recommend any good books (either Cyrillic or in English) on Naval Infantry during world War Two?
Thanks
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - otlichnik - 08-19-2003
There is a good pocket book by a veteran, "Blood on the Shores" by Leonov.
There is no other special book in print. There were some unclassified DIA manuals which you may find on ebay or with a big US Army manual dealer. But they were all focussed on the 1970s-80s.
Shawn
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - salyan - 08-19-2003
Viking..
Shawn also informed me about Leavenworth papers... a study on Northern Fleet naval ops in WW2. It is very informative and there are lots of details which may be of help to you. I am sorry I can't find the link at the moment, but the papers can be found on line. Do a search under leavenworth and "Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation" (that is the title of the paper).
Dan
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - vikingraider1 - 08-20-2003
Thanks to both of you for the information. I already had a copy of "Blood on the Shores" which is ok but subject to a lot of Soviet propaganda. There are some useful notes contained within the text though.
The other link proved a good source too. I have downloaded it and will study it over the next couple of day.
Thanks again.
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - Kim - 09-06-2003
I found this when I was browsing. I have't read it myself but it's seem to be what you are looking for. If you want more info just PM me.
/Kim
"COMMANDOS FROM THE SEA
Soviet Naval Spetsnaz in World War II
By Yuri F. Strekhnin
James F. Gebhardt
Special Warfare Series
During the Cold War the Soviets' elite naval spetsnaz units earned the grudging respect of the world's special operations forces as the Eastern Bloc's toughest, best-trained commandos. Available for the first time in the West, this book tells the dramatic, action-packed story of the World War II forerunners of spetsnaz, the naval ground reconnaissance detachments, as they lead the Soviet advance through the Crimea with the Black Sea Fleet and through southwest Europe with the Danube Flotilla.
Readers follow the expert swimmers, parachutists, skiers, mountain climbers, marksmen, and hand-to-hand combat specialists on one impossible mission after another, penetrating the Germans' rear areas to gather intelligence and conduct partisan and diversionary-demolition operations. With prices on their heads, hounded by ever-growing numbers of German SS troops, the commandos lived by their wits and off the land, fighting their way out of every dangerous situation, blowing up bridges and fortifications, ambushing German patrols, snatching prisoners, and reporting enemy strengths. It is a story that reads like the best action/adventure fiction.
Based on interviews and archival research, this unique contribution to the history of special operations is a moving human drama of unorthodox characters who volunteer for perilous missions out of love for country, each other, and their commander, Senior Lieutenant Viktor Kalganov--known as "The Beard." This translation is the only account in English that details the little-known special warfare unit.
Yuriy Strekhnin has written several books about Soviet military operations in World War II. This book was first published in Russian in 1962.
James Gebhardt also translated Blood on the Shores: Soviet Naval Commandos in World War II, among other books. He works for a defense contractor in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas."
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - skipper1939 - 10-14-2003
For a general reference I would also recommend V. Dotsenko's comprehensive book Flot voina pobeda 1942-45 (St. Petersburg, "Sudostroenie," 1995. It is devided into sections by fleet and gives an overview of operations by each. It has special sections on naval infantry operations as well as the participation of grounded ships crews fighting as infantry. It's focus is not to give deep detail, but to provide reference. The most detailed section is probably on the northern fleet, which is also treated in Victor Leonov's book (noted above). Dotsenko gives the big picture, Leonov provides an up-close personal experience.
Dr. Bob Clawson
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - vikingraider1 - 10-15-2003
Thanks Kim,
I have ordered a copy of the book you mentioned.
Bob,
is this the same V. Dotsenko that wrote "The Russian Marine Uniform: History and Traditions. XVIII-XX centiries"?
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - skipper1939 - 10-15-2003
I am not familiar with the marine uniform book, but it seems very likely that it is the same author. He is, happily, a very fine writer and his pobeda is a must reference for anyone interested in Soviet naval operations in the war. A much neglected subject. I was able to get a copy at the MAX show in Pittsburgh two years ago. Sorry I don't have the dealers name or e-mail but he stocks reference books, medals and awards, and patches.
Good luck,
Dr. Bob
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - vikingraider1 - 10-15-2003
Hello Bob,
Can you tell me is this book in English or in Russian?
Soviet Naval Infantry During The Great Patriotic War. - skipper1939 - 10-15-2003
Raider:
The Pobeda book that I have is in Russian. I don't know whether or not anyone has translated it for, say, U.S. naval history studies but they should. The U.S. navy tends to look at Russian WW II naval operations from the German point of view - i.e. marginal, therefore not worth much study. As in so much more about the war, the Soviets kept it quiet for a very long time (like Kursk), thus tending to reify the American conventional wisdom.
I don't think a book like Pobeda could have been published in Soviet times (maybe under Gorbachev?) because it is certainly not a tale of unsullied triumph. But there was a lot more achieved by Soviet naval forces than anyone in the West realized.
Those portions devoted to naval infantry and grounded ship crews is only a minor part of the book, however; it concentrates on putting together a kind of "order of battle" of all the fleets and flotillas.
Bob