Resources for Russian, Soviet & CIS Military History. This list is an attempt at including books and websites useful as reference material for articles.

Websites edit

  • bdsa.ru - histories for army level formations and up; orders of battle for divisions and other WWII related documents
  • samsv.narod.ru - army, division and corps histories
  • rkka.ru - division histories
  • tankfront.ru - information about some Soviet tank units
  • warheroes.ru - biographies of most Heroes of the Soviet Union & Russian Federation; as well as full cavaliers of the Order of Glory
  • pamyat-naroda.ru - Soviet award citations for WWII, incomplete
  • generals.dk - assignments of some Soviet generals during WWII
  • ww2.dk - Michael Holm's site with information about post 1945 Soviet formations

Books edit

Search online, and online copies of many of these publications will come up.

Russian dictionaries and encyclopedias edit

  • Cherushev, Nikolai Semyonovich; Cherushev, Yury Nikolaevich (2012). Расстрелянная элита РККА (командармы 1-го и 2-го рангов, комкоры, комдивы и им равные): 1937—1941. Биографический словарь [Executed Elite of the Red Army (Komandarms of the 1st and 2nd ranks, Komkors, Komdivs, and equivalents) 1937–1941 Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 9785995002178. - covers purged commanders, transcripts available here
  • Dvoinykh, L.V.; Kariaeva, T.F.; Stegantsev, M.V., eds. (1991). Центральный государственный архив Советской армии [Central State Archive of the Soviet Army] (in Russian). Vol. 1. Minneapolis: Eastview Publications. ISBN 1-879944-02-2. - index to the collections of the Central State Army of the Soviet Army, has useful brief unit summaries for military districts and armies, plus organizational information, covers the Civil War and interwar (pre-1941) periods.
  • Dvoinykh, L.V.; Kariaeva, T.F.; Stegantsev, M.V., eds. (1993). Центральный государственный архив Советской армии [Central State Archive of the Soviet Army] (in Russian). Vol. 2. Minneapolis: Eastview Publications. ISBN 1879944030. - same as above except it covers divisions and fortified regions/smaller units
  • Гражданская война и военная интервенция 1918—1922: Энциклопедия [The Civil War and Foreign Intervention, 1918–1922: Encyclopedia] (in Russian). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1983. - Soviet era-list of people, places, events, organizations, and military units of the Russian Civil War. However, please keep in mind the ideological bias since this is a Soviet-era encyclopedia.
  • Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2011). Goremykin, V.P. (ed.). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 1. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0189-8. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help) - covers division commanders who commanded motor rifle, motorized, cavalry, airborne, mortar, tank, and People's Militia divisions
  • Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2013). Goremykin, V.P. (ed.). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 2. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0341-0. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help) - covers division commanders who commanded all aviation divisions, all anti-aircraft artillery divisions, aerial observation, warning, and communications troops (VNOS) divisions, aerostatic (barrage balloon) divisions, searchlight divisions
  • Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2014). Goremykin, V.P. (ed.). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 3. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0382-3. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help) - covers division commanders of rifle, mountain rifle, Crimean, Polar, Rebolsky direction, destroyer (anti-tank) divisions, alphabetical order for Abakumov to Zyuvanov
  • Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2014). Goremykin, V.P. (ed.). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 5. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0457-8. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help) - covers division commanders of rifle, mountain rifle, Crimean, Polar, Rebolsky direction, destroyer (anti-tank) divisions, alphabetical order for Pivovarov to Yatsun
  • Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2015). Goremykin, V.P. (ed.). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 4. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0602-2. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |last= (help) - covers division commanders of rifle, mountain rifle, Crimean, Polar, Rebolsky direction, destroyer (anti-tank) divisions, alphabetical order for Ibyansky to Pechenenko
  • Vozhakin, Mikhail Georgievich, ed. (2005). Великая Отечественная. Командармы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Army Commanders: Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 5860901135. - covers army commanders between 1941 and 1945
  • Vozhakin, M.G., ed. (2006). Великая Отечественная. Комкоры. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Corps Commanders: Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 1. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 5901679083. - covers corps commanders who were not also army commanders
  • Vozhakin, Mikhail Georgievich, ed. (2006). Великая Отечественная. Комкоры. Военный биографический словарь [Great Patriotic War: Corps Commanders: Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 2. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 5901679083. - covers corps commanders who were not also army commanders

Russian language Histories edit

Освобождение городов [Liberation of the City] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. 1985. - Soviet Ministry of Defense official guide to which units captured which cities in WWII, available online

Feskov, Vitaly (2003). Красная Армия в победах и поражениях 1941-1945 г.г. [The Red Army in the victories and defeats 1941-1945] (Online pdf) Tomsk: Tomsk University Press. - Red Army organization in WWII, some information inaccurate, make sure to back it up with other sources

Feskov, Vitaly (2004). The Red Army in the Years of the Cold War 1945-1991. (Online PDF; Russian) Tomsk: Tomsk University Press. - book with information on organization and divisions of the Soviet Army during the Cold War, Feskov's 2013 book is more accurate, 2004 book should not be used as a source

Feskov, Vitaly (2013). Вооруженные Силы СССР после Второй мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской [The Armed Forces of the Soviet Union after World War II, from the Red Army to the Soviet] Tomsk: Tomsk University Press. - accurate information on Cold War Soviet Army organization

Lensky, Andrei (2001). Советские Сухопутные войска в последний год Союза ССР [The Soviet Army in the Last year of the USSR] . St. Petersburg: B&K - 1990 Soviet Army Order of Battle

Lensky, Andrei (2005 & 2007). Армия отечества: начало XXI века [Army of the Fatherland: Beginning of 21st century]. St. Petersburg: ?? - 2000 Russian Army Order of Battle, two parts

Russian language Memoirs edit

Abdullin, Mansour (1985). 160 страниц из солдатского дневника [160 pages from the diary of a soldier]. Moscow: Molodaya Guardiya - Abdullin was a mortarman in the 293rd Rifle Division

Abdullin, Mansour (2010). От Сталинграда до Днепра [From Stalingrad to the Dnieper]. Moscow: Yauza.

Abramov, Vasily (1962). На ратных дорогах [On Martial Roads]. Moscow: Voenizdat. - Abarmov commanded the 184th & 75th Rifle Divisions and 21st Rifle Corps

Babadzhanian, Hamazasp (1975). Дороги победы [Road of victory]. Moscow: Molodaya Guardiya. - Babadzhanian's memoir, published during his lifetime

Babadzhanian, Hamazasp (2009). Танковые рейды 1941-1945. Записки очевидца [Tank Raids 1941-1945: Notes of an eyewitness]. Moscow: Yauza. - previously unpublished writings of Babadzhanian

Babikov, Makar (2009). Отряд особого назначения. Диверсанты морской пехоты [Special Forces Team: Marine Saboteurs]. Moscow: Yauza. Babikov was a naval infantryman with the Northern Fleet, then was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and was awarded HSU for actions in Korea

Bessarab, Alexander Nikitovich (1970). В прицеле — танки [At Gunpoint - Tanks] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. - Bessarab led the 420th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion

Chuikov, Vasily (1985). От Сталинграда до Берлина [From Stalingrad to Berlin] (in Russian). Moscow: Sovetskaya Russiya. - Chuikov's memoirs; available online

Derevyanko, Konstantin (2015). На трудных дорогах войны. В борьбе за Севастополь и Кавказ [On the hard roads of war: In the battle for Sevastopol and the Caucasus]. Moscow: Veche. ISBN 9785444425961. - Derevyanko was commander of various Black Sea Fleet Bases during WWII

Martirosyan, Hayk (2015). Битва за Москву: Воспоминания автор [Battle for Moscow: Memories of the Author]. Voyennaya Literatura. Martirosyan was commander of the 239th Rifle Division during the Battle of Moscow. This is a Russian translation of the original Armenian memoir here.

Novikov, Alexander (1970)В небе Ленинграда [In the Skies of Leningrad]. Moscow: Nauka. - Novikov's memoirs, available online

Vladimirov, Boris (2010). Комдив. От Синявинских высот до Эльбы [Komdiv. From Sinyavino Heights to the Elbe]. Mosocw: Yauza. - Vladimirov was commander of the 311th RD and HSU

English edit

English language Histories edit

Glantz, David M. (1989). Soviet Military Deception in the Second World War. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.

Glantz, David M. (1990). Soviet Military Intelligence in War. London: Frank Cass.

Glantz, David M. (1991). Soviet Military Operational Art: In Pursuit of Deep Battle. London: Frank Cass.

Glantz, David M. (1991). From the Don to the Dnepr: Soviet Offensive Operations, December 1942-August 1943. London: Frank Cass.

Glantz, David M. (1994). The History of the Soviet Airborne Forces. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis. - good history of the Soviet Airborne Forces

Glantz, David M. (1995). When Titans clashed: how the Red Army stopped Hitler. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas

Glantz, David M. (1998). Kharkov 1942: Anatomy of a Military Disaster through Soviet eyes. New York: Sarpedon.

Glantz, David M. (1999). The Battle for Kursk, 1943: The Soviet General Staff Study. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.

Glantz, David M. (1999). Zhukov's Greatest Defeat: The Red Army's Epic Disaster in Operation Mars, 1942. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700609444.

Glantz, David M. (2001). The Siege of Leningrad, 1941-1944: 900 Days of Terror. Staplehurst: Spellmount.

Glantz, David M. (2001). Barbarossa 1941. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 9780752419794.

Glantz, David M. (2002). The Battle for Leningrad: 1941-1944. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas.

Glantz, David M. (2002). The Battle for L'vov, July 1944: The Soviet General Staff Study. London: Frank Cass.

Glantz, David M. (2002). The Battle for Leningrad, 1941-1944. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas.  ISBN 9780700612086.

Glantz, David M. (2003). Soviet Operational and Tactical Combat in Manchuria, 1945: 'August Storm'. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415408639.

Glantz, David M. (2003). The Battle for the Ukraine: The Korsun-Shevchenkovskii Operation. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.

Glantz, David M. (2004). Belorussia 1944: The Soviet General Staff Study. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.

Glantz, David M. (2005). Colossus Reborn: The Red Army at War, 1941-1943. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700613533.

Glantz, David M. (2005). Companion To Colossus Reborn: Key Documents And Statistics. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700613595.

Glantz, David M. (2006). Red Storm Over the Balkans: The Failed Soviet Invasion of Romania, Spring 1944. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700614653.

Glantz, David M. (2008). After Stalingrad: The Red Army's Winter Offensive, 1942-43. Solihull: Helion.  ISBN 9781906033262.

Glantz, David M. (2009). To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas

Glantz, David M. (2009). Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700616640.

Glantz, David M. (2010). Barbarossa Derailed: The Battle for Smolensk 10 July-10 September 1941, Volume 1: The German Advance to Smolensk, the Encirclement Battle, and the First and Second Soviet Counteroffensives, 10 July-24 August 1941. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 9781906033729.

Glantz, David M. (2012). Barbarossa Derailed: The Battle for Smolensk 10 July-10 September 1941, Volume 2: The German Offensives on the Flanks and the Third Soviet Counteroffensive, 25 August-10 September 1941. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 9781906033903.

Glantz, David M. (2014). Endgame at Stalingrad: Book One: November 1942 the Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 3. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700619542.

Glantz, David M. (2014). Endgame at Stalingrad: Book Two: December 1942 February 1943 the Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 3. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700619559.

Glantz, David M. (2014). Companion to Endgame at Stalingrad. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700619566.

Glantz, David M. (2014). Barbarossa Derailed. the Battle for Smolensk 10 July-10 September 1941 Volume 3: The Documentary Companion. Tables, Orders and Reports Prepared by Participating Red Army Forces. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 9781909982116.

Glantz, David M. (2014). Barbarossa Derailed, Volume 4: The Battle for Smolensk 10 July-10 September 1941 Atlas. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 9781909982833.

Translated memoirs edit

Abdulin, Mansur (2004). Red Road from Stalingrad: Reflections of a Soviet Infantryman. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. - Abdullin was an enlisted soldier with the 294th Rifle Division at Stalingrad and later battles

Bessonov, Evgeni (2005). Tank Rider: Into the Reich with the Red Army. Philadelphia: Casemate - ???

Emelianenko, Vasilii (2005). Red Star Against the Swastika: The Story of a Soviet Pilot over the Eastern Front. London: Greenhill. - Emelianenko was an Il-2 pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union

Gorbachevsky, Boris (2008). Through the Maelstrom: A Red Army soldier's war on the Eastern Front, 1942-1945. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. - Gorbachevsky served with both the 30th and 31st Armies

Korzh, Victor (2005). Red Star Under the Baltic: A Firsthand Account of Life on Board a Soviet Submarine in World War Two. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. - Korzh was a submarine commander with Baltic Fleet

Litvin, Nikolai (2007). 800 Days on the Eastern Front: A Russian Soldier Remembers World War II. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. - memoirs of a Soviet enlisted soldier, unpublished so not politically biased

Loza, Dmitry (1996). Commanding the Red Army's Sherman Tanks: The World War II Memoirs of Hero of the Soviet Union Dmitriy Loza. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. - memoirs of a Soviet tank commander on M4 Shermans and Hero of the Soviet Union

Mariinskiy, Evgeniy (2006). Red Star Airacobra: Memoirs of a Soviet Fighter Ace, 1941-45. Solihull: Helion. ISBN 9781874622789.

Pylcyn, Alexander (2009). Penalty Strike: The Memoirs of a Red Army Penal Company Commander, 1943-45. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole. - Pylcyn was commander of a penal company