Viktor Suvorov is a Soviet army officer who has defected to the West. Here is the full story of the Spetsnaz forces; the Soviet army's secret killer elite.This is the first comprehensive insight for the West into a Soviet "army within an army" whose existence has been known until recently only to a few highly placed people--most of whom would deny it.The spetsnaz Soviet special forces are one of the more shadowy and ruthless secret special forces in the world. Controlled by military intelligence (the GRU); spetsnaz units are recruited from the ranks of the toughest officers and men in the Soviet Army; the cutting edge of Soviety military might. In modern warfare their primary task is the destruction of enemy tactical nuclear weapons; but the training of anyone selected for spetsnaz prepares him or her for an unlimited range of tasks--from undercover activity as a member of a Soviet Olympic sports team to piloting a midget submarine.As an officer in the GRU; the author was directly involved in the control and planning of spetsnaz. In this revealing and sometimes shocking book; he talks about his own experience; about the military code of an armed force that kills its own wounded; about the weapons; strategy; and training. For anyone interested in the true military capability of the Soviet Union; this book is essential reading.
#748101 in Books Christopher Hibbert 2002-04-17 2013-01-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.20 x 1.10 x 5.60l; .77 #File Name: 0393322939412 pagesRedcoats and Rebels The American Revolution through British Eyes
Review
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful. With Apologies to the Author...By Mcgivern Owen LThis reviewer made an erroneous initial assumption about "Redcoats and Rebels": He thought that since RR was authored by a Brit that the final product would be a snide; avuncular; anti-American treatment of the Revolutionary War. Wrong! Nothing could be further from the truth. Author Hibbert is far tougher on his fellow countrymen than on the American colonists. With the author's able retrospect; one could almost state that the British effort was doomed from the start. Among the factors burdening the British Army were the following: >Uncertain military leadership made worse by some truly surprising infighting. >Difficulty raising a sufficient number of troops to fight a foreign war in a large; distant colony > Very poor communication among the commanders (John Burgoyne; William Howe; Henry Clinton) once they encamped in America > The mistaken impression that many American Loyalists would rally under the Union Jack. Relatively few did. > What this reviewer would term concentration on the "good life". General Burgoyne took 30 carts (!) of personal goods on his fateful trek to Saratoga. And during the fateful Winter of 1777-1778; General Howe remained closeted in the comforts of Philadelphia-with his mistress! Not 30 miles away; Washington's men were enduring the cruel season at Valley Forge. Why didn't Howe attack? > The Brits allowed themselves to be trapped in a war of attrition in which they won most battles but were sucked dry. >Lukewarm support for and even opposition to the war effort in Parliament. Author Hibbert lays bare all of these factors squarely for the reader to absorb. The author has little use for the squabbling; halting British leadership; only Charles Cornwallis receives his due. Yet Cornwallis was hung out to dry by his boss; General Clinton; to be trapped on that peninsula on the York River: "Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown". A review of RR would not be complete without due mention to the MAPS! Most military works treat such as historical stepchildren; here they are quite useful; placed strategically throughout the text. Also; poignant quotes head each chapter. The most remarkable is from American General Nathanael Green: "We fight; get beat; rise and fight again". If the author truly believes; as he seems to; that England lost the War as much as the Americans won it; that is fair enough for this reviewer. RR is highly rated historical reading for anyone seeking a fresh view on the Revolutionary War.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Very interesting American history that I was deficient in.By T. SterneA very excellent history of the American Revolution from the British and American perspectives. It gives one a very detailed perspective of the flow and battles of the Revolution. Because photography did not yet exist in the late 18th century; I have tended to ignore the details of our Revolution in favor of our four score years later Civil War which was well photographed with the exception of actual battles. So this brought a much appreciated increase in my knowledge of our Revolution.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Good but uneven and could use more mapsBy retired momHibbert does try to explain battles using geographic references but his maps don't back it up. I thought good work on Gen Clinton and the campaigns in the south but less concise on the northern or central campaigns.
