Request: info about Red Army Special Operations in WWII

[James]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know much or have some sources about Red Army, GRU and/or NKVD special operations in WWII? Something similar to British Commandos/SAS/30AU, U.S. Army Rangers or OSS Operational Groups? German Brandenburgers? I'm specifically interested in the last few months of the war. From what little I can piece together, the forerunners of Spetznaz were reconnaissance companies that worked for the Army or Army Group. Everything about the NKVD seems to be along the lines of "I Murdered For Stalin", though I'm going to guess that there were plenty of NKVD men who weren't psychotic.

I'm also interested in any information about the Soviet equivalent of Operation Paperclip, in which the US and UK started grabbing German weapons scientists right after the war.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[asch]

google "Over tha Abyss" by Starinov I.G. he was a great man, his memories is a good read and his manuals are still in use.
he died in 2000 in age of 100.

[Kaasjager]

google "Over tha Abyss" by Starinov I.G. he was a great man, his memories is a good read and his manuals are still in use.
he died in 200 in age of 100.
In 200? Wow, great man indeed, fighting the good fight some 1760 years after he died. :p

[artjomh]

Check out Pavel Sudoplatov's memoir "Special Tasks". Goes into quite a few secret operations from the 30's to the 50's. Spanish Civil War, murder of Trotsky, pre-War intelligence, nuclear program, etc.

There is this story I like about Wiaczeslaw Mienzynski, the Polish-Soviet chief of OGPU, the antescedent of KGB.

In 1927, OGPU was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a banquet. All top leaders, including Stalin, were giving speeches. Finally, the chief of secret police, Mienzynski, stands up and says: "A spy's most important achievement is the ability to stay silent". Then he sits down.

That is to say... you won't hear too much information from the truly key people in those operations.

[103]

I find this book about the Sovier space program very interesting
Черток Б.Е. Ракеты и люди. 2nd edition
http://www.epizodsspace.narod.ru/bibl/chertok/kniga-1/obl.html

[goat89]

I remember a while bakc I read a NKVD unit (at least Battalion size, most likely bigger) was involved in full frontal urban warfare against Germans, rather than being involved in policing or internal security duties.

[asch]

In 200? Wow, great man indeed, fighting the good fight some 1760 years after he died. :p
it's all good vodka, man. no homo. ))

[Abyr]

I remember a while bakc I read a NKVD unit (at least Battalion size, most likely bigger) was involved in full frontal urban warfare against Germans, rather than being involved in policing or internal security duties. This happened quite a few times. For example, in the early stages of Stalingrad battle, there was almost no line troops ready, only NKVD and militia units.
NKVD's department, called OMSBON (ОМСБОН - for example, an English article about it here - http://www.battlefield.ru/content/view/259/123/lang,en/) was the first "spetsnaz" unit, who's task was diversions on the Nazi's logistical lines, hubs etc.

There is a fine book with an absolutely idiotic name (publisher insisted on it, as it sounds more fancy.. ) - "Stalin's supermen" - the author tells about several guys from NKVD and their feats, he speaks about some mythology that was surrounding them. It's a nice read, but, I know only Russian version..

Starinov's memoirs are very interesting, as asch said. He was fighting Nazi's already during the Spanish civil war and continued to do so during the Great patriotic war, mostly by mine warfare.

[goat89]

This happened quite a few times. For example, in the early stages of Stalingrad battle, there was almost no line troops ready, only NKVD and militia units.
NKVD's department, called OMSBON (ОМСБОН) was the first "spetsnaz" unit, who's task was diversions on the Nazi's logistical lines, hubs etc.

There is a fine book with an absolutely idiotic name (publisher insisted on it, as it sounds more fancy.. ) - "Stalin's supermen" - the author tells about several guys from NKVD and their feets, he speaks about some mythology that was surrounding them. It's a nice read, but, I know only Russian version..
Ah! Thx 4 the info!

[madjack]

"Does anyone know much or have some sources about Red Army, GRU and/or NKVD special operations in WWII?"

Sent you a PM.

[James]

"Does anyone know much or have some sources about Red Army, GRU and/or NKVD special operations in WWII?"

Sent you a PM.

Thanks, I ordered Over The Abyss to start.

[drunkpunk]

"A spy's most important achievement is the ability to stay silent".

true indeed. to be able to complete a mission is to be able to keep your mouth shut.

[Lokos]

I remember a while bakc I read a NKVD unit (at least Battalion size, most likely bigger) was involved in full frontal urban warfare against Germans, rather than being involved in policing or internal security duties.

An NKVD Rifle Division (10th NKVD Rifle Division - 269 R(ifle) R(egiment), 271 RR, 272 RR) fought and was destroyed at Stalingrad, as well as the independent 282nd NKVD Rifle Regiment.

The casualties of the above formations were above 75%, during the September-October urban fighting.

This was not the first - nor the last - time NKVD formations fought in the line.


For example, in the early stages of Stalingrad battle, there was almost no line troops ready

Not entirely accurate - but they were, indeed, very weak.

L.

[Sootan]

German Brandenburgers? I'm specifically interested in the last few months of the war. I thought the Brandenburgers were only active as spec ops at the first half of the war, and later incorporated into the Wermacht and fought as line troops.