Introduction

The body of military theory that underlies Soviet military power in the 1980s had its origins in the early days of the Soviet state. Development of military doctrine and strategy since that time has been uneven. If Soviet military views are understood in the West, there will be a much greater probability of preventing World War III and perhaps even of countering Soviet military expansion. The primary emphasis is on military art and its major components—strategy, operational art, and tactics. Many of the selections come from documents that are considered by the Soviet Party-military leadership to be the most important. These show the continuity of Soviet military thought, basic principles underlying the organization of the Soviet Armed Forces, and shifts in emphasis that have occurred since the establishment of the Red Army in 1918. In order to understand and to anticipate Soviet military moves, it is necessary to be familiar with Soviet military terms.