Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency Warfare
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Russian
- Soviet Unconventional Wars in the Caucasus, Central Asia and
Afghanistan
The
Other Side of the Mountain - Mujahideen tactics in the
Soviet Afghan War
Anti
Partisan Warfare in the Balkans 1941-1945
RUSSIAN
- SOVIET UNCONVENTIONAL WARS IN THE CAUCASUS, CENTRAL ASIA AND
AFGHANISTAN
by Dr R F Baumann
This
is the first time RUSSIAN-SOVIET UNCONVENTIONAL WARS IN THE CAUCASUS, CENTRAL
ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN has been made generally available. The
Russians have a long history of fighting what are now called unconventional
wars. Certainly since the 18th Century, and more recently in Afghanistan
and Chechnia. The early wars were fought in the Caucasus. Fighting in
that region started in earnest in the early 19th Century and continued
to the late 1840s. Unrest continued in the region thereafter with major
uprisings in the 1870s and also following the 1917 Revolution. It
continues today in the Chechnia region.
As
the Russian Empire expanded Russian forces dominated the Kazahk region
and undertook a series of campaigns in the area between the Caspian
and Aral Sea. This culminated in the assault on Khiva in 1873 and
the operations in 1880-1 on the Persian border, by then the Empire was
on the borders of Persia and Afghanistan. After the Revolution the Red
Army conducted a long campaign in the area north of the border with Afghanistan
against the Basmachis Central Asian resistance. The Soviet operations
started in 1918 and the last rumblings of resistance was finally quelled
in 1933, though no serious fighting took place after 1924.
The Soviets had considerable experience in the conduct of and fighting
against, insurgency warfare. Prior to World War II it was either suppressing
or encouraging such wars on its Asian frontiers. In World War II it organised
activities behind the German line in Russia as well as supporting resistance
and partisan movements in eastern and central Europe. After World War
II it had to deal with resistance in the Ukraine and other areas of the
Soviet Union that had been liberated from German occupation. Since World
War II it encouraged, supplied and trained numerous participants in insurgent
wars from the large scale such as Vietnam to the insignificant. In
1979, after the Soviet military intervention in Kabul, the Red Army allowed
itself to become involved in an unwinnable war. This despite the
Soviet experience in such fighting that extended back to the Revolution.
Furthermore their conduct of operations demonstrated their failure to
comprehend how such a war should be fought.
iv + 112 pages,
12 maps. 210 x 295
ISBN 978-0-85420-008-5 Hardback
Edition £32.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-013-9 Softback
Edition £19.99
THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN MUJAHIDEEN TACTICS IN THE SOVIET AFGHAN
WAR
by Colonel A Jalali and Lt.Colonel L W Grau
A three volume study of operations and actions of the Afghan Mujahideen resistance fighting against the Soviet Forces in Afghanistan 1979-1989. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan few realised how long the fighting would go on and that it would end with the Soviets being forced into a humiliating retreat. 620,000 Soviets served in Afghanistan during this period, of which 525,000 were in the Soviet Armed forces, 90,000 were KGB and 5,000 MVD. The Soviets lost nearly 14,000 killed, 469,685 wounded and sick, of those over 10,500 became permanent invalids. In addition to the human loss vast amounts of equipment was destroyed including jet aircraft, helicopters and tanks, as well as trucks and support vehicles. The Afghan losses were staggering from a population of 16.5 million over 1.3 million were killed, and a further 5.5 million - one third of the population - found refuge outside the country.
Very few copies of the original edition of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN were printed, and none were generally released.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN contains accounts of numerous actions fought by the Afghan resistance each account is told by the Afghan commander who participated in the action described. These commanders in the vast majority, were civilians who took up arms against the Soviets and developed the skills necessary to command guerrilla units. Most of these accounts are supported by a full page coloured map, that show the topography, the locations of the attackers and defenders, movements, fields of fire &c.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN is an invaluable guide to anyone wishing to understand modern guerrilla warfare, whether conducting one or fighting against guerrillas in the field. In addition it provides invaluable insights in how to train and support guerrillas in the field. Each operation is commented on to highlight the elements that caused the operation/action to succeed or fail. In the event of failure what should have been done to have prevented such failure, or in the case of success what could have been done to have improved on that success.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN effectively shows what is required to conduct a successful guerrilla/insurgent campaign. The techniques and experiences described apply not only to Afghanistan but also to many other parts of the world such as the Balkans, Central and South America, Sirilanka, the southern borders of Russia and the Far East. These volumes are not just a history of a series of operations and actions but a manual on the conduct of guerrilla operations as well as what support and assistance such a campaign requires to succeed.
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 1
34
accounts. Chapters on Ambushes, Raids, Shelling Attacks, and Attacks
on Strong Points.
210x295mm x + 129 pages, 33 col & 4
b/w maps, tables of symbols, index
ISBN 978-0-85420-360-4 Hardback
Edition £34.99 : ISBN 978-0-85420-365-9 Softback
Edition £22.99
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 2
24
accounts. Chapters on Mine Warfare, Attacking Lines of Communication,
Sieges, Fighting Heliborn Insertions, Defending Against Raids, Defending
Cordon and Search.
210x295mm iv + 119 pages, 25 col & 5 b/w maps, col & b/w
diagram, table of symbols, index.
ISBN 978-0-85420-370-3 Hardback
Edition £34.99 : ISBN 978-0-85420-375-8 Softback
Edition £22.99
OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN: Volume 3
36
accounts, Defending Base Camps, Counter Ambushes, Encirclement,
Urban Combat. Also included are a number of accounts, with maps and commentary,
from Soviet sources which recount actions already described from the
Mujahideen in these volumes - The Soviet accounts were written by officers
who had taken part in these actions themselves.
210x
295mm ii + 153 pages, 31 col & 4 b/w maps, table of symbols,
index
ISBN 978-0-85420-306-0 Hardback
Edition £34.99 : ISBN 978-0-85420-311-6 Softback
Edition £22.99
ANTI PARTISAN WARFARE IN THE BALKANS 1941-1945
A
study by two senior German officers, one a Mountain Corps commander
the other an SS Police Colonel, both of whom had first hand experience
of fighting Partisans in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece in World War
II. Fighting in the Balkans has always been far from easy, the hatred
of the indigenous population combined with the terrain made the conduct
of successful sustained counter insurgency operations very difficult.
The Germans had to rely on their Allies, the Italians and Bulgarians,
as well as collaborationist units whose effectiveness and reliability
was often in doubt. This study describes the problems faced by the German
occupation forces, the rise and development of the guerrilla movements,
the early counter-measures by Germany and her Axis allies, the organisation
of the guerrilla units, the impact of the Italian defection in 1943,
and operations in 1943 and 1944. The appendices include the Yugoslav
Army Order of Battle in early 1941, notes on German General Officers
and German formations mentioned in the narrative, Orders of Battle of
the German Divisions. Notes on the Italian formations mentioned in the
narrative, and a commentary on the Bulgarian Army.
210x295mm x
+ 101 Pages, Orders of Battle, 8 maps
ISBN 978-0-85420-225-6 Hardback
Edition £32.99 : ISBN 978-0-85420-230-0 Softback
Edition £19.99