The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a collection
of vignettes written by Soviet junior officers describing their experiences fighting the Mujahideen guerrillas. The material was originally collected and published by the Frunze Combined Arms Staff College to serve as a text on combat against a guerrilla force in mountain-desert terrain. It was originally intended for internal use only and as such provides examples of both good and bad military practice. The hard lessons learned are not specifically 'Russian' in nature and many of the same mistakes and successes would apply equally to the American Army in Vietnam. Indeed, the knowledge gained
from these reports should also apply to future conflicts involving civil war, guerrilla forces and rugged terrain. This
is not a history of the Soviet-Afghan War, but rather a series of snapshots of combat as seen by young platoon leaders,
company commanders, battalion commanders and military advisers. It is an intimate look at the boring, brutal business of counterinsurgency punctuated by moments of heady excitement and terror. Colonel Grau, the editor and translator, has added his own commentary to produce a useful guide for commanders to meet the challenges of this kind of war and to help keep his fellow soldiers alive. This book will also be of interest to the historian and general reader, who will discover that advances in technology have had little impact on this kind of war, and that many of the same tactics the British Army used on the Northwest Frontier still apply today.
Introduction by:
Colonel David M. Glantz
Edited by:
Lester W. Grau
Translated by:
Lester W. Grau
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Spine: 23mm
Weight: 566g
ISBN: 9780714648576
ISBN 10: 0714648574
Series: Soviet Russian Study of War
Pages: 264
Publication Date: 30 September 1998
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
General/trade
,
A / AS level
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
"This volume puts a human face on the Soviet Afghan experience and begins to add flesh and blood to our previously skeletal appreciation of the war ... The book provides a revealing portrait of war in general, tactics in particular, and, coincidentally, the soldiers ""human condition""."" David M Glantz Military History Illustrated-""This is an interesting and unusual book from Cass, composed of several reports written by Soviet junior officers describing their experiences fighting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan"" Army Quarterly and Defense Journal- ""...making the work valuable for all those likely to be involved in similar future conflicts.."" RTR PUBLICATIONS LTD- ""I doubt if any of the ""superpowers"" will try again, but if they do, then this series of books should be invaluable, although many of the lessons they teach, can be equally well applied to other areas in inhospitable terrain and implacable foes."" Engineer - ""The Bear Went Over the Mountains provides an outstanding look at and commentary on Soviet tactics against the mujahideen fighters from 1979 to 1989...The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a valuable learning tool, especially for leaders at the battalion level and below."" TANK -""I doubt if the ""superpowers""will try again, but if they do, then this series of books should be invaluable, although many of the lessons they teach, can be equally well applied to other areas in inhospitable terrain and implacable foes."" Armor-""This book offers valuable professional insight into the Russian military""s tactics and operational art, and their ability and willingness to innovate. Intelligence and operations officers might find the vignettes an excellent source as they design wargame and training scenarios in preparing units for deployment"" Marine Corps Gazette- "" The volume provides plenty of material to motivate serious thinking. This book is worth yout time. The individual reader can stimulate his thinking with the variety of situations. The instructor can draw on this volume to illustrate his points, pose tactical decision problems, and motivate an appreciation for minor tactics"" European Security, Vol 8, No 1, Spring 99 - reviewed by Major James C. Larsen, Center for Army Tactics, Fort Leavenworth ""This collection of vignettes on the Soviet experience in Afghanistan is essential reading for the soldier and military historian ... For the young platoon leader of compant commander who may face a guerilla threat, the book may help him understand how to win - or how to lose. For the historian who may be well acquainted with the war, many of Grau""s insights are truly original thought and will provide an entirely new perspective on the conflict."" Parameters, Spring 2000 ""Grau translated, edited and added to the book, providing US perspectives and an analysis of the Frunze comments as well as vivid insights into Soviet troop practice."" War in History ""an excellent source for those wanting to understand how the Soviet army operated in Afghanistan"
