Axis and Allies .org Forums: "Spetsnaz" talk 101

Viracocha

A&A.org Submarine

Posts: 688

"Spetsnaz" talk 101

« on: November 20, 2009, 08:23:18 am »

They did 'kinda' exist... but the problem is that the Red Army used the term in a much broader sense. "Spetsnaz" is the Russian term for special purpose troops. Even today, it doesn't refer to a specific group like the SAS or SEALs or anything like that, but everything from naval commandos to police emergency response teams. Every branch of the service had spetsnaz troops of somekind during WWII, even the NKVD. NKVD spetsnaz troops were called Osnaz. The Spetznatz was originally a special NKVD unit called OMSBON (Independent Motorized Brigade for Special Operations). They were formed in 1941 during the Battle for Moscow, and their members were recruited from athletes and sportsmen. They were highly trained in a special form of martial arts called Borvovye Sambo fighting, and were also skilled in the use of demolitions. I think for the purpose of creating some cool minis to represent "elite forces" of Russians the term could be used. (info found off web - various sources - but seemed correct after cross-referencing).


« Last Edit: November 21, 2009, 03:57:23 pm by Imperious Leader »	Logged

Emperor_Taiki

A&A.org Fighter

Posts: 1245

"The state reigns and tells us what is true"

Re: Field Marshal Games Pieces Project

« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2009, 09:18:35 am »

The Soveit Armed Forces first formed Spetsnaz in 1949. Sure the term has more a general meaning than SAS or Rangers, but the word spetsnaz did not have much meaning in world war 2, especailly in refering to units that were comparable to the US Rangers or Airborne. theiry certainly was noting that was called "naval spetsnaz", Russian marine units were called naval infantry.


	Logged

Viracocha

A&A.org Submarine

Posts: 688

Re: Field Marshal Games Pieces Project

« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2009, 09:57:10 am »

Every branch had it's Special Forces, or elite. The Spetsnaz. This is more of a linguistics matter rather than a historical one. The word itself had the same meaning during WWII, this is a fact.


	Logged

DrLarsen

A&A.org Tank

Posts: 499

Re: Field Marshal Games Pieces Project

« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2009, 11:03:27 am »

OK, so... Naval Infantry...

Whether or not they were officially called Spetsnaz or whether elite units within them were called Spetznaz, there certainly was a very large NI establishment within the USSR armed forces, 350,000 by at least some accounts, within which was quite a few "special" troops, including both amphibious specialists and paratroopers.