Commandos from the Sea: Soviet Naval Spetsnaz in World War II (Naval Institute Special Warfare Series)

by Yuriy F. Strekhnin, Yurly Fedorovich Strekhnin, James F. Gebhardt, etc.

Release Date: October, 1996

Edition: Hardcover

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Everything you wanted to know about WWII Soviet commandos

This is a pretty good book since it provides a good description of what Soviet commandos actually did during World War II. If you can get by some of the European-style bravado and the Communist titles, such as Hero of the Army, and that sort of thing, the book is worth reading and provides valuable insight into the work of these people.

Essentially, this book covers the Soviet commandos (all sailors) on the Danube River in areas largely occupied by the retreating Germans and in the Crimea area during the time the Germans held control there.

The book is broken up into short "adventures" or missions, each of which is exciting enough to keep the reader glued to the pages. Some of the missions are incredible but yet believable since they do make sense. What these commandos do, or did, is somewhat like the work of U.S. Navy Seals.

The book is a translation, so it does have a stilted tone to it; however, the narrations are so well done descriptively, that you get the impression it must be a beautiful work in Russian. And it probably is.

The book is easy reading, very revealing, and exciting. The characters are very real and act in a Euro-macho manner, making the reader chuckle at times at their naivete.