SOVIET STRATEGY IN THE NUCLEAR AGE

by Raymond Garthoff ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 8, 1958

De Seversky's Victory Through Air Power sixteen years ago detonated its own species of dynamite and took the reading public by storm. It may well be that Garthoff's book will have a similar effect, for here- from one of the authorities on Soviet Russia's military doctrines now serving in the Department of Defense- is a book that gives a forecast of the Soviet strategy ten-fifteen years from now, and backs up his theories with an analysis of the current picture of Soviet strategic concepts, of Soviet land power, air power, sea power, missiles, of Soviet goals, of Soviet concepts of the enemy. He envisions the probability of new fuels, new materials, new attainments in speed; suboceanic developments; new devices for mapping the globe; more potent weapons- radiological, bacterial, chemical; interplanetary ballistic missiles and space platforms; large theatre forces for maintaining conquests; decentralization of the economic system; and an overall strategic concept which will take full advantage of the new scientific and technological weapon potentials. Throughout he stresses his belief that the Soviet strategy does not require war as part of the ideology, that its primary objective is survival, but that it is exploring every channel of preparedness for any kind of war necessary to preserve and improve their position as a world power. This is exciting and challenging reading, illuminating, convincing and disturbing. A book that should receive the attention its authoritative background deserves. The author has spent a great deal of time in Russia; he wrote- in 1953- a book on Soviet Military Doctrine; this book is based on an extensive study of Soviet military writings, official documents, the military press, books and manuals in Russian, as evidenced by his Bibliography.

Pub Date: July 8, 1958

ISBN: 0837176581

Page Count: -

Publisher: Praeger

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1958

Categories: NONFICTION