Russian Military History

Russian military history is a period of major changes. These changes include imperial rule, communist revolution and regional conflicts. Ending with the Cold War, these events are extremely important. This period begins with Peter the Great and his battles against nearby countries. World War II is another big event in Russian military history. After Word War II, there were fights with the West over communism. Throughout these periods there have been several armies. These groups include the Imperial Army, the Red Army, and the creation of the Army of the Russian Federation. Each of these organizations deserves review and study.

Peter the Great and the Russian Empire

Peter the Great is a key figure in Russian military history. There were several wars when he ruled Russia. Many of these attacks were against the Tatars and the Ottoman Turks. Peter the Great fought these battles to control Russia’s southern borders. These battles required outside help and cost many lives. In turn, Peter visited several countries for help. These countries were Holland, England and the Holy Roman Empire. These travels strengthened Peter’s use of the Imperial Army. But there were also efforts to overthrow Peter. These actions were unsuccessful and Peter responded to protect himself and his power.

Collapse of Imperial Russia and the Rise of the Soviet Union

During the communist revolution of 1917, Russian military history changed again. Soviet power replaced the Russian royal family. The Red Army was born during this period. Also, there were conflicts with enemies involved in the Russian Civil War and the Polish-Soviet War. The Red Army then had to fight wars of independence with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

World War II

The Red Army fought against Nazi Germany during the important battles of World War II. These conflicts led to the end of the Axis Powers. These battles were extremely deadly. Major battles were fought on the Eastern front and Stalingrad. The end of Nazi Germany saw the rise of the Warsaw Pact. The Soviet Union then became a global power with nuclear weapons. Soviet Russia eventually became the chief rival to the United States in terms of military power and strength. Russia’s military was the dominant force against NATO in Europe, too. These events were a significant part of history of the 20^th century.

Russian Federation

At the end of the Cold War, Russia’s military changed once again. During this time, the USSR also collapsed. Today, the Army of the Russian Federation is not as aggressive with the rest of Europe. With the exception of battles with Chechen rebels, the Army of the Russian Federation is mainly focused on internal security and is smaller than the Red Army. Russia is no longer a rival to China or the United States. Still, this moment in Russian military history is worthy of study.