KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion [Paperback]

K.G.B. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

A rare glimpse into how Soviet Spetsnaz and KGB units protected and defended their country from perceived enemies - inside and outside its borders. Includes special sections for Alpha Teams on assassination, sabotage and kidnapping.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873647068
• ISBN-13: 978-0873647069
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, if kept in historical context., May 10, 2000

By 

S. Ball (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion (Paperback)

This book is the translation of a Russian text dating back to 1945, the hayday the Soviet Union. The chapters covering the history of the Spetznaz, past and present, is very interesting, especially the parts detailing the different branches of Special Action teams and how they relate, but the technical portion of the manual tends to be vague and too general to be of use unless you're already a student of Samooborona bez Oruzhia (commonly known by the Russian acronym "Sambo" and translated as "self defense without weapons"). Don't buy this manual if you're looking to study Soviet hand to hand combat. If that's what you're after, go to www.russianmartialart.com or www.amerross.com.

The author/translator, Jim Shortt, retained many of the terms common in the Soviet Union, which may seem odd to Americans (I wouldn't even try to explain "moral-political" to your average American, as I have a hard time grasping it!).

There is also a section on physical fitness and recovery which is interesting, and probably as relavent today as it was in 1945.

This is not a bad book, and I do recommend it, but only if kept in perspective.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad but Nothing spectacular, May 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion (Paperback)

I found the book to be very interesting from a historical viewpoint but found many of the techniques inside to be very standard issue.Not a groundbreaking book but not a bad one either.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I bought it as a gift for a friend, and He is very happy for having it,because His hobby is to read this kinde of books., May 15, 2010

By 

Vaid Coku "cocustudio" (Albania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion (Paperback)

I bought it as a gift for a friend, and He is very happy for having it,because His hobby is to read those kind of books.After He had read it,was very glad that He had this book in His hands.