Soviet Military Encyclopedia
 | |
| Editors | Andrei Grechko(Volumes 1 and 8) Nikolai Ogarkov(Volumes 2–7) |
|---|---|
| Original title | Советская военная энциклопедия |
| Language | Russian |
| Subject | Military art and science |
| Publisher | Voenizdat |
Publication date | 1976–1980 |
| Publication place | Soviet Union |
| Media type | |
| OCLC | 8109684 |
TheSoviet Military Encyclopedia(Russian:Советская военная энциклопедия (СВЭ),romanized:Sovetskaya voyennaya entsiklopediya (SVE)) is an eight-volumeencyclopedic dictionaryof military subjects. It was published byVoenizdat,the publishing house of theSoviet Ministry of Defense,between 1976 and 1980.
Background
[edit]In the early 1930s, an attempt at publishing a projected twelve-volumeSoviet Military Encyclopediawas made under the direction ofRobert Eideman,the head of theFrunze Military Academy.However, only the first two volumes were published by thePeople's Commissariat of Defensein 1932 and 1933, due to the execution of Eideman and many of the editorial board during theGreat Purge.[1]
Due to revolutions in military affairs in the second half of the 20th century, the Soviet Ministry of Defense decided to publish an encyclopedia to summarize developments.[2]
Editions and translations
[edit]Beginning in 1976, the eight volumes of the encyclopedia were published byVoenizdat,the publishing house of theSoviet Ministry of Defense.[1]106,000 copies were printed.[2]
After the publication of the initial eight volumes, two smaller editions of theMilitary Encyclopedic Dictionary(Russian:Военного энциклопедического словаря) were published in 1983 and 1986 based on the content of theSoviet Military Encyclopedia.The first volume of the second edition, under the general editorship of then-Chief of the General StaffMikhail Moiseyev,was published by Voenizdat in 1990. The second edition was not completed due to thedissolution of the Soviet Union.[1]
TheRussian Ministry of Defensepublished the successorMilitary Encyclopedia in Eight Volumes(Russian:Военная энциклопедия в 8 томах) beginning in 1994, including articles on subjects excluded by the Soviet version for ideological reasons, such as those relating to theWhite movement.[1]
An abridged four-volume English translation of the encyclopedia was published byWestview Pressin 1993, edited and translated by William C. Green and W. Robert Reeves.[3]
Content
[edit]The encyclopedia contains around 11,000 articles onmilitary theory,military history,military technology,andmilitary geography,as well as biographical articles. The eight volumes of the encyclopedia are illustrated with more than 5,500 maps, diagrams, and photographs.[1]
According to then-Chief of the General StaffMikhail Kolesnikov,writing in the journalVoyennaya Mysl(Military Thought), the encyclopedia's articles are mostly objective and reliable, but it devotes much of its space to promoting Soviet ideology, making the encyclopedia "excessively politicized". As a result, it is "not without subjectivity in assessing the role and significance of certain military operations and military and political figures", reducing the "objectivity and scientific value of the articles".[1]
Authors
[edit]The Soviet Ministry of Defense supervised the writing of the encyclopedia, with contributions from prominent Soviet military leaders andmilitary scientists.Then-Minister of DefenseAndrei Grechkochaired the Main Editorial Commission of the encyclopedia for volumes one and eight, and then-Chief of the General StaffNikolai Ogarkovtook over the position after Grechko's death in 1976.[1]The rest of the editorial commission for the first volume included:[4]
- Colonel Generalof EngineersNikolay Alekseyev
- Colonel GeneralAlexander Altunin
- Admiral of the FleetSergey Gorshkov
- Nikolay Gribachyov
- Army GeneralAlexei Yepishev(deputy chairman)
- Corresponding member of theSoviet Academy of SciencesLieutenant GeneralPavel Zhilin(deputy chairman)
- Professor Igor Zemskov
- Professor Army GeneralSemyon Ivanov
- Corresponding member of the Soviet Academy of SciencesMikhail Iovchuk
- Professor Major GeneralMikhail Kiryan
- Professor S.M. Kovalyov
- Chief marshal of AviationPavel Kutakhov
- Army General Nikolai Ogarkov (deputy chairman)
- Army General Ivan Pavlovsky
- Professor A.D. Pedosov (deputy chairman)
- Colonel GeneralGennady Svedin
- Army GeneralIvan Shavrov
- Army GeneralIvan Shkadov
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgKolesnikov, Mikhail (1995)."Российская Военная Энциклопедия: традиции и современность"[Russian Military Encyclopedia: Traditions and the Present].Voyennaya Mysl (Military Thought)(in Russian).5(9–10).
- ^abMilovanov, V.I.; Shvedov, Yu. N. (2004). "Энциклопедии военные" [Military encyclopedia]. In Ivanov, Sergey (ed.).Военная энциклопедия в 8 томах [Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes](in Russian). Vol. 8. Moscow: Voenizdat. pp. 508–509.
- ^Parrish, Michael (June 1994). "Review of The Soviet Military Encyclopedia, Abridged English Language Edition, vols. 1-4".Slavic Review.53(2): 649–650.doi:10.2307/2501389.JSTOR2501389.S2CID164099994.
- ^Ogarkov, Nikolay, ed. (1976)."ВОЕННАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА --[ Справочная литература ]-- Советская военная энциклопедия (1976-1980)".Советская военная энциклопедия [Soviet Military Encyclopedia](in Russian). Vol. 1. Moscow: Voenizdat. p. 7.