- Official Name: Soviet Army ("Sovetskaya Armiya").
- Part of: Armed Forces of the Soviet Union/Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
- Founded: January 28, 1918 (as the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army)
- Disbanded: December 26, 1991.
- Command Structures: The General Staff, Military Districts, and Group of Forces Commands.
- Branches: The Soviet Army primarily consisted of two main ground branches: the Land Forces and Air Defense Forces, along with smaller combat support services.
- Personnel: During its peak, the total personnel strength exceeded 5 million military personnel.
- Role: Defend the Soviet Union (and allies as needed) from attacks and maintain geopolitical and military presence during the Cold War era.
Main Functions and Responsibilities
- Defending the Nation and its Borders: Protected the vast borders of the Soviet Union against invasion or aggression.
- Collective Security Treaties: Supported Warsaw Pact (Eastern European allies) defense measures
- Internal Suppression: Used for managing civil unrest or enforcing state power as required.
- Power Projection: Participated in some overseas military engagements in line with foreign policies of the USSR.
- Technological Expertise: Engaged in the advancement of warfare tactics, logistics, and weaponry during various military engagements.