On This Date: 1942 Message on Red Army Cowardice on the Stalingrad Front

In a 1942 message written to the Military Councils of the Armies of the Stalingrad Front, Commander of Troops General-Lieutenant Vasiliy Gordov voiced his frustrations over the fact that individual soldiers, and sometimes even entire units, were known to retreat from battle without authorization, only to face no punishment from higher headquarters. Pointing out thatContinue reading "On This Date: 1942 Message on Red Army Cowardice on the Stalingrad Front"

On This Date: 1942 Report from Zhukov on Early Days of Rzhev Offensive Operation

The summer 1942 Battle of Rzhev was one of a number of fierce and bloody battles that began the previous January, and would not let up until the following March. There is still heated debate regarding the entire campaign's toll to the Red Army and the Wehrmacht - many suggest the numbers of Red ArmyContinue reading "On This Date: 1942 Report from Zhukov on Early Days of Rzhev Offensive Operation"

New Patrol Craft with Chinese Engines Complete Sea Trials, Part of 2.7 Billion Ruble Contract for Russian Emergency Services

Kingisepp Machinery Plant (KMZ) has successfully completed sea trials with the RPK-640 and PK-500 patrol craft, based on a large contract for the Russian Emergency Services worth a total of 2.76 billion rubles. A press release published by KMZ noted that the vessels are part of a large contract for the construction of 199 multipurposeContinue reading "New Patrol Craft with Chinese Engines Complete Sea Trials, Part of 2.7 Billion Ruble Contract for Russian Emergency Services"

On This Date: 1944 Report from Beria on Security Operations to Destroy Armed Ukrainian Partisan Formations

Special Folder Top Secret Copy No. 1 5 August 1944                According to the NKVD-NKGB of the Ukrainian SSR, recently, in connection with the advance of the Red Army units to the West and the departure of individual units of the NKVD troops stationed in the areas of the Rivne region, the OUN (Organization ofContinue reading "On This Date: 1944 Report from Beria on Security Operations to Destroy Armed Ukrainian Partisan Formations"

Korean War: Kicking Off the Soviet Propaganda Program

Translating History winds down its look at Korean War with four new translations, the last of our documents from this batch. Today's post features evidence that most of the world was siding with the United Nations version of events, that the North Koreans invaded South Korea as puppets of the USSR. The Soviets, seeing theContinue reading "Korean War: Kicking Off the Soviet Propaganda Program"

Ill-Fated Soviet Nuclear Submarine ‘Komsomolets’ Sets Depth Record on This Date in 1985

A press release issued today, 4 August 2025, from Russia's Northern Shipyard - Sevmash - celebrated the 40th anniversary of the world's depth record (1027 meters) being set in 1985 by the Project 685 nuclear submarine Komsomolets, built at the Sevmash facility. To date, this record has not been surpassed by any fleet in theContinue reading "Ill-Fated Soviet Nuclear Submarine ‘Komsomolets’ Sets Depth Record on This Date in 1985"

Russia’s Largest Supplier of Speedboats for Military and Coast Guard Struggles with its “Unfriendly” Foreign Components

A report published in June 2025 by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau reveals that there are still challenges that continue to stymie the Russian Federation's efforts to completely phase out imported components, especially in the realm of shipbuilding. Almaz highlights foreign components its own design and production of high-speed boats for the Russian MinistryContinue reading "Russia’s Largest Supplier of Speedboats for Military and Coast Guard Struggles with its “Unfriendly” Foreign Components"

Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End

Translating History continues its look at the early days of the Korean War with a new translation of a declassified Top Secret document from 1951, Document 5 in our series. Stalin’s position, as well as that of his entourage, regarding the Korean issue in the winter of 1951 is revealed by secret instructions from theContinue reading "Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End"

Two Versions of the Beginning of the Korean War, Stalin and Gromyko Embrace the Lie

Translating History continues its look at the early days of the Korean War with two new translations of declassified documents from 1950. The materials in the collection contain two versions of the origin of the Korean War of 1950-1953 and the degree of guilt of the DPRK and ROK in unleashing it. One of themContinue reading "Two Versions of the Beginning of the Korean War, Stalin and Gromyko Embrace the Lie"