Russian Paras 1930-1945

For the first time in the world, a book widely illustrated with over 200 original and unpublished photographs retraces the history of the beginning of the military and pre-military parachuting in the Soviet Union. The result of 20 years of research and contacts across Russia, this book equally presents an exceptional collection of badges and documents regarding the structure and the creation and testing of the first air rescue unities. Rich of biographies and portraits of the principal players of this development, this book deals with the military aspects (precursors, equipment, doctrine, formation of the commando group and the role of special services) that tie into society, culture, and art. Neither the drama due to accidents nor the success of the Soviet rescue airplanes during the Second World War pass unobserved. A section is dedicated to the formation in 1935 of the first French military instructors in the URSS, at the origin of military parachuting in France.