History
The Soviet military grew out of the Red Army formed after the Russian Revolution. It became a giant machine that included ground troops, a massive navy, and a very strong air force. For most of the 20th century, this military was the main tool the Soviet government used to protect itself and expand its influence.
During World War II, the Soviet military played a huge role in defeating Germany. They fought in some of the biggest and most difficult battles in history. After the war, they remained very strong to compete with the United States. This competition became the Cold War, where the Soviet military focused on nuclear weapons and keeping control over Eastern Europe.
Technology was very important to the Soviet military. They built many planes, tanks, and rockets to keep up with other countries. However, keeping such a huge military cost a lot of money and resources. This eventually contributed to the economic problems that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The military was then split up among the new countries that were created.
