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Soviet Union [USSR] Specialized and Paramilitary Forces
Under Soviet law, two armed services were outside the control
of the Ministry of Defense but were nonetheless part of the Soviet
armed forces. These services, the Internal Troops and the Border
Troops, were subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
the KGB, respectively. Although often termed "militarized police,"
the Internal Troops and the Border Troops were military
organizations, equipped, like motorized rifle regiments, with tanks
and armored personnel carriers.
Internal Troops
In 1989 the Internal Troops had a personnel strength of about
340,000 soldiers. These troops had the mission of suppressing
demonstrations, revolts, riots, strikes, or other challenges to the
regime that the militia (police) could not contain
(see Soviet Union USSR - Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
, ch. 19). The use of
Internal Troops instead of the Ground Forces in these situations
helped to preserve the favorable image of the latter with the
population. In extreme circumstances, the Internal Troops also
served as the party's counterweight to the military services.
In addition to these peacetime roles, the Internal Troops also
have been assigned wartime missions. In time of war, they would
support frontline operations by providing rear security against
enemy sabotage, defending supply and communications lines, and
operating prisoner-of-war and penal battalions. In the early days
of World War II, the Internal Troops manned machine gun detachments
located behind Soviet frontline units. The detachments were charged
with firing on Red Army soldiers who tried to retreat or desert.
Data as of May 1989
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