Real Life of a Soviet Soldier

#ColdWar #Army #USSR

[danoarmstrong]

I was at Minot AFB in the 80's, when we has some Soviet Military Inspectors show up as part of the START treaty. Among other places, they were given a tour of the Airman's Barracks. One inspector was looking out the window at the parking lot, and asked who's cars were in the lot. The guide said they belongs to the troops living in the barracks. The Russian asked, "You allow them to drive off base?". He was told, "Yes, of course". After starring for a few more moments, the Russian asked, "And they come back?".

[kalle]

There was this joke about soviet military I heard. It went something like this:
When I was little I slept peacefully because I knew that our soldiers are protecting our country
When I grew up I couldn't sleep, because I was busy protecting our country
Now I can't sleep, because I know who are protecting our country and in which manner..

[wach]

My grandad born in 1947. He served in USSR Army and said he helped building rocket silos as manual labourer. My dad served in Kola peninsula in 1989. Said it was frozen hell, once he got lost in blizzard and almost died.

[robina.]

My coworker showed me his album from mandatory service in Russia during the 70s, but I never realized it was considered part of Soviet culture! My grandfather was a US pilot during the Korean war, and he also had a photo album/scrapbook of his service.

[BygoneChina]

I love how you incorporated the photo album, really adds to the immersion!

[cossacktwofive]

You forgot that young people are only mostly aware of USSR through video games, specially the one where the Soviets have tesla coils, bears with parachute and Tim Curry being the secretary general.

[SebastianvonGrunf]

This brought back some fond memories.. Even tough i served in mid 2000s, and my country was a part of non aligned Yugoslavia, the customs and traditions seem pretty much the same. Especially those parties we threw for each other before deployment

[Zorglub]

I did my time in 87-89 in Berlin, to go there, we had to cross the DDR in special military train (TMFB Train Militaire Français de Berlin). During transit we often seen trains of soviet troops, they were in cattle cars.
EDIT : Despite the formal interdiction of any kind of communication with anyybody outside the train, when we waved at them, they always answered friendly, and massively, it was impressive and touching.

[VangelisKontogeorgakos]

Served 18 months in the Greek Army, and I feel that I have so much in common with those soldiers. One way to celebrate the 100 days remaining till demobilization, was to take an 100 drachma note and paint on it the days remaining. Brilliant video.

[SarimDeLaurec]

My dad was stationed for hist last year in Mongolia. The rations were way better if you were abroad, even if it was in Mongolia.
When he tells stories from his military service, it is really strange to think such things were common plance. When there was a scandal in the treatment of Bundeswehr recruits about 15 or 20 years ago, he just commented "If only that were our biggest problems when I served...".
In some areas you were nearly 100% guaranteed to get beat up if one found out you were a conscript. Why? Because they got beat up when they themselves were doing their service.

[mjstbnsn]

Great episode! Especially since I served in the US Army in the 80's to see how the other side served. As a matter of fact we were given a film on life of a Soviet soldier but that was filmed in the 60's.

[brucemace]

As a Marine 80’ to 84’ I got to see glimpses of Soviet sailors Airmen and a solder once Migs, Bear recon bombers, a attack sub, destroyer and a Embassy guard. Always wondered what they were like and thought

[kgbfiles]

I'm glad to work together! We need to think about the topic for the next episode .

[Neversa]

My uncles are twins, but due to one of them being sick child and some weird bureaucracy they were registered to be born on different days. So when they were conscripted, one of them was sent to Sakhalin, and second was sent to Crimea. Twins almost always served in the army together.
Btw, my grandpa fought the Chinese in 1968 in Zhalanashköl.

[CaseyMcKinky]

Here in Singapore we also have a 2 year mandatory conscription in either the military, police force or civil defence, followed by 10 years as a reservist. The feelings of the slow months towards the end of your 2 years of active service are very relatable.

[chaitanyasaagar]

Could You also do a video on the Sino Indian war of 1962 and the role of the USSR and USA in the conflict.

[andyreynolds]

This is a brilliant episode - fantastic to get such a human take on the Soviet conscript. They were just boys serving their State in their own world order.

[mishapurser]

Whatever side of the front you're on, everyone is a human being.

[joelmalone]

These albums are truly unique. Some of them are also oddly beautiful with their fascinating illustrations of feelings, often abstract, that they experienced. They are very, very cool and I had no idea such things existed. If I were a family member who had come into posession of one I'd consider it an heirloom or a treasure, if you will.

[ggsay]

My dad have "dem'bel' al'bom", he served in GDR as private in aviation, it was mainly photos of him and his comrades, and only one photo with snow in eastern Germany, he served there for 1, 5 years and only once he saw a snow, in comparison to weather in southern Ural mountains, it is warm climate.