The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Lessons from Afghanistan

Through detailed combat vignettes and expert military analysis, Lester W. Grau examines how the Soviet Army adapted—and often struggled—to fight in Afghanistan's unforgiving terrain. Drawing from Frunze Military Academy studies and firsthand accounts, each chapter dissects specific operations, from air assaults to counter-guerrilla tactics, using detailed maps and after-action analyses to reveal crucial lessons. Discover how Soviet doctrine confronted the realities of mountain warfare, where small-unit initiative often proved more valuable than conventional military wisdom. This collection of battlefield experiences, enhanced by Grau's insightful commentary, offers military professionals and historians an unprecedented look at the tactical challenges and adaptations that shaped Soviet combat performance in Afghanistan.