The huge complex of Soviet institutions and enterprises specialised in military production powerfully influenced the course of the twentieth century through resistance to imperial Japan, the defeat of Nazi Germany, and nuclear stalemate with America in the Cold War. Based on collaborative research by Russian and British scholars in the hitherto secret archives of the Soviet government, party, and armed forces, this book is a pioneering investigation of the economic dynamics and social and political significance of Soviet defence.

R.W. DAVIES Emeritus Professor, Russian Economic Studies, University of Birmingham VIKTORIIA GLAZYRINA Research Student, Department of History, State University of Economics and Finance, St Petersburg NATALIA LEBINA Professor of Russian History, State University of Economics and Finance, St Petersburg ALEKSANDR LOSIK Professor of Russian History, Aerospace Academy, St Petersburg LENNART SAMUELSON Research Fellow, Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence College, Stockholm ALEKSANDR SHCHERBA Reader in Russian History, Aerospace Academy, St Petersburg NIKOLAI SIMONOV formerly Senior Researcher, Institute of Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow BORIS STARKOV Professor of Russian History, State University of Economics and Finance, St Petersburg