Defending Rodinu - Volume 1 by Krzysztof Dabrowski - Book Review

A new week, a new Helion & Co release (or so it seems when you're on their mailing list) and it didn't take long for me to decide to pick up a copy of one of their most recent titles, especially as it had the usual discount applied for the release weekend.

Defending Rodinu by Krzysztof Dąbrowski is the first volume of a pair to look at the air defences of the Soviet Union in the post World War 2 period. Covering the years 1945 to 1960, this is a favourite period of mine in both Cold War history and military aviation in general. The move from piston engines to jets (and rockets for some), plus the almost never-ending technological changes that ran through the period covered here is one that has fascinated me for years. Off topic, but look at the development of combat aircraft for the RAF in the 1950's. There were so many changes and new theoretical processes that a project started in 1950 was extremely unlikely to be anywhere near cutting edge (if it saw service at all) by the end of the decade. 

Back to the Soviet Union though, and the author begins this 72-page tome with a walkthrough of how the air defences of the Soviet Union developed from 1945 onwards, detailing the aircraft types, surface to air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, radars and the organisation of the entity entrusted with stopping foreign bombers from laying waste to the Motherland. 

Once past the introduction, we get accounts of the various overflights undertaken by the US and its allies, the Soviet responses and the human cost as aircraft were shot down even though it was, ostensibly, peacetime. There is coverage of the political background to each event and, touchingly, the names of each of the crews that sometimes, but not always, survived their encounter with the PVO. The sheer challenge that the PVO faced is presented plainly and without condescension. The geographical nature of the Soviet Union's border and the immature technology of the time combined to make it an immensely difficult task but the defenders of Soviet airspace grew in ability and confidence as the years progressed. It must be remembered that this wasn't just cutting edge technology, it was bleeding, and many paid the price of their political master's orders.

This is a well illustrated book with a large number of contemporary photographs, and I am sure some of the modellers out there will find something useful here. There are also a good number of maps and diagrams that you'd expect from a Helion & Co. release, as well as the always excellent quality colour plates in the centre pages. 

Mr Dabrowski should be congratulated on an excellently written first volume on a topic that never seems to get much of an airing. Most of the sources I have on reconnaissance flights in the Cold War are written from the US/NATO perspective (although it could very well be that I just need to expand my library), so this is a worthy addition to the topic and I shall be perusing the excellent bibliography for future purchases. I can honestly say that I am very much looking forward to the second volume.

You can buy Defending Rodinu directly from the Helion & Co website here. You can pre-register your interest in volume 2, covering the period 1960 to 1989 which is due out in the Autumn, here.