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Historical Purpose of the Armies of Socialist States

p The armies of socialist countries differ radically from the armies of exploiter states as regards their social nature, historical purpose and moral make-up. They are brought into being by specific conditions and their development is governed by specific laws, which differ qualitatively from the ones governing the development of bourgeois armies.

p The laws governing the proletariat’s ciass struggle against the bourgeoisie require that the socialist state should form armed forces. It is compelled to do so by the exploiter classes. The latter are the first to resort to armed violence against the working people. Therefore, in order to consolidate their power, to uphold their revolutionary gains and to defend the socialist country, the working class has to create powerful armed forces. “If the ruling class, the proletariat,” Lenin said, “wants to hold 219 power, it must, therefore, prove its ability to do so by its military organisation."  [219•1 

p In the transition period from capitalism to socialism, especially immediately after the seizure of power by the proletariat, world imperialist reaction endeavours to stifle the socialist revolution by force. It supports and directs the resistance of internal counter-revolutionaries, organises armed actions against the power of the workers and peasants and supports counter-revolutionary troops when foreign interventionists invade the country. The function of armed defence of the socialist country against attacks from the outside, one of the basic functions of the workers’ and peasants’ state, merges with the function of suppressing armed resistance of the overthrown exploiters.

p This function could have been carried out successfully by the socialist militia, if the internal counter- revolutionaries had not been helped by the armed forces of the imperialist powers. But the alliance of external and internal reaction for the purpose of restoring capitalism in the country makes it necessary to set up a regular, standing army. It has the functions of suppressing the armed resistance of the overthrown exploiter classes and of defending the country against the military attacks of international imperialism.

p Externally the first function resembles the corresponding function of the armies of the capitalist state, but differs fundamentally from it in essence. The army of the exploiter state is used to suppress actions by the working people. The army of the socialist state suppresses insurrections of the exploiters, of the “rebellious slave-owners" to use Lenin’s words, and defends the revolutionary gains of the people.

p The way in which this function is discharged depends on the conditions under which the socialist revolution is carried out; it may take the form of a war against the overthrown classes and foreign interventionists, or else of measures to prevent the outbreak of a civil war by foiling counter-revolutionary plots and rebellions, and by defeating armed counter-revolutionary gangs.

p The victory of socialism in the USSR put an end to the function of the Soviet Armed Forces having to do with the suppression of the resistance of exploiters in the country by 220 military means, and the army now has the sole purpose of defending the socialist country against attacks by imperialist aggressors.

p “In terms of internal conditions,” the Programme of the CPSU says, “the Soviet Union needs no army. But since the danger of war coming from the imperialist camp persists, and since complete and general disarmament has not been achieved, the CPSU considers it necessary to maintain the defensive power of the Soviet state and the combat preparedness of its Armed Forces at a level ensuring the decisive and complete defeat of any enemy who dares to encroach upon the Soviet land."  [220•1 

p At the present stage the Soviet Armed Forces are developing their external function, that of defending the socialist motherland, the entire socialist community. They fulfil this task in alliance with the armies of the fraternal socialist countries.

p By defending the achievements in the building of socialism and communism, the freedom and independence of the socialist countries, the armed forces of the socialist states simultaneously defend universal peace. They did this in the past, but in modern conditions they are able to do it much more effectively. The armed forces of the socialist countries are a major factor for universal peace. The further strengthening of their might and the increase in their combat readiness accord with the interests of all of humanity.

Thus, the setting up of powerful armed forces of a new type, capable of opposing the armies of the imperialist states, is a concrete expression of one of the general laws of the transition from capitalism to socialism and communism in conditions of the existence of two opposing social systems, the law of the armed defence of the gains of the socialist revolution.

Main Distinguishing Features of the Armies of Socialist States

p A comprehensive characteristic of the social nature and distinguishing features of the Soviet Army and Navy is given in Lenin’s works, the decisions of Party Congresses and other Party documents.

p In the course of their development the Armed Forces of the USSR have passed through two main stages. The 221 first stage, during which they were an instrument of the socialist state, of the proletarian dictatorship, ends with the complete and final triumph of socialism in the country. During the present, second stage, the Armed Forces are an instrument of the socialist state of the whole people. These stages correspond to the character of the socio-economic and political relations dominant during these periods in the history of the Soviet people. At the same time they reflect the radical changes in the relation of forces in the world in favour of peace, democracy and socialism.

p The armies that have emerged and developed in other socialist countries have common features with the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. The most important of them stem from the nature of socialism and are connected with concrete historical conditions. These features make armed forces of socialist countries differ radically from the armies of imperialist states.

p The armies of the socialist countries are armies of a new type. As regards their character and socio-political essence they are fully determined by the nature of the socialist system, are samples of it. All these armies are organs of the socialist state, and the Marxist-Leninist Parties are their leading, guiding and organising force. Irrespective of the level of their development, these armies are based upon social relations and states of the same type, are guided by the same Marxist-Leninist ideology.

p One of the most important specific features of the socialist armies, distinguishing them from bourgeois armed forces, is that they are genuinely people’s armies. They defend the interests of the workers and peasants, of all working people, they are indissolubly linked with the people, uphold the great achievements of socialism, and are an embodiment of the alliance between the working class and the working peasantry, of the social, political and ideological unity of socialist society.

p The genuinely popular character of the army of the socialist state is expressed, first, in its purpose, in the functions it fulfils; second, in the unity of the army and the people; third, in its social make-up and in the relations between men and officers.

p The armed forces of the socialist countries defend the vital interests of the working people. Therefore, the 222 interrelations between the army and the people in socialist society differ fundamentally from those in capitalist countries. In socialist countries the people love their army. The Soviet Army, Lenin said, is “an armed force of workers and peasants; and this force is not divorced from people, as was the old standing army, but is very closely bound up with the people".  [222•1 

p The unity of the army and the people is expressed in many forms. The people give every assistance to their army in its struggle against enemies, supply it with first-class weapons and equipment, with everything it needs. The army is boundlessly devoted to its people and heroically fights for their freedom and happiness. The army and the people stand ideologically and politically united. This is, in fact, the source of its strength and invincibility.

p In bourgeois armies there exists a social division between the officers and the rank-and-file, while the armies of socialist states are monolythic. All officers and men are working people; they have identical interests and the relations between them are therefore founded on mutual understanding and mutual respect. They express the co-operation and mutual assistance, democratism and humanism, typical of socialist society.

p The change in the social make-up of the armies of socialist states and their gradual transformation into armies of the whole people are a law of their development.

p A distinguishing feature of armies of the socialist states is that they are armies of friendship and brotherhood between peoples defending the freedom and independence of the socialist nations who have united in a single socialist community.

p In exploiter states the armies are an instrument of national oppression and are educated in a spirit of greatpower chauvinism, haughtiness, conceit and contempt for oppressed nations. The armies of the world socialist system, on the other hand, are animated by a spirit of equality and freedom of all nations and nationalities. Educated in the spirit of friendship and brotherhood between nations, the armies of the socialist countries selflessly protect the freedom and state sovereignty of the peoples living in these 223 countries, defend the frontiers of their motherlands. This is one of the sources of their might.

p The Soviet Armed Forces are an example of armed forces built on the principle of equality and friendship between peoples. They are multinational and rely on the cohesion of the working people of all nationalities united in a single military organisation. The Soviet Army and Navy, therefore, have the full support of all nations and nationalities in the country. This was one of the reasons why the Soviet Armed Forces displayed such amazing strength and staunchness in the Great Patriotic War.

p The friendship of the peoples of the socialist country and its embodiment in the army are one of the manifestations of socialist internationalism, on which the development and life of the armed forces are built. The new type of international relations between the states of the world socialist system is reflected in the armed forces too. The new distinctive feature of socialist armies, one developed as a result of the formation of the world socialist system, is that they are armies of friendship between the peoples of all socialist countries, that they are permeated with the spirit of socialist internationalism, are built and develop on the basis of close cooperation and fraternal mutual assistance. Relying on economic, socio-political and ideological principles of the same type, the socialist states consistently strengthen the friendship, co-operation and fraternal mutual assistance among themselves in the economic, political and cultural fields, and in the military defence of their countries.

p “The Soviet Union sees it as its internationalist duty,” the Programme of the CPSU says, “to guarantee, together with the other socialist countries, the reliable defence and security of the entire socialist camp."  [223•1 

p The military-political co-operation of the states of the socialist community, their mutual assistance in the development of the armed forces assume different forms. Chief among them are: the commitment to help each other in repelling imperialist aggression, in accordance with the Warsaw Treaty and the bilateral treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance signed between the socialist countries; the consultation and co-ordination of measures 224 aimed at strengthening the armed forces and their defensive capacity; the setting up of a joint command for the troops set apart by the Warsaw Treaty member-states, the carrying out of joint manoeuvres; the exchange of experience in military training and political education, the training of officers, etc.

p Of great importance to further strengthening the cooperation and mutual assistance between the armies of the socialist countries is the systematic education of the soldiers in the spirit of socialist internationalism and patriotism, the promotion of the lofty traditions born in the joint struggle of the peoples and their armed forces against foreign invaders.

p The consolidation of the socialist states and their armies dooms to failure the imperialist attempts to disunite the socialist countries, to weaken their might and smash them one by one. The Soviet Armed Forces and the armies of other fraternal socialist states are always ready to come to each other’s assistance in case of a military attack and provocations by the imperialists.

p The distinctive feature of the armies of the socialist states is that they are educated to respect the peoples of all other, non-socialist countries, to be aware of their internationalist duty to the working class and the working people of the world, to render fraternal assistance to the people fighting for the liberation from class and national oppression. In this respect they also differ fundamentally from the armies of the capitalist states which are educated to hate the peoples of other countries, are imbued with nationalism and racialism.

p The armies of the socialist countries fulfil their internationalist duty by various means and in diverse forms. First, they selflessly defend the gains of socialism in their own countries and thereby defend the cause of socialism in the whole world. Second, the heavy defeats these armies inflict upon aggressors during the war weaken the strength of imperialism and facilitate the people’s struggle against oppression. Third, under definite conditions the armed forces of the socialist countries give direct military assistance to countries falling victim to imperialist aggression. Fourth, they defend universal peace by creating a powerful obstacle to military adventures by the imperialists.

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p The Soviet Army repeatedly routed the armies of aggressors, thereby weakening the forces of reaction, their onslaught on the liberation movement of the working people and the oppressed peoples, defended the cause of socialism, progress and peace. Emphasising the international significance of Russia’s working people’s heroic struggle against international imperialism, Lenin said that they represent and defend the interests of world socialism.

The armies of the socialist states are liberation armies; they waged and can wage only just wars. History has assigned to them the great mission of being the bulwark of socialism, democracy and peace in the whole world. These features of the socialist armies find a generalised expression in their spiritual make-up, in their moral and political supremacy over bourgeois armies. Ideological conviction and communist morality make the Soviet soldier great and gallant, are the source of his inspired feats in training and in battle, the source of his selfless service to his people, to his country, and to the cause of communism.

Moral-Political Make-up of the Armies of Socialist States

p The moral-political make-up of the armies of socialist countries is distinguished by noble and lofty traits, which reflect the new relations between the members of socialist society and embody the ideas of Marxism-Leninism, the norms of communist morality.

p The high consciousness of the soldiers is a distinctive feature of the armies of socialist states. “... For the first time in world history,” Lenin said, “an army, an armed force, has been created, which knows what it is fighting for; and, for the first time in world history, workers and peasants are making incredible sacrifices in the knowledge that they are defending the Soviet Socialist Republic, the rule of the working people... .”  [225•1  Lenin repeatedly stressed that the Soviet Army is strong by the consciousness of its commanders and rank-and-file, that every one of them knows “what he is fighting for and is ready to shed his own blood for the triumph of justice and socialism".  [225•2 

p The socialist social relations, the new social nature of the whole of society and of the state, form the objective basis 226 of the high consciousness of the soldiers. The consistent educational work of the Communist and Workers’ Parties and the invincible strength of the ideas of Marxism- Leninism which capture the minds of the working people owing to the great truth and justness contained in them, are powerful factors promoting the growth of the soldiers’ consciousness.

p Distinctive features of the moral and political make-up of the officers and men of socialist armies are their deep awareness of their social and military duty, the sense of responsibility for the combat readiness of sub-units, units, formations and the whole of the armed forces, high vigilance, a statesman-like approach to the defence of the socialist country.

p An important feature in the spiritual make-up of the soldiers of socialist armies are collectivism and comradely mutual assistance according to the principle “one for all, all for one”. A striking manifestation of this feature is comradeship-in-arms, mutual assistance in combat, assistance to comrades experiencing difficulties in private matters or in their service activities.

p As distinct from the individualism and egoism reigning in the bourgeois armies, the soldiers of the socialist armies place social interests and aspirations above all, care for their collective, for its successes, honour and glory. They understand that only in a friendly collective (sub-unit, unit or formation) can the personal capacities of every soldier manifest themselves to the fullest and be of greatest use to the country.

p A feature typical of the moral and political make-up of the armies of socialist states is humanism in the relations between the servicemen and the civilian population.

p As distinct from the imperialist armies, where servicemen often treat the civilian population roughly, where violence and robbery are frequent, the standard of conduct of the soldiers of socialist countries is a polite, comradely attitude towards the civilian population; assistance to it in fighting natural calamities; aid in economic and socio-political campaigns; strict observance of the inviolability of people’s property and houses; readiness to save children, women and the aged from any danger; respect for human dignity, the rights and customs of the population of countries which the 227 troops of socialist states have to enter in the course of military operations or the fulfilment of their allied commitments.

p The standards of communist morality, the standards of conduct of servicemen are set forth in the laws and the military regulations; they lay down rules for the treatment of prisoners of war, prohibit their being subjected to humiliation, demand that they be treated humanely and that the wounded be given medical aid.

p The behaviour of the soldiers of socialist armies noted above expresses the genuinely humane nature and purpose of these armies. They are a weapon for the defence of socialist gains, of the freedom of the socialist nations from exploitation and all forms of social and political oppression, of the broad opportunities for the all-round development of the individual offered by socialism, a weapon defending the independence and sovereignty of the socialist nations. The liberating mission of the armies of socialist states with respect to the peoples enslaved by imperialism is a manifestation of their genuine humanism.

p Socialist humanism is imbued in the soldiers by their education in the spirit of proletarian internationalism and esprit de corps. The ideological work of the Communist and Workers’ Parties in the armed forces is focussed on this. At the same time all manifestations of nationalism and national narrow-mindedness and other vestiges of the past are energetically combatted.

p As distinct from the armies of the imperialist states, where the philistine bourgeois morality is combined with the unbridled propaganda of amorality, the cult of violence and misanthropy, in the armies of the socialist countries soldiers are educated in the spirit of noble communist moral principles. Such features of communist morality as the conscientious attitude towards military duties and the social wealth (military property), honesty and truthfulness, moral purity and modesty in social and private life, justness with respect to all comrades, superior and inferior in rank, are penetrating ever deeper into the soldiers’ consciousness and are becoming standards of behaviour.

p The decisive features of the spiritual make-up of the socialist armies are such political and moral attitudes in the soldiers as devotion to the homeland and hatred for the enemy, courage, bravery and fearlessness in the struggle for 228 the interests of the country. These features found expression in the heroic exploits of millions of Soviet soldiers in two patriotic wars and in other armed conflicts with aggressors, innumerable examples of conscious self-sacrifice by all soldiers, from generals down to the rank-and-file—in the name of the victory over the enemies.

p These features, displayed also by soldiers of other socialist countries, are revealed not only on the fields of battle, and not only in times of war, but also in peace-time. Let us remember the numerous examples of courage shown by the engineers who rendered harmless ammunition dumps left behind by the nazi invaders, that of the border guards, of the soldiers in the rocket troops, of the pilots and sailors safeguarding the country’s frontiers and air space. Example of the valiant courage, the heroism of the Soviet people are the flights of the Soviet cosmonauts who were the first to blaze the road to the stars.

The superiority of the moral and political make-up of the socialist armies is one of the sources of their might and invincible strength.