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Article: Getting the Reds Out; Soviet Gen. Volkogonov and His Army Reforms
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- November 20, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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From his office on the 18th floor of the Russian parliament
building, Dimitri Volkogonov gazed out across the winding Moscow
River and flat expanse of the capital, a bleak vista of rain and
smokestacks and grimy apartment buildings.
"Today, we dismissed 46 or 48 generals," he said. But most of
the army's 90,000 political officers, who used to govern ideology,
personnel decisions and everything else that mattered, will not be
fired. Most are young, Volkogonov said, and willing to relearn. To
kick them out would only create a vein of discontent.
The general, to whom the Red Army has turned to purge it of all
Communist influence, said he hopes the army will be reborn far
smaller, more ...