History
After the war in 1945 most of the Soviet divisions were disbanded, with them a big part of the soviet „mountain rifle divisions“. The last designated mountain divisions were disbanded in 1967, after this some motorized rifle divisions got a special „winter and mountain training“ although trainedlike mentioned before, they were at best insufficient prepared and equipped for mountain warfare.
The reason for this developement was the expected scenario for a conflict with the NATO, which was expected to be a mainly mechanized conflict.
In the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) the Soviets realized, beside other mistakes in their doctrine, their need for units spezialised in mountain warfare. Such a unit was then established in 1982 based in Kirghistan 68-я окрема Горнострелковая Бригада ("68th independent/seperated mountain rifle brigade") – disbanded Dec. 1991. Until the fall of the Soviet Union 1991 this was the only military formation which had been a designated mountain rifle unit. Its one and only commander was Vassiliy Diaur (Василий Дьяур) who is now a high ranking officer in the Kirghisian Army.
In 2004, V. Putin gave the order to establish units specialised for mountain warfare. Some were founded by FSB, GRU, MVD and VDV, also the ground forces got the order to establish such units. So the 33rd and 34th independent/seperated motorized rifle brigade (mountain) were established. The setting up of those units and their bases are currently ongoing. It seems that they are built after their Soviet counterparts and not as mountain warfare unit known by western standards.
Sadly no details about the soviet 68th are known by now. The russian 33rd is based in the mountains of Dagestan, close to the Chechen border and the russian 34th is based at Zelenchukskaya in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, near Sochi and the Abkhaz border. Regarding to this article ( http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=32634 ) they might just have a overall defensive role.
The story (fictional) of 14-я Гвардейская Горнострелковая Дивизия (14th Guards Mountain Rifle Division)
железный легион (Iron Legion)
1991 – the August-coup in Moscow was successful. Prime Minister of the Soviet Union Valentin Sergeyevich Pavlov (Валентин Сергеевич Павлов ) becomes the new president of the Soviet Union. The West is concerned about the developements in Russia. The US, under president Bush's leadership, stops the disarmament and increases their effort in airborne reconnaisance- and intelligence missions to reveal the actual situation in the Soviet Union. Incidents including US spyplanes and secret agents of western countries caused the relations between the western and eastern world to cool down. These incidents accumulated until 1995 the Soviet rearmament starts finally, the bear has awoken.....
Divisions that had been transformed to storage units get reactivated and restocked, strategic bomber fleets and ICBM's are made operational. Large exercises are held close to the western borders. Noticeably the Eastern European Countries are orientating theirselves again to Moscow, fearing an Intervention from the Motherland.
After years of disagreement and lacking information the West is deploying newly formed divisions in the eastern part of Germany. Motivated by the regained strength of the Motherland, a group of ex GDR Officials led my Erich Fritz Emil Mielke tried to reestablish a socialist government in Eastern Germany in 2003. Since this coup lacked of proper preparation and the support of the East German people it could be thwarted by units of the US Army and the Bundeswehr. This caused the Soviet Union to strengthen their troops in Eastern Europe. They couldn't accept such a slap in Socialism's face.
First armoured formations of the Red Army crossed the German Border in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg. Quickly they advanced forward into central Germany and pushed the NATO units back to Thüringen, Nordrhein-Westfalen and Hessen. Because of the lacking supplies, the people's resistance and the fact that the NATO units were able to fortify themselves after they recieved reinforcements, mainly French and British forces, the Soviet advance was stalling and halted completely. Units based in Czechoslovakia (mainly Czech and other forces from Eastern Block countries) tried to relief the northern front but failed. Based on this miscarriage, the Soviets decided to send some divisions to fortify the border in Czechoslovakia to prevent NATO troops to break out.
At the same time the main attack was carried out in Northern Germany, an offensive in Central and South Europe was started. It was meant to pull the front forward in all Europe at once, led by the main attack from the north. The Red Army overruns big parts of Austria almost at once but the stationary fortifications in austria delayed the Soviet advance so that parts of the military equipment and the government of austria can be moved into western parts of the country or neighbour countries.
Soviet mountain brigades, formed in the mid 80s in Afghanistan were deployed to secure the advance. Unfortunately these Brigades were too few in number, compared to their western counterparts, so it was imposssible to advance, all they can do now is secure their own lines. For the new offensive, Mountain Divisions are set up, consisting of old veterans from Afghanistan and new recruits. They are trained hastily but as best as possible to form the spearhead of the new Attack against the imperialistic NATO. One of these units is 14th Guards Mountain Rifle Division.
