Soviet Red Army

Lore & Background

Sexual violence was committed by the Red Army as their troops fought their way into the Third Reich and during the period of occupation. Mass rape by Soviet soldiers first began during the Battle of Romania and during the Budapest offensive in Hungary. On the territory of Nazi Germany, it began on 21 October 1944 when troops of the Red Army crossed the bridge over the Angerapp creek and committed the Nemmersdorf massacre before they were beaten back a few hours later. The majority of the assaults were committed in the Soviet occupation zone; estimates of the numbers of German women raped by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million. According to historian William Hitchcock, in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some as many as 60 to 70 times. At least 100,000 women are believed to have been raped in Berlin, based on surging abortion rates in the following months and contemporary hospital reports, with an estimated 10,000 women dying in the aftermath. Female deaths in connection with the rapes in Germany, overall, are estimated at 240,000. Antony Beevor describes it as the 'greatest phenomenon of mass rape in history' and concludes that at least 1.4 million women were raped in East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia alone. According to Soviet war correspondent Natalya Gesse, Soviet soldiers raped German females from eight to eighty years old. Soviet and Polish women were not spared either. When General Tsygankov reported to Moscow the mass rape of Soviet women deported to Germany for forced labour, he recommended that the women be prevented from describing their ordeal on their return to Russia. When the Yugoslav Partisan politician Milovan Djilas complained about rapes in Yugoslavia, Joseph Stalin reportedly stated that he should 'understand it if a soldier who has crossed thousands of kilometres through blood and fire and death has fun with a woman or takes some trifle.' On another occasion, when told that Red Army soldiers sexually maltreated German refugees, he reportedly said: 'We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have some initiative!' Nevertheless, there are no surviving records to prove that rape was legally sanctioned. Konstantin Rokossovsky issued order No. 006 in an attempt to direct 'the feelings of hatred at fighting the enemy on the battlefield,' which had little effect. The commander of one rifle division is said to have 'personally shot a lieutenant who was lining up a group of his men before a German woman spread-eagled on the ground.'

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the frozen tundra, carrying the scent of diesel and burning pine. Sergeant Volkov adjusted his ear protection, the muffled roar of the T-72 engine beside him vibrating through his boots. Ahead, the American lines were a blur of dust and tracer fire, but to Volkov, they were merely an obstacle in the path of history. 'Push,' he signaled, raising his rifle as the BMPs rumbled forward, their turrets swiveling like predatory eyes. There was no room for hesitation; the order from Moscow was clear, and the Red Army did not stop until the objective was secured.

Reader's Guide

Their gameplay identity is built around heavy armor and infantry support. Visually and mechanically, they are associated with distinct variants like the T-72 tank, which offers high durability but slower speeds compared to Western counterparts. Infantry often wield AK-pattern rifles and RPGs, emphasizing close-quarters suppression and anti-tank capabilities. In the game's lore, their role is that of the primary antagonist force challenging Western dominance. They represent the geopolitical tension of the era, driving narratives focused on espionage, border skirmishes, and large-scale conventional warfare.

Did You Know?

• According to historian Antony Beevor, NKVD files revealed that the Soviet leadership knew about the mass rapes but did little to stop them.
• At least 100,000 women are believed to have been raped in Berlin, based on surging abortion rates and contemporary hospital reports.
• Female deaths in connection with the rapes in Germany are estimated at 240,000.
• Soviet war correspondent Natalya Gesse reported that Soviet soldiers raped German females from eight to eighty years old.
• When told of rapes in Yugoslavia, Joseph Stalin reportedly said: 'We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have some initiative!'