Spetsnaz

Spetsnaz solidiers surrounding Indy's car at Hangar 51

Spetsnaz, or the Soviet Special Forces was a team of highly trained soldiers in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They were considered the best of the Soviet Army because their training was so harsh.

History

In 1957, during the height of the Cold War, over twenty members of Soviet Special Forces under the command of Colonels Irina Spalko and Antonin Dovchenko infiltrated Hangar 51 in the American state of Nevada. They stole the remains of an unknown pilot who crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947.

The group later journeyed to Akator in South America while attempting to gain the ability to control American minds through psychic research. However, the group's number dwindled along the way and those that survived the trip were eventually eliminated by the power within the Temple of Akator.

Notable members

Soviet Special Forces colonel Antonin Dovchenko in 1957.

• Antonin Dovchenko (colonel)

Adams Black Chase Franklin Grant Hoover

Jefferson Kohler Lincoln Marelli Roosevelt Washington

• Soviet Driver
• Unidentified Akator Russian 1
• Unidentified Akator Russian 2

Behind the scenes

A major factor in the deadliness of the Spetsnaz was their indoctrination in Sambo, a Russian Martial Art created during the Bolshevik Revolution to fight the Tsar Nicholas II's soldiers. Sambo is a synthesis of techniques from multiple Chinese and Japanese Martial-Arts, with an emphasis on grappling, brutal joint locking-and-breaking, restraints, takedowns and throws that complement the inherent size and strength of its massive Russian practitioners.

According to director Steven Spielberg, the reason for which he decided to cast Russian-speaking actors (and also true Russian actors) in the roles of the Soviet soldiers of the Spetsnaz was because their accents would be authentic.

Spielberg with the Hangar 51 cast.

Many of the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls disguised Soviets share names with US presidents. In the film's "Making of" documentary, Spielberg posed with seventeen Soviet soldiers dressed as Americans (as well as several of the military police personnel who were killed during the Hangar 51 infiltration). In a closeup, the name tags of some of them are visible.

Appearances

• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull novel
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Non-canonical appearance)

Sources

• Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
• Production Diary: Making of "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

External links

• Soviet Special Forces on Wikipedia