The soviet Elite. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about them on the web or in the form of books.
I’ve read, somewhere, that the guards were russians with a higher education background.
The Vozdushno-Desantnye Vojska or VDV (ВДВ), English for “Airborne Troops”, is a Russian military corps.
Originally formed in the Soviet Union during the late 1930s and massively expanded during World War II, where they formed up to 10 Airborne Corps with numerous Independent Airborne Brigades, with most or all achieving “Guards” status. At the end of the war they were reconstituted as Guards Rifle Divisions.
according to dunnigan, the guards were the first, and worst, paratroopers. they were formed in the early 1930s, a couple years ahead germany. The soviets took the lead, and the rest of the world followed.
input, if you have it, please.,