Penal.

This is coolbert:

The old Soviet army, and perhaps the current Russian army as well, has a reputation for severe and unremitting harsh discipline. During the communist era in particular.

For trivial violations in war time, such as during World War Two [WW2], a soldier could receive a ten year sentence. As I have said before, a ten year sentence in a Soviet style penal institution normally meant the same thing as a death sentence. You were worked to death or sent in war time to a penal battalion and given impossibly dangerous duty. Duty from which almost NO ONE would survive.

Such an example was the tail gunner duty aboard the IL-2. Mentioned in the writings of Suvorov. There have been a lot of folks that have been very skeptical of Suvorov and his pronouncements.

"While Suvorov's allegations may have some veracity, it is important to note his strong anti-Stalin bias as a GRU defector and other controversial claims about Soviet role in WWII which were highly dubious and rejected by the respectable scholarship."

However:

"That said, it does appear the Soviet Air Force did use "Penal squadrons" in some situations."

NO ONE, INCLUDING SUVOROV, CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE. BUT THAT IT WAS USED, THE USE OF DOOMED TAIL GUNNERS, SEEMS TO BE FACT!

Severe and unremitting discipline and insanely harsh punishment was also the rule in the Soviet army EVEN DURING PEACETIME!!

This anecdotal, even humorous [??] description from Suvorov bears this out:

"Suddenly, he appears - - quiet, downtrodden, submissive. He talks to no one and carries out all orders or instructions uncomplainingly. It is impossible to get him to say a single word about where he has been or what he has seen. His answers are monosyllabic and expressionless - - ! 'Yes' and 'No' seem to be the only words left in his vocabulary. Then suddenly one of the longer-serving soldiers remembers - - this was Kol'ka, the trouble-maker, the wit, a live-wire, forever suggesting risky escapades, who sang and played the guitar and was adored by all the local girls. Eighteen months ago he was sent to a disciplinary battalion for some trifling offense. The younger soldiers, gazing at this silent, gloomy new arrival, can only half-believe what they hear. The regiment quiets down, discipline improves, more respect is shown to it's officers."

What is done in the disciplinary battalion is not mentioned. But it must've been bad!! No doubt about that!!

coolbert.