 In the early 1930s, an attempt at publishing a projected twelve-volume "Soviet Military Encyclopedia" was made under the direction of Robert Eideman, the head of the Frunze Military Academy.However, only the first two volumes were published by the People's Commissariat of Defense in 1932 and 1933, due to the execution of Eideman and many of the editorial board during the Great Purge.Due to revolutions in military affairs in the second half of the 20th century, the Soviet Ministry of Defense decided to publish an encyclopedia to summarize developments.