The Germans dubbed them “black devils” and “black death”. Their battle cry is “Polundra!” terrified the enemy. They had no equal in hand-to-hand combat. Their desperate attacks - without bowing to bullets, in peacoats wide open, vests on display - became legendary. They were rightfully considered the elite of the Navy. Their contribution to the Victory cannot be overestimated. This book is the best to date, the most in-depth and detailed, exhaustively complete study of the combat use of the Soviet marines during the Great Patriotic War - both during landings and in the defense of naval bases, and in land battles. Its author, a Marine Colonel, has done a tremendous amount of work collecting, systematizing and analyzing archival documents and statistical data, many of which have been made public for the first time.