Mayakovsky, V. V. Formidable Weapon (Groznoe oruzhie), 1952. Compiled by V. A. Katanyan. In Russian.

Маяковский В. В.
Грозное оружие. / Составитель В. А. Катанян. Художники В. П. Высоцкий, С. И. Сергеев. Серия: «Библиотека солдата».
Москва : Военное издательство Военного министерства Союза ССР (Воениздат), 1952.
107 с. : ил. ; 17 см. (Уменьшенный формат). В издательской мягкой обложке.
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Vladimir Mayakovsky.
Formidable Weapon. / Compiled by Vasily Katanyan. Artists V. Vysotsky, S. Sergeev. Series: "Soldier's Library".
Moscow : Voenizdat (Military Publishing House), 1952.
107 pp. : ill. ; 17 cm. (Pocket format). Original softcover.

This 1952 collection of Vladimir Mayakovsky’s poetry, titled Formidable Weapon, is a significant ideological and literary artifact of the late Stalinist era. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of Mayakovsky’s military and patriotic verses, including the arrangement of poems curated specifically for the Soviet armed forces under the "Soldier's Library" series. Compiled by Vasily Katanyan, a towering figure in Mayakovsky scholarship and the husband of Lilya Brik, the book highlights the "agitational" power of Mayakovsky’s word as a literal weapon in the struggle for socialist ideals. Katanyan’s deep connection to the poet’s legacy—forged during his early years in Georgia and refined through his work on the definitive Collected Works—ensures that the selection captures the rhythmic force and rhetorical sharp-edgedness that made Mayakovsky the "poet of the Revolution."
The physical identity of the volume reflects its intended use for active-duty personnel; its 17 cm pocket format and flexible softcover were designed for the overcoat pockets of soldiers. The visual character of the book is defined by the military-themed illustrations of V. P. Vysotsky and S. I. Sergeev, which translate Mayakovsky’s avant-garde energy into the more traditional Socialist Realist style prevalent in 1952. Published by Voenizdat during the peak of the Cold War, this 107-page edition serves as a primary source for understanding how the Soviet state repurposed the futurist legacy for military morale and patriotic education. For bibliophiles and collectors of "Mayakovskiana," this Katanyan-compiled imprint is a vital link between the poet's revolutionary roots and his canonization as a pillar of Soviet state culture.