Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 October 2014
The classes of finite groups with minimal sets of generators of fixed cardinalities, named  ${\mathcal{B}}$-groups, and groups with the basis property, in which every subgroup is a
${\mathcal{B}}$-groups, and groups with the basis property, in which every subgroup is a  ${\mathcal{B}}$-group, contain only
${\mathcal{B}}$-group, contain only  $p$-groups and some
$p$-groups and some  $\{p,q\}$-groups. Moreover, abelian
$\{p,q\}$-groups. Moreover, abelian  ${\mathcal{B}}$-groups are exactly
${\mathcal{B}}$-groups are exactly  $p$-groups. If only generators of prime power orders are considered, then an analogue of property
$p$-groups. If only generators of prime power orders are considered, then an analogue of property  ${\mathcal{B}}$ is denoted by
${\mathcal{B}}$ is denoted by  ${\mathcal{B}}_{pp}$ and an analogue of the basis property is called the pp-basis property. These classes are larger and contain all nilpotent groups and some cyclic
${\mathcal{B}}_{pp}$ and an analogue of the basis property is called the pp-basis property. These classes are larger and contain all nilpotent groups and some cyclic  $q$-extensions of
$q$-extensions of  $p$-groups. In this paper we characterise all finite groups with the pp-basis property as products of
$p$-groups. In this paper we characterise all finite groups with the pp-basis property as products of  $p$-groups and precisely described
$p$-groups and precisely described  $\{p,q\}$-groups.
$\{p,q\}$-groups.