Reading

[yolkin]

Hello all!

As a result of the pursuit of my phaleristic hobby, I began reading some reference and historical materials pertaining to Russia's Soviet period (1917 - 1992).

Over the last week I was on vacation in a nice tropical coutry, and decided to read up on some things. I finished one book and started two other books.

I finished reading a Russian-language book called "Voina i Sud'by" or "War and Fates" that was published by Chicago's Russian-speaking Veterans of WWII. I will post the scans of the book at a later time. The book is a collection of personal stories told by the veterans who fought in the war. The book also incudes separate parts for personal accounts by the medical staff, the entertainment groups, as well as prisoners from gettos and/or concentration camps.

I started to read two other books both by Viktor Suvorov, "Ochischenie" and "Ten' Pobedy" or "Cleaning" and "Shadow of Victory" respectively. Both books describe the horrific events that transpired right before and during WWII in relation to G.K. Zhukov, as well as other Red Army military leaders.
Suvorov quotes other Marshals (Rokossovsky, Konev, etc.) as well as Stalin himself giving Zhukov a "less than perfect" evaluations due to his rude manners, his selfish attitudes, etc.

It was very difficult for me to read these books because of the years of propaganda that I grew up with stating that all of these leaders were next to saints. Now the truth comes out... I would definitely recommend that whoever has not yet read these books to try to pick them up or PM me and I will point you to an on-line library where you can read them on-line for free (mostly in Russian though).

In the "Shadow of Victory" Suvorov desribes Zhukov's promotion to General of the Army (then 5 stars) in 1940. I came across the following photo, and decided to share my recent experience.

Sorry for the rant.

Eric