5 volume set : "USSR and WW2"

[Christophe]

I bought a few weeks ago this 5 volume set : "L'URSS dans la Seconde Guerre Mondiale" (USSR during WW2).

It can be compared to the 6 volume set History of Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941-1945, described in this thread : http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/showt...php?t=1948
But it seems - at least - to be a different work and edition (maps are all designed in the same style, different of the one posted, etc...).

5 huge volumes - 350-600 pages each.

Published in Italy and then in France in 1966-1968.

The officials authors : 7 Soviet Union Marshals : N.Bagramian, S.Biriouzov, I.Koniev, R.Malinovski, C.Rokossovski, V.Sokolovski and M.Zakharov.

Other authors (sorry for some of the names written in the French style) : 15 military experts (Marshals, Admirals and Generals) : A.Vassilievski, K.Meretchkov, G.Zhoukov, I.Fejouninski, V.Tchioukov, A.Eremenko, K.Teleguine, A.Golovko, N.Voronov, B.Vannikov, K.Krajnioukov, S.Krassovski, P.Rotmistrov, A.Khroulev, N.Popel, and 21 witnesses.

The 5 volumes are the following :

* Vol 1 : 1941 : Blitzkrieg to the East.
* Vol 2 : 1942 : From retreat to Stalingrad.
* Vol 3 : 1943 : The Red Army counter-attacks
* Vol 4 : 1944 : The Soviet offensive, from Polar Circle to Danube
* Vol 5 : 1945 : From Vistula to Berlin.

Includes thousand of pictures from Novosti and other agencies.

Ch.

[Dolf]

Christophe,

I can only count 5 volumes... :confused:

I recently heard about a similar title, also 6 or 7 volumes (in the Portuguese edition anyway), I believe it's "Russia at War" in English, and the author would be Alexander Werth. Any opinions about this one?

Merci.

Dolf

[Christophe]

Written in 1964, here is what Amazon says about it :

"In this widely acclaimed history of a country at war, Alexander Werth unfolds in startling human terms the story of the Russian people and their leaders in the Soviet conflict with the Nazis from the disasters of the Second World War to the beginnings of the Cold War. Himself an eyewitness to the shattering historical drama he vividly records, Werth offers an intensely detailed chronicle of the events that exceeded in savagery and hatred any other on Russian soil. From the hardships of the citizenry to the sweep of massive military operations to the corridors of diplomacy, this modern classic captures every aspect of the grim but heroic Soviet-German war that turned Russia into the most powerful nation in the Old World."

You can also see readers' comments on Amazon's site.

Here is the content of the book.

Any other comment from Forum Members having read this book are welcome.

Ch.

[Dolf]

Christphe,

Thanks a lot for the great research!
Bravo! :)

I'll have a look at amazon, for prices, availability, etc
But as you say, any comments from any other Forum members having read one or both these titles would be very much appreciated.

Best,

Dolf

[Christophe]

But as you say, any comments from any other Forum members having read one or both these titles would be very much appreciated.
Dolf

Absolutely !!
This book - written in 1964, not to forget - has generated a lot of passionated comments; Alexander Werth having sometimes been accused of being a Soviet-apologist...
I put it in my list of "books to read" to have my own opinion.
Meanwhile, any other comment from those who already have read it ? ;)

Ch.

[shiloh]

Probably the best books portraying the German perspective of Barbarossa are the two written by Paul Carell:

"Hitler Moves East 1941 - 44"

"Scorched Earth"

[matteti]

About Alexander Werth : Russia at War ...

I have the book, bought on E! for 11 US$!

I didn't go through the whole book yet, this is so huge book. But I like the style. The author was there during the war as a kind of war correspondant and he is making the account of what he saw and lived, with nice description of the places he visited and event he went through. Also, supporting the text with some other references.

I find it reads like a novel even though it's an informative book. Personally, I visited the whole crimean peninsula last summer and was very pleased to read about the author's account of the battle around sevastopol and speaking about his trip from Simferopol to Sevastopol, via Yalta, etc.. When you saw the places, when you know the geography, it makes it so intersting to read the story.

I recommend it definitely.

[HuliganRS]

Alright, I just bought the book. Although I got it for $5 shipped from eBay.

Thanks for the reccomendation.

Rusty.

[Dolf]

Rusty,

I guess you bought the one I saw 5 minutes ago, but that guy (if we talking of the same seller) only ships to the US!... :cry:

It was translated in Portuguese but a long time ago and is now out of print!... And it's a too big book to read it in English :cry:

Dolf

[HuliganRS]

I guess it is the same book. He had the BIN only for $2.49 with $2.79 for shipping. I haven't seen the book but figured for $5 I can give it a read.

:) Rusty.