book review: "Ivan's War"
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book review: "Ivan's War"
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08-22-2006, 05:05 PM
Lapa Wrote:Dolf, Marc, You mean the one in Russian that he calls “From Stalingrad to Dnepr”? Well, that would be easy to confirm I guess (althought the same author could of course have writen more books, but still there's a chance it's the same book if the same author) Abr, can you please check if the author of your book is indeed Mansur Abdulin? Thanks. Dolf 
08-22-2006, 05:14 PM
I've read reviews on Amazon and it looks that this is same book. There are couple of quotes in those reviews that match my Russian version. I doubt that author have written multiple books about the same experience and I hope English translation was done well.
Dolf, if you get this book, let us know your opinion about it.
08-22-2006, 05:17 PM
Btw I just checked on Amazon and the only review about this book available is quite negative! Of course that means nothing as (fortunatelly) not everyone have the same taste, still a negative opinion.
Dolf
08-22-2006, 05:27 PM
There is 4 reviews on amazon.com and only one on amazon.ca. Seems each country has its unique reviews.
USA site http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/custome...55&s=books Yes, there is some complains that it is not "War a Peace". Duh!Yes, indeed.
Abr,
About the Eastern Front (most of them focused on Stalingrad) I have (but haven't read them all!) the following books listed below. Among them some are academic works, others are novels, others 1st person m e m o i r s. Here is a list: -"199 Days The Battle for Stalingrad", by Edwin P. Hoyt (Have read this one a very long time ago and don't remember in detail, but I believe I had the impression it was a poor account of the Battle) -"The Battle for Stalingrad", by V.I. Chuikov (One of my favorite 1st person m e m o i r s, a view from inside, and better yet from the Soviet side, and even much better writen by my favorite General of WWII) -"War of the Rats", by David L. Robbin (An interesting and easy to read novel that probably inpired the film "Enemy at the Gates" as much as the other novel with the same title as the movie) -"Enemy at the Gates", by William Craig (Another novel, easy to read, don't remember the details as I've read it a long time ago) -"Stalingrad", by Theodore Plievier (Some people recommended it as one of the best novels about the subject; honestely I've read part of it but haven't finished as I didn't enjoy that much as I expected) -"The End of the Third Reich", by V.I. Chuikov (Probably my favorite of all. It starts after the Battle for Stalingrad, and with General Chuikov in command of the 8th Guards Army - former 62nd Army rebuilt - the book follows the Red Army advance until the fall of Berlin. Highly recommended) -"Stalingrad", by Antony Beevor (In a couple of words, I don't like Beevor! Far from being impartial he obviously has some sympathy for the TR, too sensationalist, innaccurate, etc, etc, etc...) -"The fall of Berlin", by Antony Beevor (Same as above) -"Stalingrad Memories and Reassessments", by Joachim Wieder and Heinrich von Einsiedel (The book is divided in two, in short in part I - M e m o i r s of a Survivor - the author describes his own experience and opinions, questions the war, criticizes Hitler, etc. In part II the author analyses the decisions and statements and m e m o i r s of important leaders involved, such as Field Marshal Paulus, Field Marshal Von Mainstein, etc. Interesting.) -"The Forsaken Army", by Heirich Gerlach (Another one that was recommended, another one I started but haven't finished as I was a bit disappointed. Have to give it another try one of these days) -"The Road to Stalingrad", by John Erikson (The one I'm reading now. Despite interesting for the apparently accurate info provided, a bit too academic, not easy to read...) -"Notes of a Sniper", by V. Zaitsev (A first person account of his experience as a sniper in Stalingrad. Interesting and easy to read, even if he perpetuates the myth of the famous duel with the super sniper from Berlin, Major Konings, that in fact never existed!) -"Stopped at Stalingrad", by Joel S. Hayward (Highly recommended by a well known Historian, also wargames designer. Imho too much academic therefore not easy to read at all. Haven't finished reading it!) -"Before Stalingrad", by David Glantz (Never read it yet) -"When Titans Clashed", by David Glantz (Never read it yet) -"Zhukov's Greatest Defeat", by David Glantz (Never read it yet) -"Stalingrad The Infernal Cauldron", by Stephen Walsh (Specially interesting for the pictures) -"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", by William L. Shirer (Never read it yet) Basically that's it, not mentioning the magazines, maps, games, etc, mainly about Stalingrad. Dolf
Abr,
Check it here for a pic of a boardgame I'm currently playing by email, using a program that allows us to send pics of the map, moves, actions, etc, as well as another site we use to keep track of the Battle and use for dice rolls. The game is one of my favorites, "Turning Point:Stalingrad". I'm playing with the Russians, the red units. My troops are holding tight but it's gonna be a hard job to stop the German brutal force! :yow  Dolf http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX?233@186...=.1dd159c6
08-22-2006, 07:07 PM
 Looks like most of units are red! I guess you are winning :thumbsup
08-22-2006, 07:43 PM
abr Wrote: He!he!he!... LOL...  No, no... The Reds are just trying to hold the much stronger German firepower, in an attempt to avoid that they control the river bank Areas and Mamayev Kurgan (the Victory Points Areas), but the Reds are much weaker and don't have the same firepower as the Germans allowing to make decisive attacks. All they can do is hold tight and when possible (can't leave gaps in the Germans way otherwise they would have a high road leading to to river bank Areas) make some weak counter attacks just enough to delay the German advance and gain some time. The German attack capacity is many times greater than the Russians. Not as much on defense but even defending the Germans units are in most cases stronger. We are playing just the Basic Game (one week, from Sept 13 to Sept 19), where the Germans were historically much stronger. I'll win if I can avoid that the Germans score 7 Victory Points. Right now, starting the Day on Sept 14 he has 3 VPs, but the game starts with them already in control of 2 VPs. Hard task, believe me :banghead Each time I play it I'm always in deep admiration of how Chuikov managed to win that Battle! :wow Dolf PS: Btw, there are quite a few Germans flipped over (a few Russians too), those are Spent but will be Fresh again in a couple of days! 
04-18-2007, 03:00 AM
Although this thread got way off topic, I want to second Eric's evaluation of Ivan's War. I picked it up when I was stateside and would say this is probably the best, single source in English or Russian on being a Soviet soldier in the Great Patriotic War. Even in comparison to some of the memoirs presented in this thread, it is without equal.
Thanks for recommending it Eric. |
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