07-22-2002, 11:50 AM
I think Beevor's Stalingrad book is a good one but have you read his latest book about Berlin? I found it rather tedious, with too much dwelling on Red Army atrocities without a reference as to *why* some RA soldiers acted that way (such as 25% of the popultaion of Byelorussia exterminated by Nazis in 2 years of occupation). It didn't really give an impression of how difficult and brutal the Berlin operation was to both sides (in my opinion, some may disagree). You are much better off with Cornelius Ryan's Berlin book "The Last Battle". Chuikov's "End of the Third Reich" also covers the Berlin opperation and is pretty good for a translation (as is his Stalingrad book).
However, for a great read concerning all aspects of the Great Patriotic War try Alexander Werth's book "Russia at War." It is huge (1000+ pages) and it is brilliant. He also wrote "The Year of Stalingrad" which is also excellent but difficult to find.
For an amazing personal story from the GPW try "My Just War" by Gabriel Temkin.
Any other recommendations as to what to read (or what to avoid!)
McL
However, for a great read concerning all aspects of the Great Patriotic War try Alexander Werth's book "Russia at War." It is huge (1000+ pages) and it is brilliant. He also wrote "The Year of Stalingrad" which is also excellent but difficult to find.
For an amazing personal story from the GPW try "My Just War" by Gabriel Temkin.
Any other recommendations as to what to read (or what to avoid!)
McL
