Russias War 1941 - 1945

A world-class scholar at the height of his powers . . . everything is deftly handled - from the German-Soviet pact to the Yalta Conference, from Babi-Yar to the Katyn massacre - without holding up the sweeping narrative- ORLANDO FIGES, THE TIMES In the course of human history there has probably been no more terrible place than Eastern Europe in 1941-5. Estimates of total Soviet military and civilian deaths in the period now stand at more than 25 million. In Russias War, Richard Overy re-creates the Soviet Unions apocalyptic struggle against Germany from the point of view both of the troops and of the ordinary civilians. A dramatic and exciting tale-. . . -His set-piece descriptions of such visions of Hell as Stalingrad, the 900-day siege of Leningrad and the crucial battle of Kursk are as fascinating as they are horrifying- ALAN JUDD, SUNDAY TIMES Masterly . . . a vivid account- ROBERT SERVICE, INDEPENDENT Overy is a first-class military historian . . . He writes concisely and says what he means to say-. . . -Now, we have an authoritative British account that understands both sides, without illusions- NORMAN STONE, SPECTATOR Excellent-. . . Overy tackles this huge, complex and multifaceted story with the vital gifts of clarity and brevity- ANTONY BEEVOR, LITERARY REVIEW