Recommended reading on the Soviet forces

[GaryD]

Igor, will the English version differ much from the Russian version?

[durb]

Geust, Carl-Fredrik: Red Stars, Vol. 5. Baltic Fleet Air Force in the Winter War. Apali Publishing 2004.
Geust, Carl-Fredrik: Red Stars, Vol. 7. The Winter War in the air. Apali 2011.

Books above contain lots of detailed and interesting data of the airwar during Winter War from the Soviet perspective. Both books are recommended. The only problem is that bodytext runs in two parallel columns through the whole book, which makes the reading sometimes difficult. This because the books are directed both to English-speaking and Finnish market at the same time. However, this handicap is not too bad, and is very much compensated by the detailed content, lots of interesting photos and colourplates (which might be useful for kit modellers). I considered the price of books little high (around 40 euros+mailing, check different salesites of web to find best bargain). However, going through the books I can say that they are worth of their price. One might disagree with Geust on some points, but these book are essential for anyone interested in Soviet Air Forces in Winter War. They can be used also as a starting point for historians interested to write a special volume or article on some Soviet air units or airmen during Winter War. (I suggest 49 IAP as a interesting case study)

[John Hilly]

I highly recommend Lev Lopukhovsky's research
The Viaz'ma Catastrophe, 1941. Helion & Company 2013.
IBSN 978 908916 50 1

It is based on a decades-long studies of the causes and the actual losses of the Soviets in the Viazma catastrophe.
Lopukhovsky also criticizes the Soviet Union's and the current Russia's approach to an objective history research.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Viazma-Catast ... 1908916508

“This gem of a book, a detailed and accurate exposé of what actually took place at Viaz’ma, is the product of a prolonged struggle to overcome Soviet censorship. The results is a graphic, balanced, accurate, and sometimes poignant study of the long-concealed October tragedy at Viaz’ma … Finally provides essential details about one of the longest lasting blank chapters in the record of the 20th century’s most brutal and costly war. It is a must read for those interested in the Soviet-German War, in particular, and military history in general.”
The Russian Review

With best, Юха-Пекка

[durb]

For information: the above mentioned Red Stars Vol.7 (Winter war in the Air) has been recently translated into Russian with the title Red Army Air Force in the Finnish War. It has been published by Bair Irincheev (see http://bair-books.com/ru/printed/vvs-rk).
Recommended to all who are interested in the Soviet experience of Winter War.

[Haven]

The Red Army, 1918-1941: From Vanguard of World Revolution to America's Ally
by Earl F. Ziemke
2004
Overview

Supported in large part by evidence released after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this book follows the career of the Red Army from its birth in 1918 as the designated vanguard of world revolution to its affiliation in 1941 with 'the citadel of capitalism', the United States. Effectiveness of leadership and military doctrine are particular concerns here, and Josef Stalin is the dominant personality.

On the basis of the Russian Civil War (1918-20), the Red Army began to bill itself as 'an army of a new type', inherently superior to all others. However, in late 1920, the Poles trounce it soundly. Later, Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) reveals widespread obsolescence in armament and equipment. The Nazi-Soviet Pact of August 1939 gives Germany and the USSR a free hand to act against Poland. However, slack performance by the Red Army in the unopposed occupation of eastern Poland and the bungled war with Finland in the winter of 1939-40 necessitate sweeping military reforms. Germany was an enemy in 1918, ally in the 1920s, enemy again in 1933, ally again in 1939, and the enemy once more in 1941, following the German invasion on 22 June 1941. This brings on a catastrophe that by the year's end has consumed nearly the entire pre-invasion Red Army. The United States' entry into the war on 7 December 1941 and the Red Army's subsequent recovery raise the question: Who won the Second World War?

PDF Version: http://www.e-reading.club/bookreader.ph ... S_ally.pdf

[genstab]

Two very good military history books on the war from the Soviet side are "Moscow to Stalingrad" and Stalingrad to Berlin" by US Army historian Earl F. ZIemke.

Collective biographical sketches of the major Soviet commanders are well told in "Stalin's Generals" edited by Harold Shukman. They are written by various historians including Russians. Also good is "Stalin's Lieutenants: A Study of Command Under Duress" by WIlliam J. Spahr.

A good analysis of Stalin's generalship is "Stalin as Military Commander" by respected military historian Col. Albert Seaton. it has numerous stories and opinions by major Soviet military figures.

On field command a very inrteresting work is "Red Army Tank Commanders" : the Armored Guards" by Richard N. Armstrong. It covers the famous commanders of the Tank Armies and many vignettes by other Russian officers describing them and their command in various actions.

I would throw in "Stalin and His Generals" by Sewerin Bialer. It has extremely interesting stories by Soviet officers, mostly of general rank, about their part in the war and Stalin's generalship and personality. A very interesting read.


Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

[Double-T]

A very important book is this here:

„G. S. Isserson and the War of the Future: Key Writings of the Soviet Military Theorist.“
Paperback, McFarland & Co, June 2016, edited by Richard W. Harrison.

Anyone interested about the theory of deep operations should read this book. It contains some of the most important works about the subject, even one that is still classified in Russia today. It's based on the material used at the General Staff Academy. Many prominent Military leaders were students of Isserson, Bagramyan is just one example among them.

Best regards, TT

[Dr Eisvogel]

The last White General : oral history transcript / and related material, 1972
https://archive.org/stream/lastwhitegen ... 1/mode/2up

Interview with Viktorin Mikhailovich Molchanov, a White general. Recommended reading on White forces.

[Double-T]

Dr. Bernd Schwipper; (Major-General (NVA) ret.)
Deutschland im Visier Stalins: Der Weg der Roten Armee in den europäischen Krieg und der Aufmarsch der Wehrmacht 1941 - Eine vergleichende Studie anhand russischer Dokumente.

1st edition: ISBN-13: 978-3806112498 (3rd edition now in print)

The best analysis of pre-war soviet documents by a former General of the NVA, who did his own General Staff Training in Moscow to become the youngest divisional commander in the East German Army (NVA).

Best regards, TT

[Dr Eisvogel]

Diary of Mikhail G. Drozdovsky who led 900 miles long Iassy [Iași]-Don March of his detachment from Romanian Front to Novocherkassk to join the Volunteer Army in 1918.

Mikhail G. Drozdovsky, Diary [Михаил Г. Дроздовский, Дневник] (February 20th 1918-April 20th 1918 Old Style)
http://www.dk1868.ru/history/drozd_dnevn.htm

The Diary published in original, non-reformed, Russian orthography in Berlin in 1923 and chronologically more extensive then on the upper link.
https://archive.org/stream/dnevnik_00dr ... 7/mode/2up

[Der Alte Fritz]

Stalin's Defectors

How Red Army Soldiers became Hitler's Collaborators, 1941-1945

Mark Edele

The first systematic study of the phenomenon of frontline defection from the Soviet army to the German army during World War II
Shows that most attempts to cross the frontline stemmed from a wish to survive this war, rather than a desire to support Hitler's regime
Investigates the extent, the context, the scenarios, the reasons, the aftermath, and the historiography of Soviet frontline defection
Combines social, cultural, and military history with the history of migration, historiography, and intellectual history

https://global.oup.com/academic/product ... g=en&cc=us

price is very high but you could get a from a library

[Der Alte Fritz]

The earlier
Soviet Veterans of World War II

A Popular Movement in an Authoritarian Society, 1941-1991

Mark Edele

The first full study of the fate of the millions of Soviet veterans of World War II
Covers the period from the immediate post-war years under Stalin right through to the end of the Soviet Union in 1991
Draws on a wealth of archival documents as well as the recollections of veterans and evidence from contemporary movies, periodicals, and literature

[CF Geust]

I would like to inform that a entirely updated and combined version of my earlier books on the air war in the Finnish Winter War (Red Stars Vol.5 and Vol.7, published by now defunct Apali Publishing Co. in 2004 and 2011; see post No.92 above) was published by MMP/Stratus last spring, titled Red Wings in the Winter War Finland 1939-1940.

See http://mmpbooks.com/shop2/red-wings-in- ... -1940.html