Barbarossa Through Soviet Eyes: The First Twenty-Four Hours

by Artem Drabkin

22 June 1941 changed the direction of the Second World War. It also changed the direction of human history. Unleashing a massive, three-pronged assault into Soviet territory, the German army unwittingly created its own nemesis, forging the modern Russian state in the process. Thus, for most Russians, 22 June 1941 was a critical point in their nation's history. After the first day of 'Barbarossa' nothing would be the same again - for anyone. Now, for the first time in English, Russians speak of their experiences on that fatal Sunday. Apparently caught off guard by Hitler's initiative, the Soviets struggled to make sense of a disaster that had seemingly struck from nowhere. Here are generals scrambling to mobilize ill-prepared divisions, pilots defying orders not to grapple with the mighty Luftwaffe, bewildered soldiers showing individual acts of blind courage, and civilians dumbstruck by air raid sirens and radio broadcasts telling of German treachery.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[jjmann3]

It is very interesting to read the first-hand accounts of Russians of the day they suffered the largest ever land invasion in history.

[Ian Willey]

Useful but quite predictable with simiular experiances supplied by several entries

[Elliot G]

Interesting real accounts of the first 24 hours.

[Francesco A.]

Good eye-witness accounts. However, it soon becomes a retread of the same story over and over. At half the length, it would have been 5 stars.