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Stalin's War with Germany #2
The Road to Berlin (Stalin's War with Germany Volume II)
The follow-up to the acclaimed The Road to Stalingrad tells the compelling story of the Red Army's epic struggle to drive the Germans out of Russia and back to Berlin. Using Soviet, German, and Eastern European primary sources, John Erickson describes fighting and hardship on an almost unimaginable scale. The detailed narrative covers battles on all the fronts. The inside information on the Soviet system of war reveals how, under maximum stress, the Russian army achieved near-impossible feats in the field and the factories. All the diplomatic moves and counter-moves, including the all-important conferences at Tehran and Yalta, also come vividly alive.
896 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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577 people want to read
About the author
John Erickson
91 books12 followersJohn Erickson was a British historian of World War II.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 22, 2020
I won’t lie, getting through ’Road To Berlin’ was nothing less than a chore. The book is first and foremost a cold, chronological overview of military operations on Eastern Front, starting with the reduction of Stalingrad kessel at the end of 1942 and ending with final Soviet offensive aimed at remains of Army Group Center in western Czechoslovakia at the beginning of May 1945, thus ending the World War II in Europe. Seemingly endless litany of Fronts, Army Groups, Armies, divisions, names of towns, rivers and marshals and generals made for a reading dry as bone, hard to absorb and quite frankly, at times, simply mind-numbingly boring.
Why did I persist and am exceptionally happy that I did? First and foremost, this book along with its companion, “Road To Stalingrad”, is the first publication in English that I’ve encountered, that clearly shows the enormity of the scale of the conflict on Eastern Front. The other reason that somewhere between the lines of that endless list of pierced defensive lines, rivers crossed, towns taken and German divisions and armies encircled and annihilated hides a simple but irrefutable fact – by middle of 1943, Soviet officer corps at army and front staff level mastered operational art of war to a degree that is probably unprecedented in history of modern warfare. Forget German fairytales about countless hordes of Mongols swamping German defenders by numbers alone. Professor Erickson shows in this book that from 1943 and onward, Zhukow, Koniev, Rokkosovskij and a bunch of other Soviet marshals and generals regularly outthought, outmaneuvered and outfought their German counterparts on pretty much regular basis, simultaneously and on several fronts, all the way from Stalingrad to Berlin.
There is third reason why I find this book invaluable source in my never-ending study of World War 2. Hidden in the middle of seemingly endless, dry as bone, list of Soviet offensives is a number of ‘discourses’ dedicated to political interactions between the ‘Big Three’ as well as several events that took place during the war which are almost uncovered in the Western literature dedicated to this conflict. In those parts of the book, the author’s writing style transforms and becomes engaging, informative, witty and actually quite a pleasurable reading experience! As for material covered by author in those parts of the book... Personally I can only describe it as fascinating; after all, where else in English litterature can you find detailed narrative of Slovak uprising of 1944 or details about short-lived Prague uprising that took place in absolutely last days of war (actually after capitulation of Berlin!) and what role Vlasov and his 1st ROA Division played in it?
I’ve already said this in my review of ‘Road To Stalingrad’; ‘Road to Berlin’ isn’t the most exciting book about World War 2 that you will ever pick up. Frankly, those two books are more reference works than anything else. But… if you have genuine interest in operational art of war during World War II – logistics, planning, execution of operations at army/army group level – this book along with its companion is nothing short of an eye-opener in regard of Eastern Front and an absolute must-read.
Why did I persist and am exceptionally happy that I did? First and foremost, this book along with its companion, “Road To Stalingrad”, is the first publication in English that I’ve encountered, that clearly shows the enormity of the scale of the conflict on Eastern Front. The other reason that somewhere between the lines of that endless list of pierced defensive lines, rivers crossed, towns taken and German divisions and armies encircled and annihilated hides a simple but irrefutable fact – by middle of 1943, Soviet officer corps at army and front staff level mastered operational art of war to a degree that is probably unprecedented in history of modern warfare. Forget German fairytales about countless hordes of Mongols swamping German defenders by numbers alone. Professor Erickson shows in this book that from 1943 and onward, Zhukow, Koniev, Rokkosovskij and a bunch of other Soviet marshals and generals regularly outthought, outmaneuvered and outfought their German counterparts on pretty much regular basis, simultaneously and on several fronts, all the way from Stalingrad to Berlin.
There is third reason why I find this book invaluable source in my never-ending study of World War 2. Hidden in the middle of seemingly endless, dry as bone, list of Soviet offensives is a number of ‘discourses’ dedicated to political interactions between the ‘Big Three’ as well as several events that took place during the war which are almost uncovered in the Western literature dedicated to this conflict. In those parts of the book, the author’s writing style transforms and becomes engaging, informative, witty and actually quite a pleasurable reading experience! As for material covered by author in those parts of the book... Personally I can only describe it as fascinating; after all, where else in English litterature can you find detailed narrative of Slovak uprising of 1944 or details about short-lived Prague uprising that took place in absolutely last days of war (actually after capitulation of Berlin!) and what role Vlasov and his 1st ROA Division played in it?
I’ve already said this in my review of ‘Road To Stalingrad’; ‘Road to Berlin’ isn’t the most exciting book about World War 2 that you will ever pick up. Frankly, those two books are more reference works than anything else. But… if you have genuine interest in operational art of war during World War II – logistics, planning, execution of operations at army/army group level – this book along with its companion is nothing short of an eye-opener in regard of Eastern Front and an absolute must-read.
February 13, 2017
Colossal conflict...
Road to Stalingrad
The last 2 chapters of this book are by far the best (they constitute over 120 pages). Prior, I feel, the author has a hard time distinguishing the trees from the forest and the forest from the trees. These chapters are filled with endless sentences like "...the 4th Airborne corps to use his 7th and 8th Brigades..", "...the escape eastwards for 3rd, 10th and now 13th Army was.." and on and on. This approach makes for a very dry dissertation of the largest military conflict in recent history.
Nevertheless Erickson does not glorify nor glamourize the Red Army. Stalin's Russia was not only unprepared for this colossal conflict with the German armies, it was incompetently led. Stalin had killed off his officer corps by the end of the 1930's and was self-quarantined in the Kremlin listening only to advisors who told him what he wanted to hear. Erickson is correct when he describes Stalin as the 'top' leader in the Soviet Union. Erickson's description of Stalin and the decision-making process is interesting if concise.
It is only in the last 2 chapters that the battle scenarios are well painted by Erickson, and one feels the horror of Dante's inferno that existed in Stalingrad. Why the German armies became entrapped in this cauldron of total destructiveness is unknowable, but it lead to their first major defeat in the Second World War (aside from their aborted invasion of Britain).
Do not read this book for a glimpse of civilian life in either the German or Soviet zone. There is no mention of the Einsazt-gruppen killing squads who butchered entire villages, or of Jewish life throughout German-occupied Soviet territory.
This is "military history," but when it does step out of that zone, it is interesting; and Erickson offers insights into both protagonists.
Some maps would have been helpful (there were none in my edition). This book does not have the 'Soviet patriotism' of Alexander Werth's Russia at War: 1941-1945 and is better for it.
The Road to Berlin:
The Road to Berlin is much like the first volume (The Road to Stalingrad), but the events, if possible, even over-shadow those of the first book; such as the battle of Kursk, the annexation of Eastern Europe under the Soviet yoke, and the fall of Berlin. Orchestrating all of this is the figure of Stalin.
But much like the first volume there is a blur of details, i.e. military groupings and geographical minutiae. Is it necessary to list all the Guard units, divisions, battalions, etc. that took forth on the assault on the Baltic States? Words like "hammer," "break through," etc. abound.
Yet there are many rewards. Erickson writes entirely from the Soviet perspective with no glorification of their overall role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. There are gems of dialogue between Stalin and his generals vividly illustrating the brutality of the regime. Once it became apparent that the Nazis were to be expunged from the Soviet Union the next step was to occupy as much land as possible in Eastern Europe. With production in full swing by 1944 and an army numbering some 5 million entering Eastern Europe (never mind the agreements at Yalta promising free elections in Poland or democratic self-determination for the countries liberated from Nazi domination); Erickson discusses this country-by-country. He also brings up the notorious Soviet stand-still in front Warsaw while the Nazis methodically routed and slaughtered Polish partisans. The Soviet army may have had to re-group, but they never told this to the Polish partisans.
Do not read this book for details of the liberation of the concentration and death camps - it merits only a few sentences and there is even less on the treatment of Soviet citizens in areas occupied by Germany. Also very little is said on the barbaric treatment meted out by Soviet troops once they entered "liberated zones."
Road to Stalingrad
The last 2 chapters of this book are by far the best (they constitute over 120 pages). Prior, I feel, the author has a hard time distinguishing the trees from the forest and the forest from the trees. These chapters are filled with endless sentences like "...the 4th Airborne corps to use his 7th and 8th Brigades..", "...the escape eastwards for 3rd, 10th and now 13th Army was.." and on and on. This approach makes for a very dry dissertation of the largest military conflict in recent history.
Nevertheless Erickson does not glorify nor glamourize the Red Army. Stalin's Russia was not only unprepared for this colossal conflict with the German armies, it was incompetently led. Stalin had killed off his officer corps by the end of the 1930's and was self-quarantined in the Kremlin listening only to advisors who told him what he wanted to hear. Erickson is correct when he describes Stalin as the 'top' leader in the Soviet Union. Erickson's description of Stalin and the decision-making process is interesting if concise.
It is only in the last 2 chapters that the battle scenarios are well painted by Erickson, and one feels the horror of Dante's inferno that existed in Stalingrad. Why the German armies became entrapped in this cauldron of total destructiveness is unknowable, but it lead to their first major defeat in the Second World War (aside from their aborted invasion of Britain).
Do not read this book for a glimpse of civilian life in either the German or Soviet zone. There is no mention of the Einsazt-gruppen killing squads who butchered entire villages, or of Jewish life throughout German-occupied Soviet territory.
This is "military history," but when it does step out of that zone, it is interesting; and Erickson offers insights into both protagonists.
Some maps would have been helpful (there were none in my edition). This book does not have the 'Soviet patriotism' of Alexander Werth's Russia at War: 1941-1945 and is better for it.
The Road to Berlin:
The Road to Berlin is much like the first volume (The Road to Stalingrad), but the events, if possible, even over-shadow those of the first book; such as the battle of Kursk, the annexation of Eastern Europe under the Soviet yoke, and the fall of Berlin. Orchestrating all of this is the figure of Stalin.
But much like the first volume there is a blur of details, i.e. military groupings and geographical minutiae. Is it necessary to list all the Guard units, divisions, battalions, etc. that took forth on the assault on the Baltic States? Words like "hammer," "break through," etc. abound.
Yet there are many rewards. Erickson writes entirely from the Soviet perspective with no glorification of their overall role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. There are gems of dialogue between Stalin and his generals vividly illustrating the brutality of the regime. Once it became apparent that the Nazis were to be expunged from the Soviet Union the next step was to occupy as much land as possible in Eastern Europe. With production in full swing by 1944 and an army numbering some 5 million entering Eastern Europe (never mind the agreements at Yalta promising free elections in Poland or democratic self-determination for the countries liberated from Nazi domination); Erickson discusses this country-by-country. He also brings up the notorious Soviet stand-still in front Warsaw while the Nazis methodically routed and slaughtered Polish partisans. The Soviet army may have had to re-group, but they never told this to the Polish partisans.
Do not read this book for details of the liberation of the concentration and death camps - it merits only a few sentences and there is even less on the treatment of Soviet citizens in areas occupied by Germany. Also very little is said on the barbaric treatment meted out by Soviet troops once they entered "liberated zones."
December 4, 2014
Like the first book in this series it is packed full of plenty of raw information regarding units and locations which could prove dry for somebody just after a general overview of the Eastern Front. But for the serious student this book, along with it's predecessor, is required reading.
The maps included in this addition are very broad and not all that detailed which is a bit disappointing for me as I do like detailed maps to complement my reading. Also there is confusion in regards to particular units, for example the author refers to the SS Grossdeutchland Division and SS Herman Goering Division. These formations belonged to the army and air force respectively. Despite these and a few other minor gripes on my part I did really enjoy this book, particularly the commentary on Operation Bagration and the Yalta Conference. It did get heavy at times but the subject matter is not something that can be glossed over and I strongly recommend.
The maps included in this addition are very broad and not all that detailed which is a bit disappointing for me as I do like detailed maps to complement my reading. Also there is confusion in regards to particular units, for example the author refers to the SS Grossdeutchland Division and SS Herman Goering Division. These formations belonged to the army and air force respectively. Despite these and a few other minor gripes on my part I did really enjoy this book, particularly the commentary on Operation Bagration and the Yalta Conference. It did get heavy at times but the subject matter is not something that can be glossed over and I strongly recommend.
October 25, 2024
Absolutely and completely the most detailed book about the eastern front in WW2. Not gonna lie, it’s not an easy book, it’s not a book to be given as a gift or to read in absence of a knowledge about that matter. But a total majestic nonetheless. The amount of detail in the number of man, vehicle, armaments is astonishing. The war is described from the start of the German siege of Stalingrad, to the end of the war in Europe. Day by day, hour per hour. Every unit on the battlefield, all the movements of the frontline. Letters from Stalin to the commanders, directives from Moscow, the joy and rage of the Soviet command. This book shows the struggle and the unforgettable sacrifice of the Red Army in the war. Once and for all demonstrating the total unbalances in the number of man and equipments of the eastern front compared to the others.
December 4, 2018
Second volume by Erickson covering the German-Russo war, and another interesting read.
Showing this enormous conflict from the Soviet perspective gives one an insight into the enormous effort to halt and next overrun nazi-Germany. How did commanders like Zhukov and Koniev deal with Stalin? How did he handle his generals?
The enormous effort and planning that went into the offensives, especially the end run to Berlin, makes for an interesting read. And that the Germans were a foe to watch out for is shown by the many counterattacks, against all odds, that often suprised the Soviets. Men and machines were thrown at the front to get the job done.
Highlight is the coverage of the race to Berlin and the bloodshed inside the city, with the Budapest battle a close second.
This book got maps, contrary to the first volume, but they are still a bit basic. After reading the book itself you will be confronted by close to 200 pages of source material listings. Maybe a bit outdated now, but still worth to read.
Overall, really pleased after reading both volumes. Great coverage of an enormous conflict.
Showing this enormous conflict from the Soviet perspective gives one an insight into the enormous effort to halt and next overrun nazi-Germany. How did commanders like Zhukov and Koniev deal with Stalin? How did he handle his generals?
The enormous effort and planning that went into the offensives, especially the end run to Berlin, makes for an interesting read. And that the Germans were a foe to watch out for is shown by the many counterattacks, against all odds, that often suprised the Soviets. Men and machines were thrown at the front to get the job done.
Highlight is the coverage of the race to Berlin and the bloodshed inside the city, with the Budapest battle a close second.
This book got maps, contrary to the first volume, but they are still a bit basic. After reading the book itself you will be confronted by close to 200 pages of source material listings. Maybe a bit outdated now, but still worth to read.
Overall, really pleased after reading both volumes. Great coverage of an enormous conflict.
May 23, 2025
My favorite non-fiction book ever. Was the first book I ever bought online and it was worth every penny. A very comprehensive account of the military operations after Nov 19, 1942 (after Kalach encirclement in Operation Uranus) till the fall of Prague on May 9, 1945 (though it abruptly ends with entrance of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian fronts into Prague). The one drawback would be the relative paucity of maps in few of the innumerable Soviet and Polish villages and small towns that were used as battlegrounds.
The level detail that John Erickson and his Serbian wife have dug through to arrive at this masterpiece is amazing.
The level detail that John Erickson and his Serbian wife have dug through to arrive at this masterpiece is amazing.
June 17, 2020
John Erickson - The Road To Berlin
A very exhaustive and exhausting study of the Russian drive to capture Berlin, without supposition or argument. Packed with detail of battles and troop movements and presenting none other than a comprehensive order of battle from Stalingrad onward. Be prepared to fall asleep if you are not interested in which, Battle Group, Army, Division, etc did what where and when. The immediate battle for Berlin, in this regard, was my interest and as such I bypassed the first few chapters.
Great reference piece being well documented.
A very exhaustive and exhausting study of the Russian drive to capture Berlin, without supposition or argument. Packed with detail of battles and troop movements and presenting none other than a comprehensive order of battle from Stalingrad onward. Be prepared to fall asleep if you are not interested in which, Battle Group, Army, Division, etc did what where and when. The immediate battle for Berlin, in this regard, was my interest and as such I bypassed the first few chapters.
Great reference piece being well documented.
to-keep-reference
October 11, 2017Recomendado como crónica pro-soviética en Europa en Guerra.
March 28, 2023
What is true for "The Road to Stalingrad" holds true for "The Road to Berlin." Erickson's two-volume history of the Eastern Front in WWII remains an amazing feat of history, particularly as he wrote it at a time when archival sources were very limited. That was true for Western and Soviet historians. The best part of "The Road to Berlin," I think, is in the descriptions of what it looked and must have felt like in the terrible days of 1945, when the Red Army was advancing mercilessly. The population of ancient cities along the Baltic coast were subjected to terrifying times, and Erickson captures well the bloody anarchy that prevailed just before and after the Red Army arrived. Already brutalized by Nazi control, these places now faced a kind of combat the world didn't even know existed when Germany first moved east.
Not for the squeamish, and not for those who aren't fans of military history. Erickson's is decidedly "military" in its focus, the great passages I'm talking about notwithstanding.
Not for the squeamish, and not for those who aren't fans of military history. Erickson's is decidedly "military" in its focus, the great passages I'm talking about notwithstanding.
July 15, 2011
Not quite as riveting (to me) as the first book -- The Road to Stalingrad -- this story picks up where the first one ended, covering the ground from roughly February 1943 to May of 1945 and the final assault on Berlin. Still, this is an essential read for anyone interested in the eastern front in World War 2.
October 27, 2012
probably more in depth than some may find necessary, but extremely well written and, despite the length, concise. while this book, unlike the road to stalingrad, contains maps, i'd recommend having a separate book of maps handy if you really want to grasp the movements of the vast and fluid battles being described. an excellent read, if you are able to put the time into it.
January 6, 2016
Like the first book in the series, this is an extremely detailed account from the Soviet point of view on "The Great Patriotic War". I would recommend being familiar with the conflict prior to reading this since the writing is matter of fact and often tedious. Like the first book, there are no maps. Otherwise a great read for an avid student of the war.
October 13, 2020
Very comprehensive study of the last 2 years of the WW2 Eastern Front conflict by John Eriksson . Incredible in it's description of the battles that were won by the Red Army in these last 2 years which led to the end of the 3rd Reich. Operation Bagratian in 1944 broke the back of the Wehrmacht once and for all. Casualties on both sides were appalling.
July 22, 2012
As with Road To Stalingrad, this is incredibly detailed. It many not be everyone's cup of tea, with many references, and such like, that could make it seem to tedious. However, being the geek I can be at times, I loved it. A very, very good read.
September 13, 2023
Very old school being date and event driven with little of the human perspective that is very popular then days.
Whilst sometimes difficult to track as it jumps back in time when moving to a new army group it is well worth the effort to read as it's a beast in word count.
Whilst sometimes difficult to track as it jumps back in time when moving to a new army group it is well worth the effort to read as it's a beast in word count.
March 10, 2009
What an account. Everyone should know this part of history.
May 28, 2010
Not light reading but at least it has maps this time, his 'Road to Stalingrad' didn't!
All the same, essential reading for the specialist.
All the same, essential reading for the specialist.
October 28, 2011
If you are an agnostic, read this book. Afterwars you will either be fully convinced that there is a god or there is not.
June 26, 2011
Masterful coverage of the Russian offensive operations after Stalingrad. Excellent
April 7, 2012
Pretty good read, essential for those interested in WWII Eastern Front.
September 18, 2024
Overview of Stalingrad to Berlin. Mostly operations.
November 14, 2015
A fitting finale to Professor Erickson's magnum opus. The same detailed day-by-day. mile-by-mile description of the war in Russia.
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January 1, 2019As good & thorough as the first volume.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews