Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 precipitated a massive clash of arms that gave rise to destruction and suffering on an unprecedented scale. The outcome of this ruthless struggle on the Eastern Front was decisive for the course of the war in Europe. Yet the campaigns fought there still receive less attention than those fought by the Western Allies, and are less well understood. That is why this new survey of the Soviet Union during the Second World War, edited by David R. Stone, is so timely and significant. He has bought together a distinguished group of experts who give a penetrating reassessment of the Soviet war effort and economy. They offer a telling insight into the way in which enormous obstacles were overcome-and sacrifices were made-in order to achieve an overwhelming victory that changed the shape of Europe. Their wide-ranging analysis seeks to dispel myths and misperceptions that have distorted our understanding of the performance of the Red Army and the Soviet people. AUTHOR: Editor David Stone is professor at Kansas State University. He is a leading authority on the military and political history of the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s. As well as writing numerous journal articles, he is the author of two major studies: A Military History of Russia: From the Ivan the Terrible to the War in Chechnya and Hammer and Rifle: The Militarization of the Soviet Union 1926-1933. SELLING POINTS: -Major new study of how the Soviet Union waged the war on the Eastern Front -Reassesses the Soviet war effort in light of the latest research -Considers the impact of the war on Soviet society -Written by leading experts of the Soviet military during the Second World War Insight into the organization and fighting methods of the Red Army Chapters on the role of women, the partisans and propaganda ILLUSTRATIONS 30 illustrations
