Barbarossa: The Russian-German Conflict, 1941-45 Book

The Eastern Front WAS WW2 in Europe, the other theatres of operation were mere sideshows.

This book relates the gargantuan struggle on the Ostfront. It was utterly brutal, with little regard for civilians or the rules of war. The hitherto invincible German army up against the huge expanse and resources of Russia.

The initial assault in June 41 destroyed the Russian defences and promised an easy victory as German tanks ripped through the borderlands. The ill prepared Russian army (foolishly decapitated by Stalin in the purges of 37/38) disintegrated, and millions of soldiers were taken prisoner. But amidst the euphoria of victory there were some ominous signs - Chief of Staff Halder "we expected 200 divisions, we have already counted 360". The Germans were halted in front of Moscow by a combination of a very harsh winter, their own dithering and desperate defence bolstered by the arrival of fresh veteran troops from the Siberian garrison.

Even so, the bulk of the Russian army is gone, 60% of industry is in enemy hands, as is much of the population and agricultural capacity.

1942. The next year opened in similar vein, with the focus turning to the south. Again the Germans broke through, and the Ukraine was taken - with the glittering prize of the Baku oilfields tantalisingly close - only for this advantage to be dissipated in a pointless and vainglorious attempt to take Stalingrad. The defeat at Stalingrad was the turning point of the war. From there the options available to the German army gradually closed in.

1943 and 1944 sees the Germans being forced back, gradually at first but with increasing pace as the Russian advantage in men and material becomes more and more pronounced. There are some limited successes (often defensive battles to extracate themselves from danger).

Finally 1945 sees the war brought home to Germany with a vengeance, as Berlin is stormed and the German people experience retribution at the hands of a victorious army with scores to settle.

The numbers involved in this struggle are almost unimaginable, millions of combatants fight and die, civilians bear the brunt as always (perhaps 20 million die) and the map of Europe is changed forever as the eastern border of Germany is moved westwards.

This book is very good on the grand strategic sweep of the campaign. It dissects the ebbs and flows of the war skillfully and provides a good insight into the politcs behind the frontlines. I had known that Stalin and Hitler were homicidal megalomaniacs prone to interfering in military matters, but I had not appreciated the extent to which the inherent structural fault lines of the Nazi regime with its competing power centres detracted from the war effort.

I found this a very good history of this important war. Very approachable and enjoyable.

4/5 stars