The author Boris Sokolov offers this first objective and intriguing biography of Marshal Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, who is widely considered one of the Red Army's top commanders in the Second World War. Yet even though he brilliantly served the harsh Stalinist system, Rokossovsky himself became a victim of it with his arrest, beatings and imprisonment between 1937 and 1940. The author analyzes all of Rokossovsky's military operations, in both the Russian Civil War and the Second World War, paying particular attention to the problem of establishing the real casualties suffered by both armies in the main battles where Rokossovsky took part, as well as on the Eastern Front as a whole. Rokossovsky played a prominent role in the battles for Smolensk, Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, Belorussia, Poland, East Prussia and Pomerania. While praising Rokossovsky's masterful generalship, the author does not shy away from criticizing the nature of Soviet military art and strategy, in which the guiding principle was"at all costs" and little value was placed on holding down casualties. This discussion extends to the painful topic of the many atrocities against civilians perpetrated by Soviet soldiers, including Rokossovsky's own troops. A highly private man, Rokossovsky disliked discussing his personal life. With the help of family records and interviews, including the original, uncensored draft of the Marshal's memoirs, the author reveals the numerous dualities in Rokossovsky's life. Despite his imprisonment and beatings he endured, Rokossovsky never wavered in his loyalty to Stalin, yet also never betrayed his colleagues. Though a Stalinist, he was also a gentleman widely admired for his courtesy and chivalry. A dedicated family man, women were drawn to him, and he took a 'campaign wife' during the war. Though born in 1894 in Poland, Rokossovsky maintained that he was really born in Russia in 1896. This Polish/Russian duality in Rokossovsky's identity hampered his career and became particularly acute during the Warsaw uprising in 1944 and his later service as Poland's Defense Minister. Thus, the author ably portrays a fascinating man and commander, who became a marshal of two countries, yet who was not fully embraced by either.

Soldiering is all about the growth and development of human potential in the military organization. The approach to soldiering in China is apparently distinct as compared to Indian or Western military and the shaping of soldiery in China has taken a very unique and somewhat enigmatic course. In the context of PLA, in the ongoing reform era, a clear shift in the approach to HRM is apparent. One of the most important objectives of the ongoing reforms and restructuring of PLA is to appreciably augment its potential and efficiency for the effective prosecution of Integrated Joint operations (IJO) for winning Local Wars under Informationised Condition (LWUIC). This book attempt has been made to take a holistic look at soldiering and development of human potential in PLA thus progressing understanding in the broadly interpreted field of HRM in the context of the Chinese military. The author argues that PLA has been adopting a very systematic, methodical and focussed approach towards identifying the key issues and addressing them in a time-bound manner to enhance the quality of its personnel to include the enlisted personnel, NCOs, officers, and higher leadership. However, success or failure of HR policies depends as much on several tangible factors(educational qualification, technological prowess, economic and social background), as on various intangible aspects (influence of culture, belief system, traditional practices, political and ideological factors impinging on the morale, motivation and value system). The book would enable interested readers to comprehend and grasp the nuances of the development of human potential in the military in general and PLA in specific. Various HRD themes like organizational culture, leadership, efficient decision making, etc. analyzed in the book can find application in general context as well.