The Soviet Army was ill-prepared for its erstwhile ally's
treacherous onslaught in 1941. Its officer corps decimated by
Stalin's purges and its men less well-trained than the Germans, the
Red Army was poorly led, hampered by the power of the political
officers and only partly mobilised. But, in spite of the huge
German victories and the speed of the Nazi attack, the Soviets
proved fantastically capable of rolling with the punches. The vast
territory of the Soviet Union and huge population were significant
factors, as was substantial assistance from the West – the United
States and Britain in particular – which was in evidence when the
German columns got to within a few miles short of Moscow and were
held and then forced back. The tide turned thanks to help from
outside and the efforts of the Soviet soldiers, who proved hardy
and durable. And just like its soldiers, Russian infantry equipment
was rugged and effective. While Soviet infantrymen may not have had
the flexibility or tactical nous of the Germans, they did not lack
cunning: deception, camouflage skills and endurance made Russian
snipers, as an example, more than the equal of the Germans. Most
views of the Soviet soldier and campaign are influenced by
self-serving German postwar accounts designed to excuse their loss
by suggesting that Adolf Hitler's meddling and Soviet numbers were
the main reasons for victory: this denigrates the Russian
infantryman whose toughness and ingenuity helped destroy the Third
Reich in spite of the faults of its own regime. Fully illustrated
with over 200 contemporary photographs and illustrations, Soviet
Infantryman on the Eastern Front in the Casemate Illustrated series
provides an insight into the Soviets' main theater of operations in
World War II.
General
Imprint: |
Casemate Publishers
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
Casemate Illustrated |
Release date: |
September 2023 |
Authors: |
Simon Forty
|
Dimensions: |
240 x 170mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
128 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-63624-363-4 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
1-63624-363-0 |
Barcode: |
9781636243634 |
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