This collection of vignettes was written by Soviet junior officers describing their experiences fighting the Mujahideen guerillas. It is not a history of the Soviet-Afghan war; but snapshots of combat as seen by young platoon leaders; company commanders; battalion commanders and military advisers.
#904743 in Books 2001-09-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.88 x 1.88 x 5.00l; 1.34 #File Name: 0711033242640 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A soldiers perspectiveBy TonyFVery much enjoyed the book. Good mix of technical; historical and personal accounts. The privations experienced by soldiers on both sides is something that should be a part of high school history texts concerning the great wars throughout history. The author has done a great job regarding that aspect of the Eastern Front.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy MikeRead this book !!8 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Thorough readingBy cccpHaving read most classic titels on the Eastern Front of course I had to order this book too. It didn't dissapoint me; but after a flying start it seemed to bog down in facts; figures and repeating stories. I found the three first episodes top notch; this was the first book I've read which brilliantly described the whole atmosphere in Germany in the pre-invasion months. By not only let the soldiers speak; but their wifes and children too; I thought the reader got a first-rate perspective on how the general feeling in Nazi-Germany was during that time. The first chapters on the invasion itself were brilliant too; they remindend me very much of Anthony's Beevor's Stalingrad. But then; the speed of the book seemed to bog down; just like the German army did. What follows is an ever-repeating; way too detailed description of every major battle on the eastern front. As a reader; I felt like I had to watch 20 chess matches at the same time while trying to remember every single move. So I thought that a shame; since the start of the book was so brilliant. Anyway; this book is certainly worth reading; and I salute the writer for his investigative skills; but you really must be a die-hard WW II junkie to enjoy this book to the last page.
