Nikolai Litvin is retired and lives in Krasnodar, Russia. Stuart Britton is a freelance writer and translator based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"Mr. Litvin's memoir is a vivid reminder, for those of us
understandably transfixed by D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, of
the brutal fighting that was taking place on the other side of
Europe in the final phase of World War II. . . . Litvin's memoir,
although hardly a pacifist tract, is in its most intense passages a
personal record of war's horror."--Wall Street Journal"With rare
exception, only since the dissolution of the Soviet Union a decade
and a half ago have Western audiences begun to enjoy access to the
war stories in English of Red Army soldiers or sailors. Nikolai
Litvin's memoir is an important new contribution to this growing
but still too short list. . . . Litvin's account is gripping in its
intensity and rich with the details of life at the front line. . .
. Litvin's The authenticity of Litvin's account burns through this
light fog. This book belongs in the library of every serious
student of the Eastern Front."--International History Review"A
quick and captivating read. . . . Litvin . . . reminds us that
while war can bring out such admirable traits as resourcefulness,
courage, and selfless sacrifice, it can also lead good, honorable,
and ordinary men to explore the darker recesses of the human soul.
. . . Anyone interested in World War II on the Eastern Front or in
the human dynamics of warfare should read this book."--Military
Review"A useful addition to the English-language literature on the
Great Patriotic War in part because of its detailed description of
various combat operations, but mainly because of the insight it
gives into the mentality of the typical Red Army solder: tough,
resourceful, and remarkably free of self-pity even under the most
appalling circumstances."--New Zealand Slavonic Journal
"The best memoir to date of a Red Army soldier in World War II.
It's also rare in terms of the amount of detail it contains, the
accuracy of that detail, and its unabashed candor. Britton
skillfully complements Litvin's account by providing essential
context and additional valuable information."--David M. Glantz,
author of Colossus Reborn: The Red Army at War, 1941-1943"Absorbing
and thought-provoking, Litvin's story reveals the perseverance,
resourcefulness, and astonishing toughness of the typical Red Army
soldier, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the Eastern
Front or soldiers' experiences in World War II."--Reina Pennington,
author of Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II
Combat
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