Alexander Werth (1901–1969)

The author is qualified to write this book for he was born in St. Petersburg, escaped with his family during the revolution and lived in Russia from 1942-1948. Above all, he wishes to remind the current generation (book written in 1964) and future generations of Russia’s importance in defeating the Nazis (although he does say Stalin stated Russia could not win the war against the Nazis by herself). He wants to tell the story of the common people and not just military history. Author declares his book to be least of all a formal history of Russia’s part in WWII for it is not possible for such to be written by one man. The author, British war correspondent, a native Russian speaker, writes a balanced report of Russia’s part in the war. He was allowed unprecedented access to conflict zones and conducted interviews with thousands of individuals both civilian and soldiers. He doesn’t criticize the Red Army or Stalin or decisions made by the Soviet government; he lets the reader draw their own conclusions. The corpus of work he draws from for his bibliography is immense, wide ranging in scope, sequence, and authorship. It is quite likely the most accurate book on Russia’s part in WWII to ever emerge from the Soviet Union.… (more)

A first hand account of the siege of Leningrad - by a Russian-born British journalist with native Russian language. He knew the city well, having lived there from birth and throughout his childhood. He described the city and its inhabitants under siege in such rich language that it comes alive for the reader decades later. The many hardships suffered by the inhabitants are endured with an impressive level of stoicism. I've read other accounts of the siege, but Alexander Werth's account really makes it come alive.

Recommended.… (more)