Moscow 1941: A City and Its People at War (Vintage)

In 1941 close to one million Russian soldiers died defending Moscow from German invasion–more causalities than that of the United States and Britain during all of World War II. Many of these soldiers were in fact not soldiers at all, but instead ordinary people who took up arms to defend their city. Students dropped their books for guns; released prisoners exchanged their freedom for battle; and women fought alongside men on the bloody, mud-covered frozen road to Moscow. By the time the United States entered the war the Germans were already retreating and a decisive victory had been won for the Allies. With extensive research into the lives of soldiers, politicians, writers, artists, workers, and children, Rodric Braithwaite creates a richly detailed narrative that captures this crucial moment. __Moscow 1941__ is a dramatic, unforgettable portrait of an often overlooked battle that changed the world. The 1941 Battle of Moscow--unquestionably one of the most decisive battles of the Second World War--marked the first strategic defeat of the German armed forces in their seemingly unstoppable march across Europe. The Soviets lost many more people in that one battle than the British and Americans lost in the whole of the war. Now, Rodric Braithwaite tells the story in large part through the individual experiences of ordinary Russian men and women. Setting his narrative firmly against the background of Moscow and its people, Braithwaite begins in early 1941, when the Soviet Union was still untouched by the war raging to the west. We see how--despite abundant secret intelligence--the breaching of the border by the Wehrmacht in June took the country by surprise, and how, when the Germans pushed to Moscow in November, the Red Army and the capital's inhabitants undertook to defend their city. Finally, in the winter of 1941--1942, they turned the Germans back on the very outskirts. Braithwaite's narrative of the military action offers portraits of Stalin and his generals. By interweaving the personal remembrances of soldiers, politicians, writers, artists, workers, and schoolchildren, he gives us an understanding of how the war affected the daily life of Moscow, and of the extraordinary bravery, endurance, and sacrifice--both voluntary and involuntary--that was required of its citizens. In 1941 close to one million Russian soldiers died defending Moscow from German invasion--more causalities than that of the United States and Britain during all of World War II. Many of these soldiers were in fact not soldiers at all, but instead ordinary people who took up arms to defend their city. Students dropped their books for guns; released prisoners exchanged their freedom for battle; and women fought alongside men on the bloody, mud-covered frozen road to Moscow. By the time the United States entered the war the Germans were already retreating and a decisive victory had been won for the Allies. With extensive research into the lives of soldiers, politicians, writers, artists, workers, and children, Rodric Braithwaite creates a richly detailed narrative that captures this crucial moment. Moscow 1941 is a dramatic, unforgettable portrait of an often overlooked battle that changed the world.From the Trade Paperback edition.

The 1941 Battle of Moscow—unquestionably one of the most decisive battles of World War II—marked the first strategic defeat of the German armed forces in their seemingly unstoppable march across Europe. Braithwaite presents a brilliantly researched and realized history in this essential addition to the literature of World War II. Unabridged. 13 CDs.

The Washington Post - Andrey Slivka

Moscow 1941 is a wonderful book about a battle that -- although it has attracted less attention than, say, Stalingrad or Kursk -- was in fact the biggest in world history. The book is also an excellent addition to a series of recent English language histories that evoke for the Western reader how the Soviet experience must -- on a daily basis and by people from different social strata -- have been lived.

New Year, 1941 Part I: The slow approach of thunder: The shaping of the city Forging utopia Wars and rumours of wars Part II: The storm breaks: 22 June 1941 The Russian fight back The volunteers Mobilising the masses Stalin takes a grip The eye of the storm Fire over Moscow Part III: Typhoon: The Germans break through Panic Evacuation Compressing the spring The spring uncoils Defeat into victory Aftermath. A narrative history of the Battle of Moscow interweaves the personal reminiscences of ordinary men and women with portraits of Stalin and his generals to reveal the impact of the war on the daily life of the city's inhabitants.