The Chief Culprit : Stalin's Grand Design to Start World War II

“a Remarkable Book. A Delayed Bombshell That Includes Very Pertinent New Research And Discoveries Suvorov Has Made Since 1990. He Makes Savvy Readers Of Contemporary And World War Ii History, Of A Mind To Reexamine The Soviet Past In Terms Of What Historians Call ‘present Interest.’ None Of The ‘new Russian’ Historians Can Match His Masterful Sweep Of Research And Analysis.” —albert Weeks, Professor Emeritus Of International Relations, New York University, Author Of Stalin’s Other War: Soviet Grand Strategy, 1939-1941 In The Chief Culprit, Bestselling Author Victor Suvorov Probes Newly Released Soviet Documents And Reevaluates Existing Historical Material To Analyze Stalin’s Strategic Design To Conquer Europe And The Reasons Behind His Controversial Support For Nazi Germany. A Former Soviet Army Intelligence Officer, The Author Explains That Stalin’s Strategy Leading Up To World War Ii Grew From Lenin’s Belief That If World War I Did Not Ignite The Worldwide Communist Revolution, Then A Second World War Would Be Necessary. Suvorov Debunks The Theory That Stalin Was Duped By Hitler And That The Soviet Union Was A Victim Of Nazi Aggression. Instead, He Makes The Case That Stalin Neither Feared Hitler Nor Mistakenly Trusted Him. He Maintains That After Germany Occupied Poland, Defeated France, And Started To Prepare For An Invasion Of Great Britain, Hitler’s Intelligence Services Detected The Soviet Union’s Preparations For A Major War Against Germany. This Detection, Suvorov Argues, Led To Germany’s Preemptive War Plan And The Launch Of An Invasion Of The Ussr. Stalin Emerges From The Pages Of This Book As A Diabolical Genius Consumed By Visions Of A Worldwide Communist Revolution At Any Cost—a Leader Who Wooed Hitler And Germany In His Own Effort To Conquer The World. In Contradicting Traditional Theories About Soviet Planning Before The German Invasion And In Arguing For Revised View Of Stalin’s Real Intentions, The Chief Culprit Has Provoked Debate Among Historians Throughout The World. [ Contents ] 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 16 1. The Struggle for Peace, and Its Results 24 2. First Attempts to Unleash a Second World War 28 3. The First Contact 33 4. Stalin’s Role in the Rebirth of German War Power 39 5. Why Did Stalin Like Hitler’s Book So Much? 42 6. Industrialization and Collectivization 46 7. Stalin’s Role in Elevating Hitler 51 8. Stalin and the Destruction of Soviet Strategic Aviation 55 9. Stalin’s Preparations for War: Tanks 64 10. On the “Obsolete” Soviet Tanks 73 11. Winged Genghis Khan 81 12. About “Obsolete” Airplanes 89 13. Soviet Airborne Assault Troops and Their Mission 96 Photos 1 98 14. About the Brilliant Military Leader Tukhachevski 120 15. The Cleansing 131 16. Spain 137 17. Stalin’s Trap for Hitler 144 18. Results of the Moscow Pact 150 19. Blitzkrieg in Poland and Mongolia 153 20. Mobilization 160 21. Mobilization of the Economy 166 22. The Winter War: Finland 175 23. Germany’s Strategic Resources and Stalin’s Plans 185 24. The Carving Up of Romania, and its Consequences 192 25. Destruction of the Buffer States between Germany and the Soviet Union 199 26. Destruction of the Security Pale on the Eve of the War 203 27. Partisans or Saboteurs? 207 28. Destruction of the Stalin Line 210 29. Trotsky Murdered, Molotov in Berlin 217 30. Kremlin Games 223 31. All the Way to Berlin! 229 32. Mountain Divisions on the Steppes of Ukraine 235 33. Stalin in May 241 34. June 13, 1941 246 35. Words and Deeds 257 36. Red Army, Black Gulag Uniforms 261 37. Military Alignment 267 38. Churchill’s Warning and Stalin’s Reaction 272 Photos 2 274 39. A Blitzkrieg against Russia? 293 40. Intelligence Reports and Stalin’s Reaction 299 41. The War Has Begun 306 42. Stalin’s Panic 315 43. If It Weren’t for Winter! 318 44. A Model War 321 Conclusion: The Aggressor 333 Epilogue: Stalin Was a War Criminal 336 Abbreviations 342 Notes 344 Bibliography 368 Index 374 About the Author 384 Bestselling author Victor Suvorov probes newly released Soviet documents and reevaluates existing material to analyze Stalin's strategic design to conquer Europe and the reasons behind his controversial support for Nazi Germany. A former Soviet army intelligence officer, the author explains that Stalin's strategy leading up to World War II grew from Vladimir Lenin's belief that if World War I did not ignite the worldwide Communist revolution, then a second world war would be needed to achieve it. Stalin saw Nazi Germany as the power that would fight and weaken capitalist countries so that Soviet armies could then sweep across Europe. Suvorov reveals how Stalin conspired with German leaders to bypass the Versailles Treaty, which forbade German rearmament, and secretly trained German engineers and officers and provided bases and factories for war. He also calls attention to the 1939 nonaggression pact between the Soviet Union and Germany that allowed Hitler to proceed with his plans to invade Poland, fomenting war in Europe. Suvorov debunks the theory that Stalin was duped by Hitler and that the Soviet Union was a victim of Nazi aggression. Instead, he makes the case that Stalin neither feared Hitler nor mistakenly trusted him. Suvorov maintains that after Germany occupied Poland, defeated France, and started to prepare for an invasion of Great Britain, Hitler's intelligence services detected the Soviet Union's preparations for a major war against Germany. This detection, he argues, led to Germany's preemptive war plan and the launch of an invasion of the USSR. Stalin emerges from the pages of this book as a diabolical genius consumed by visions of a worldwide Communist revolution at any cost--a leader who wooed Hitler and Germany in his own effort to conquer the world. In contradicting traditional theories about Soviet planning, the book is certain to provoke debate among historians throughout the world. The Author Analyzes Newly Released Documents Concerning Stalin's Strategic Design To Conquer Europe And The Reasons Behind His Controversial Support For Nazi Germany. The Struggle For Peace, And Its Results -- First Attempts To Unleash A Second World War -- The First Contact -- Stalin's Role In The Rebirth Of German War Power -- Why Did Stalin Like Hitler's Book So Much? -- Industrialization And Collectivization -- Stalin's Role In Elevating Hitler -- Stalin And The Destruction Of Soviet Strategic Aviation -- Stalin's Preparations For War: Tanks -- On The Obsolete Soviet Tanks -- Winged Genghis Kahn -- About Obsolete Airplanes -- Soviet Airborne Assault Troops And Their Mission -- About The Brilliant Military Leader Tukhachevski -- The Cleansing -- Spain -- Stalin's Trap For Hitler -- Results Of The Moscow Pact -- Blitzkrieg In Poland Mongolia -- Mobilization -- Mobilization Of The Economy -- The Winter War: Finland -- Germany's Strategic Resources And Stalin's Plans -- The Carving Up Of Romania, And Its Consequences -- Destruction Of The Buffer States Between Germany And The Soviet Union -- Destruction Of The Security Pale On The Eve Of The War -- Partisans Or Saboteurs? -- Destruction Of The Stalin Line -- Trotsky Murdered, Molotov In Berlin -- Kremlin Games -- All The Way To Berlin! -- Mountain Divisions On The Steppes Of Ukraine -- Stalin In May -- June 13, 1941 - Words And Deeds -- Red Army, Black Gulag Uniforms -- Military Alignment -- Churchill's Warning And Stalin's Reaction -- A Blitzkrieg Against Russia? -- Intelligence Reports And Stalin's Reaction -- The War Has Begun -- Stalin's Panic -- If It Weren't For Winter! -- A Model War. Viktor Suvorov. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-318) And Index. #X93;A remarkable book. A delayed bombshell that includes very pertinent new research and discoveries Suvorov has made since 1990. He makes savvy readers of contemporary and World War II history, of a mind to reexamine the Soviet past in terms of what historians call #x91;present interest.' None of the #x91;new Russian' historians can match his masterful sweep of research and analysis."#x97;ALBERT WEEKS, Professor Emeritus of International Relations, New York University, author of Stalin's Other War: Soviet Grand Strategy, 1939-1941In The Chief Culprit, bestselling author Victor Suvorov probes newly releas