The Viaz'ma Catastrophe 1941

""Viaz’ma was the nadir of the Red Army’s performance during Operation Barbarossa. Lopukhovsky’s painstaking research in hitherto unavailable archival sources exposes weaknesses from the high command to the rifle platoons. The author demonstrates as well the structural weaknesses that underlay the USSR’s military shortcomings, and he memorializes the soldiers whose blood paid for errors too long obscured by neglect and cover-ups.” -- Dennis Showalter, Colorado College, author of Armor and Blood: The Battle of Kursk, The Turning Point of World War II “Lopukhovsky’s account of the battle of Viaz’ma is masterful. The sheer detail and expert analysis reflects the 41 years he spent researching and writing it.” -- David Stahel, author of Operation Typhoon: Hitler’s March on Moscow, October 1941 and Kiev 1941. “The level of detail is staggering and the accompanying maps and tables add a degree of clarity rarely enjoyed in a book of this complexity. Stuart Britton who has undertaken the translation of this book from its original Russian is to be commended for another outstanding endeavour… an outstanding book and a highly recommended addition to those seeking to expand their understanding of the challenges that the Soviet's struggled with in trying to contain the German Typhoon of 1941. It is a sobering and humbling rendition of the sacrifice of the Russian soldier and the dysfunction of their leadership.” * Global War Studies * “This gem of a book, a detailed and accurate exposé of what actually took place at Viaz’ma, is the product of a prolonged struggle to overcome Soviet censorship. The results is a graphic, balanced, accurate, and sometimes poignant study of the long-concealed October tragedy at Viaz’ma … Finally provides essential details about one of the longest lasting blank chapters in the record of the 20th century’s most brutal and costly war. It is a must read for those interested in the Soviet-German War, in particular, and military history in general * The Russian Review * “ … a remarkable work which took the author more than forty years to research and write … Until there are more archival materials made available, Lopukhovsky’s exhaustive study will remain the final word on the Soviet experience at Viaz’ma.” * War in History * ‘… a most important examination of something quite extraordinary, something covered up by the Russian authorities for many, many years. It will be essential reading for WWII students and academics.’ * Books Monthly *