What happened June 22, 1941. Life after the start of the war. The attack on Russia is nothing more than a prelude to an attempt to conquer the British Isles. No doubt he hopes that all this can be completed before the winter comes, and that he can crush Great Britain.
June 21, 1941, 13:00. German troops receive the code signal "Dortmund", confirming that the invasion will begin the next day.
Commander of the 2nd Panzer Group, Army Group Center Heinz Guderian writes in his diary: “Careful observation of the Russians convinced me that they did not suspect anything about our intentions. In the courtyard of the fortress of Brest, which was visible from our observation posts, to the sounds of an orchestra, they were holding guards. Coastal fortifications along the Western Bug were not occupied by Russian troops.21:00. Soldiers of the 90th border detachment of the Sokal commandant's office detained a German soldier who had crossed the border river Bug by swimming. The defector was sent to the headquarters of the detachment in the city of Vladimir-Volynsky.
23:00. German minelayers, who were in Finnish ports, began to mine the way out of the Gulf of Finland. At the same time, Finnish submarines began laying mines off the coast of Estonia.
June 22, 1941, 0:30. The defector was taken to Vladimir-Volynsky. During interrogation, the soldier named himself Alfred Liskov, servicemen of the 221st regiment of the 15th infantry division of the Wehrmacht. He reported that at dawn on June 22 the German army would go on the offensive along the entire length of the Soviet-German border. The information has been passed on to the higher command.
At the same time, the transfer of directive No. 1 of the People's Commissariat of Defense for parts of the western military districts begins from Moscow. “During June 22-23, 1941, a sudden attack by the Germans on the fronts of the LVO, PribOVO, ZAPOVO, KOVO, OdVO is possible. The attack may begin with provocative actions,” the directive said. “The task of our troops is not to succumb to any provocative actions that could cause major complications.”
Parts were ordered to be brought to combat readiness, covertly occupy the firing points of fortified areas on the state border, disperse aviation over field airfields.
bring the directive to military units before the start of hostilities fails, as a result of which the measures indicated in it are not carried out.
Mobilization. Columns of fighters are moving to the front. Photo: RIA Novosti
“I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory”
1:00. The commandants of the sections of the 90th border detachment report to the head of the detachment, Major Bychkovsky: "nothing suspicious was noticed on the adjacent side, everything is calm."
3:05 . A group of 14 German Ju-88 bombers drops 28 magnetic mines near the Kronstadt raid.
3:07. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to the Chief of the General Staff, General Zhukov: “The VNOS [airborne surveillance, warning and communications] system of the fleet reports on the approach from the sea a large number unknown aircraft; The fleet is on full alert.
3:10. The UNKGB in the Lvov region transmits by telephone to the NKGB of the Ukrainian SSR the information obtained during the interrogation of the defector Alfred Liskov.
From the memoirs of the head of the 90th border detachment, Major Bychkovsky: “Not having finished interrogating the soldier, I heard strong artillery fire in the direction of Ustilug (the first commandant's office). I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory, which was immediately confirmed by the interrogated soldier. I immediately began to call the commandant by phone, but the connection was broken ... "3:30. Chief of Staff of the Western District General Klimovsky reports on enemy air raids on the cities of Belarus: Brest, Grodno, Lida, Kobrin, Slonim, Baranovichi and others.
3:33. The chief of staff of the Kiev district, General Purkaev, reports on air raids on the cities of Ukraine, including Kyiv.
3:40. Commander of the Baltic Military District General Kuznetsov reports on enemy air raids on Riga, Siauliai, Vilnius, Kaunas and other cities.
"Enemy raid repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships has been thwarted."
3:42. Chief of the General Staff Zhukov calls Stalin and announces the start of hostilities by Germany. Stalin orders Tymoshenko and Zhukov to arrive at the Kremlin, where an emergency meeting of the Politburo is being convened.
3:45. The 1st frontier post of the 86th Augustow border detachment was attacked by an enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group. Outpost personnel under command Alexandra Sivacheva, having joined the battle, destroys the attackers.
4:00. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to Zhukov: “The enemy raid has been repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships has been thwarted. But there is destruction in Sevastopol.”4:05. The outposts of the 86th August Frontier Detachment, including the 1st Frontier Post of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev, are subjected to heavy artillery fire, after which the German offensive begins. The border guards, deprived of communication with the command, engage in battle with superior enemy forces.
4:10. The Western and Baltic Special Military Districts report the start of hostilities by German troops on land.
4:15. The Nazis open massive artillery fire on the Brest Fortress. As a result, warehouses were destroyed, communications were disrupted, there big number killed and wounded.
4:25. The 45th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht begins an attack on the Brest Fortress.
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Residents of the capital on June 22, 1941 during the announcement on the radio of a government message about a treacherous attack Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union. Photo: RIA Novosti
"Defending not individual countries, but ensuring the security of Europe"
4:30. A meeting of members of the Politburo begins in the Kremlin. Stalin expresses doubt that what happened is the beginning of the war and does not exclude the version of a German provocation. People's Commissar of Defense Timoshenko and Zhukov insist: this is war.
4:55. In the Brest Fortress, the Nazis manage to capture almost half of the territory. Further progress was stopped by a sudden counterattack by the Red Army.
5:00. German Ambassador to the USSR Count von Schulenburg presents the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR Molotov“Note from the German Foreign Ministry to the Soviet Government”, which states: “The German government cannot be indifferent to a serious threat on the eastern border, therefore the Führer ordered the German armed forces to ward off this threat by all means.” An hour after the actual start of hostilities, Germany de jure declares war on the Soviet Union.
5:30. On German radio, the Reich Minister of Propaganda Goebbels read out an appeal Adolf Hitler to to the German people in connection with the outbreak of war against Soviet Union: “Now the hour has come when it is necessary to oppose this conspiracy of Jewish-Anglo-Saxon warmongers and also Jewish rulers of the Bolshevik center in Moscow ... In this moment the greatest in terms of its length and volume of the performance of troops, which the world has ever seen ... The task of this front is no longer the defense of individual countries, but the security of Europe and thereby the salvation of all.7:00. Reich Minister for Foreign Ribbentrop begins a press conference at which he announces the start of hostilities against the USSR: "The German army invaded the territory of Bolshevik Russia!"
“The city is on fire, why aren’t you broadcasting anything on the radio?”
7:15. Stalin approves the directive to repel the attack Nazi Germany: "The troops should use all their strength and means to attack the enemy forces and destroy them in areas where they violated the Soviet border." The transfer of "Directive No. 2" due to the violation by saboteurs of the communication lines in western districts. Moscow does not have a clear picture of what is happening in the war zone.
9:30. It was decided that at noon Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, would address the Soviet people in connection with the outbreak of war.
10:00. From the memories of the announcer Yuri Levitan: “They call from Minsk: “Enemy planes are over the city”, they call from Kaunas: “The city is on fire, why are you not transmitting anything on the radio?”, “Enemy planes are over Kiev.” Women's crying, excitement: "Is it really a war? .." However, no official messages are transmitted until 12:00 Moscow time on June 22.
10:30. From the report of the headquarters of the 45th German division on the battles on the territory of the Brest Fortress: “The Russians are fiercely resisting, especially behind our attacking companies. In the citadel, the enemy organized defense by infantry units supported by 35-40 tanks and armored vehicles. The fire of enemy snipers led to heavy losses among officers and non-commissioned officers.11:00. The Baltic, Western and Kyiv special military districts were transformed into the Northwestern, Western and Southwestern fronts.
“The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours"
12:00. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov read out an appeal to the citizens of the Soviet Union: "Today at 4 o'clock in the morning, without presenting any claims against the Soviet Union, without declaring war, German troops attacked our country, attacked our borders in many places and bombed from our cities - Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Sevastopol, Kaunas and some others - more than two hundred people were killed and wounded. Enemy aircraft raids and artillery shelling were also carried out from Romanian and Finnish territory ... Now that the attack on the Soviet Union has already taken place, the Soviet government has given an order to our troops to repel the piratical attack and drive the German troops from the territory of our homeland ... The government calls on you, citizens and citizens of the Soviet Union, to rally their ranks still more closely around our glorious Bolshevik Party, around our Soviet government, around our great leader Comrade Stalin.
Our cause is right. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours" .
12:30. Advanced German units break into the Belarusian city of Grodno.
13:00.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issues a decree "On the mobilization of those liable for military service ..."
“On the basis of Article 49 of paragraph “o” of the Constitution of the USSR, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announces mobilization on the territory of the military districts - Leningrad, Special Baltic, Western Special, Kiev Special, Odessa, Kharkov, Oryol, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Ural, Siberian, Volga, North - Caucasian and Transcaucasian.
13:30. The Chief of the General Staff, General Zhukov, flies to Kyiv as a representative of the newly created Headquarters of the High Command in the South Western front.
Photo: RIA Novosti
14:00. The Brest Fortress is completely surrounded by German troops. Soviet units blockaded in the citadel continue to offer fierce resistance.
14:05. Foreign Minister of Italy Galeazzo Ciano declares: “In view of the current situation, due to the fact that Germany has declared war on the USSR, Italy, as an ally of Germany and as a member of the Tripartite Pact, also declares war on the Soviet Union from the moment the German troops enter Soviet territory.”
14:10. The 1st frontier post of Alexander Sivachev has been fighting for more than 10 hours. Having only weapon and grenades, the border guards destroyed up to 60 Nazis and burned three tanks. The wounded head of the outpost continued to command the battle.
15:00. From the notes of Field Marshal Commander of Army Group Center bokeh background: “The question of whether the Russians are carrying out a planned withdrawal is still open. There is now ample evidence both for and against this.
It is surprising that nowhere is any significant work of their artillery visible. Strong artillery fire is conducted only in the north-west of Grodno, where the VIII Army Corps is advancing. Apparently, our air Force have an overwhelming superiority over Russian aviation.Of the 485 frontier posts attacked, none retreated without an order.
16:00. After a 12-hour battle, the Nazis occupy the positions of the 1st frontier post. This became possible only after all the border guards who defended it died. The head of the outpost, Alexander Sivachev, was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class.
The feat of the outpost of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev became one of the hundreds accomplished by the border guards in the first hours and days of the war. As of June 22, 1941, the USSR state border from the Barents to the Black Sea was guarded by 666 border outposts, 485 of them were attacked on the very first day of the war. None of the 485 outposts attacked on June 22 withdrew without orders.
The Nazi command took 20 minutes to break the resistance of the border guards. 257 Soviet frontier posts held the defense from several hours to one day. More than one day - 20, more than two days - 16, more than three days - 20, more than four and five days - 43, from seven to nine days - 4, more than eleven days - 51, more than twelve days - 55, more than 15 days - 51 outposts. Up to two months, 45 outposts fought.
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The working people of Leningrad listen to the message about the attack of fascist Germany on the Soviet Union. Photo: RIA Novosti
Of the 19,600 border guards who met the Nazis on June 22 in the direction of the main attack of Army Group Center, more than 16,000 died in the first days of the war.
17:00. Hitler's units manage to occupy the southwestern part of the Brest Fortress, the northeast remained under the control of Soviet troops. Stubborn battles for the fortress will continue for another week.
"The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox for the defense of the sacred borders of our Motherland"
18:00. The Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Sergius, addresses the faithful with a message: “Fascist robbers have attacked our homeland. Trampling all sorts of treaties and promises, they suddenly fell upon us, and now the blood of peaceful citizens is already irrigating our native land ... Our Orthodox Church has always shared the fate of the people. Together with him, she carried trials, and consoled herself with his successes. She will not leave her people even now ... The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox for protection sacred borders our homeland."
19:00. From the director's notes General Staff ground forces Wehrmacht Colonel General Franz Halder: “All the armies, except for the 11th Army of the Army Group South in Romania, went on the offensive according to the plan. The offensive of our troops, apparently, was a complete tactical surprise for the enemy on the entire front. The border bridges across the Bug and other rivers have been everywhere captured by our troops without a fight and in complete safety. The complete surprise of our offensive for the enemy is evidenced by the fact that the units were taken by surprise in the barracks, the planes stood at the airfields, covered with tarpaulins, and the advanced units, suddenly attacked by our troops, asked the command what to do ... The Air Force command reported, that today 850 enemy aircraft have been destroyed, including entire squadrons of bombers, which, having taken to the air without fighter cover, were attacked by our fighters and destroyed.20:00. Directive No. 3 of the People's Commissariat of Defense was approved, ordering the Soviet troops to go on the counteroffensive with the task of defeating the Nazi troops on the territory of the USSR with further advance into the territory of the enemy. The directive prescribed by the end of June 24 to capture the Polish city of Lublin.
Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. June 22, 1941 Nurses assist the first wounded after the Nazi air raid near Chisinau. Photo: RIA Novosti
"We must give Russia and the Russian people all the help we can"
21:00. Summary of the High Command of the Red Army for June 22: “With the dawn of June 22, 1941, regular troops German army attacked our border units on the front from the Baltic to the Black Sea and were held back by them during the first half of the day. In the afternoon, the German troops met with the advanced units of the field troops of the Red Army. After fierce fighting, the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. Only in the Grodno and Krystynopol directions did the enemy manage to achieve minor tactical successes and occupy the towns of Kalvariya, Stojanow and Tsekhanovets (the first two at 15 km and the last at 10 km from the border).
Enemy aircraft attacked a number of our airfields and settlements, but everywhere they met a decisive rebuff from our fighters and anti-aircraft artillery causing big losses adversary. We shot down 65 enemy planes."
23:00. Message from the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the British people in connection with the German attack on the USSR: “At 4 o’clock this morning, Hitler attacked Russia. All his usual formalities of treachery were observed with scrupulous precision ... suddenly, without a declaration of war, even without an ultimatum, German bombs fell from the sky on Russian cities, German troops violated the Russian borders, and an hour later the German ambassador, who just the day before generously lavished his assurances of friendship and almost an alliance on the Russians, paid a visit to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and declared that Russia and Germany were in a state of war ...
No one has been a more staunch opponent of communism over the past 25 years than I have been. I will not take back a single word said about him. But all this pales before the spectacle unfolding now.The past, with its crimes, follies and tragedies, recedes. I see Russian soldiers standing on the border of their native land and guarding the fields that their fathers have plowed since time immemorial. I see how they guard their homes; their mothers and wives pray—oh, yes, because at such a time everyone prays for the preservation of their loved ones, for the return of the breadwinner, patron, their protectors ...
We must give Russia and the Russian people all the help we can. We must call on all our friends and allies in all parts of the world to follow a similar course and pursue it as steadfastly and steadily as we will, to the very end.
June 22 has come to an end. Ahead were another 1417 days of the most terrible war in the history of mankind.
There are many explanations for what happened in the summer of 1941. Basically, these are emotional assessments and myths. Like, I was afraid Stalin Hitler. Or vice versa - he was going to attack Hitler and was not at all afraid of the Fuhrer. All this has nothing to do with the tragedy that began 77 years ago.
There were several reasons for the disaster in the summer of 1941. Here they are.
1. Stalin's desire to play the role of the United States
That is, to play the role that the States left to themselves in both the First and Second World Wars. Join the fight last and dictate the terms post-war world. It did not work - the burden of the struggle fell on our shoulders. But it was worth trying.
The very idea of setting Hitler up against those who gave birth to him, against London and Paris, was interesting and exciting. To begin the path to pre-war peace with Germany, Stalin sacrificed Republican Spain, where sooner or later victory would be for Franco(Hitler and Mussolini). Previously, he took out the gold reserves of the republic. Cynically? No more cynical than any activity of any high-ranking politician.
2. Stalin was sure that Hitler would not attack
Why? Because Stalin was smart person and knew perfectly well that Germany would not be able to fight on two fronts. Iosif Vissarionovich read Mein Kampf, where Hitler writes exactly this. The war on two fronts ruined Germany in World War I. Why would the Fuhrer attack us without completing the destruction of England?
There was no reason for this. The risk is enormous, the gain is doubtful. And most importantly: on the very first day, Russia and England become allies. Meanwhile, in June 1941, relations between London and Moscow were so "warm" that the British withdrew their ambassador. At the time of the Nazi strike, he had already been in London for several weeks. Hitler's insane act made us allies. Who could have imagined that he would undertake such an adventure?
3. Here the question reasonably arises: what about the concentration of masses of German troops on the border with the USSR?
What, Stalin did not see them? Didn't believe? Saw. And he thought he understood why they were standing on the border with the Soviet Union. It is impossible to hide five million soldiers, Hitler did not hide them much. He needed to convince the head of the USSR that these soldiers were not against the Russians. The advance of German divisions to our borders has taken place in recent weeks and even days. How did Stalin see the situation?
Germany conducts a cover operation before attacking England. Only this strike will be carried out not on the island, not across the English Channel, but on Iran, Iraq and India. Napoleon also went there to strangle the British. In May, fighting broke out in Iraq as the Germans provoked an anti-British uprising. Churchill sent troops there, after which the British army broke into the territory of Syria, which belonged to France. The French supported the Germans and fought the British, while other "De Gaulle French" advanced with the British through Palmyra and Damascus.
Stalin did not understand that Hitler was simultaneously trying to prepare to attack the British in the Middle East and the Russians in the east. At the same time, each side of the preparation of the Germans for an attack on them seemed to be a cover before hitting the other side. Hitler held negotiations with Britain by sending Rudolf Hess to London, who allegedly "flew" there on his own initiative. It is no coincidence that all the materials on this case are still classified by the British. There were other sources, signs and signals that convinced Stalin that Hitler would not attack. He can't be that stupid, and he can't let his emotions take over...
4. And finally, let's not forget that Hitler created a first-class war machine
On June 22, not only in 1941, but in 1940, France capitulated - one of the strongest powers of that time. At the same time, the British army was also smashed to smithereens, which was released from Dunkirk by Hitler as the first bridge to a potential peace with Britain. It took Hitler very little time to defeat the allies: from May 10 to June 20.
At the same time, there was not even a factor of surprise: the French and the British declared war on the Germans on September 3, 1939. There were no repressions in France either. So how to explain such a debacle? The incredible force of impact and the excellent fighting qualities of the Wehrmacht.
So, it was not possible to bring the Red Army to its knees in such a time. We persevered and persevered. But it cost us incredibly dearly. Millions of tortured prisoners in the first years of the war. And the Nazis killed them not at all because the USSR did not ratify the Geneva Convention. Germany signed that convention. And there are lines in it: the signatory is obliged to comply with it in relation to all prisoners.
The USSR followed these documents, declaring this to the whole world. Having a separate, own provision on prisoners of war. Which was better than Geneva Convention, and gave more rights to prisoners. And the USSR did not sign that convention at first for only one reason: it was racist and divided people into grades by origin, rank and skin color ...
So, the Nazis tortured and killed our prisoners for only one reason: they were nonhumans.
That's why we won!
Vyacheslav Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR:
"The adviser to the German ambassador Hilger, when he handed the note, shed a tear."
Anastas Mikoyan, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee:
“Immediately, members of the Politburo gathered at Stalin’s. We decided that it was necessary to make a speech on the radio in connection with the outbreak of the war. Of course, they suggested that Stalin do it. But Stalin refused - let Molotov speak. Of course, this was a mistake. But Stalin was in such a depressed state that he did not know what to say to the people.
Lazar Kaganovich, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee:
“We gathered at Stalin's at night when Molotov received Schulenburg. Stalin gave each of us a task - to me for transport, to Mikoyan - for supplies.
Vasily Pronin, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council:
“On June 21, 1941, at ten o'clock in the evening, Shcherbakov, secretary of the Moscow Party Committee, was summoned to the Kremlin. We had barely sat down when, addressing us, Stalin said: “According to intelligence and defectors, German troops intend to attack our borders tonight. Apparently, the war begins. Do you have everything ready in the city air defense? Report!" We were released at about 3 am. Twenty minutes later we arrived at the house. They were waiting for us at the gate. “They called from the Central Committee of the party,” the person who met him said, “and they instructed me to convey: the war has begun and we must be on the spot.”
- Georgy Zhukov, Pavel Batov and Konstantin Rokossovsky
- RIA News
Georgy Zhukov, General of the Army:
“At 4:30 am, Timoshenko and I arrived at the Kremlin. All the summoned members of the Politburo were already assembled. Me and the people's commissar were invited to the office.
I.V. Stalin was pale and sat at the table, holding a pipe not stuffed with tobacco in his hands.
We reported the situation. J.V. Stalin said in bewilderment:
“Is this not a provocation of the German generals?”
“The Germans are bombing our cities in Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltics. What kind of provocation is this…” S.K. Timoshenko answered.
... After some time, V.M. Molotov quickly entered the office:
"The German government has declared war on us."
JV Stalin silently sank into a chair and thought deeply.
There was a long, painful pause."
Alexander Vasilevsky,major general:
"At 4 o'clock with minutes, we became aware from the operational bodies of the district headquarters about the bombing of our airfields and cities by German aircraft."
Konstantin Rokossovsky,lieutenant general:
"About four hours On the morning of June 22, upon receiving a telephone message from the headquarters, I was forced to open a special secret operational package. The directive indicated: immediately put the corps on combat readiness and advance in the direction of Rovno, Lutsk, Kovel.
Ivan Bagramyan, Colonel:
“... The first strike of German aviation, although it turned out to be unexpected for the troops, did not at all cause panic. In a difficult situation, when everything that could burn was on fire, when barracks, residential buildings, warehouses were collapsing before our eyes, communications were interrupted, the commanders made every effort to maintain leadership of the troops. They firmly followed the combat regulations that became known to them after opening the packages they had stored.
Semyon Budyonny, Marshal:
“At 04:01 on June 22, 1941, Comrade Timoshenko, People's Commissar, called me and said that the Germans were bombing Sevastopol and should I report to Comrade Stalin about this? I told him that it was necessary to report immediately, but he said: “You call!” I immediately called and reported not only about Sevastopol, but also about Riga, which the Germans are also bombing. Tov. Stalin asked: "Where is the People's Commissar?" I answered: “Here, next to me” (I was already in the People’s Commissar’s office). Tov. Stalin ordered the phone to be handed over to him ...
Thus the war began!
- RIA News
Iosif Geibo, deputy regiment commander of the 46th IAP, ZapVO:
“... My chest went cold. In front of me are four twin-engine bombers with black crosses on their wings. I even bit my lip. Why, these are Junkers! German Ju-88 bombers! What to do? .. Another thought arose: "Today is Sunday, and on Sundays the Germans do not have training flights." So it's a war? Yes, war!
Nikolai Osintsev, chief of staff of the division of the 188th anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the Red Army:
“On the 22nd, at 4 o’clock in the morning, we heard sounds: boom-boom-boom-boom. It turned out that it was German aircraft that unexpectedly flew into our airfields. Our planes did not even have time to change these airfields and all remained in their places. Almost all of them were destroyed."
Vasily Chelombitko, head of the 7th department of the Academy of Armored and Mechanized Troops:
“On June 22, our regiment stopped to rest in the forest. Suddenly we see planes flying, the commander announced a drill, but suddenly the planes began to bomb us. We understood that the war had begun. Here in the forest at 12 noon they listened to Comrade Molotov's speech on the radio and on the same day at noon received the first combat order of Chernyakhovsky about the division moving forward towards Siauliai.
Yakov Boyko, lieutenant:
“Today, i.e. 06/22/41, day off. While I was writing a letter to you, I suddenly hear on the radio that the brutal Nazi fascism bombed our cities ... But this will cost them dearly, and Hitler will no longer live in Berlin ... I now have only one in my soul hatred and the desire to destroy the enemy where he came from ... "
Pyotr Kotelnikov, defender of the Brest Fortress:
“In the morning we were awakened by a strong blow. Broke the roof. I was stunned. I saw the wounded and the dead, I realized: this is no longer an exercise, but a war. Most of the soldiers of our barracks died in the first seconds. Following the adults, I rushed to the weapon, but they did not give me rifles. Then I, with one of the Red Army men, rushed to extinguish the wares.
Timofei Dombrovsky, Red Army machine gunner:
“Airplanes poured fire on us from above, artillery - mortars, heavy, light guns - below, on the ground, and all at once! We lay down on the banks of the Bug, from where we saw everything that was happening on the opposite bank. Everyone immediately understood what was happening. The Germans attacked - war!
Cultural figures of the USSR
- All-Union Radio announcer Yuri Levitan
Yuri Levitan, announcer:
“When we, the announcers, were called to the radio early in the morning, the calls had already begun to ring out. They call from Minsk: “Enemy planes over the city”, they call from Kaunas: “The city is on fire, why aren’t you transmitting anything on the radio?”, “Enemy planes are over Kiev.” Women's crying, excitement: "Is it really war"? .. And now I remember - I turned on the microphone. In all cases, I remember myself that I only worried internally, only experienced internally. But here, when I uttered the words “Moscow is speaking”, I feel that I can’t continue to speak - a lump in my throat got stuck. They are already knocking from the control room - “Why are you silent? Go on! He clenched his fists and continued: "Citizens and citizens of the Soviet Union ..."
Georgy Knyazev, Director of the Archives of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad:
V.M. Molotov's speech about the German attack on the Soviet Union was broadcast on the radio. The war began at 4 1/2 in the morning with an attack by German aircraft on Vitebsk, Kovno, Zhitomir, Kyiv, and Sevastopol. There are dead. Soviet troops an order was given to repulse the enemy, to drive him out of our country. And my heart trembled. Here it is, the moment we were afraid to even think about. Ahead... Who knows what's ahead!
Nikolay Mordvinov, actor:
“Makarenko was rehearsing... Anorov bursts in without permission... and in an alarming, muffled voice says: “War against fascism, comrades!”
So, the most terrible front has opened!
Woe! Woe!”
Marina Tsvetaeva, poet:
Nikolai Punin, art historian:
“I remembered the first impressions of the war ... Molotov’s speech, which A.A. ran in with disheveled hair (grayed) in a black Chinese silk robe . (Anna Andreevna Akhmatova)».
Konstantin Simonov, poet:
“The fact that the war had already begun, I learned only at two o'clock in the afternoon. All morning on June 22, he wrote poetry and did not answer the phone. And when he came up, the first thing he heard was war.
Alexander Tvardovsky, poet:
"War with Germany. I'm going to Moscow."
Olga Bergolts, poet:
Russian emigrants
- Ivan Bunin
- RIA News
Ivan Bunin, writer:
"22nd of June. FROM new page I am writing the continuation of this day - a great event - Germany this morning declared war on Russia - and the Finns and Romanians have already "invaded" its "limits".
Pyotr Makhrov, lieutenant general:
“The day the Germans declared war on Russia, June 22, 1941, had such a strong effect on my whole being that the next day, the 23rd (the 22nd was Sunday), I sent registered letter Bogomolov [ to the Soviet ambassador in France], asking him to send me to Russia to be enlisted in the army, at least as a private.”
USSR citizens
- Residents of Leningrad listen to a message about the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union
- RIA News
Lydia Shablova:
“We were tearing shingles in the yard to cover the roof. The kitchen window was open and we heard the radio announce that the war had begun. Father froze. His hands dropped: “We will probably not finish the roof ...”.
Anastasia Nikitina-Arshinova:
“Early in the morning, a terrible roar woke me and the children. Shells and bombs burst, shrapnel screeched. I grabbed the children and ran barefoot into the street. We barely had time to grab some clothes with us. The street was terrified. Above the fortress (Brest) planes circled and dropped bombs on us. Women and children rushed around in a panic, trying to escape. In front of me lay the wife of one lieutenant and her son - both were killed by a bomb.
Anatoly Krivenko:
“We lived not far from the Arbat, in Bolshoy Afanasevsky Lane. There was no sun that day, the sky was covered with clouds. I was walking in the yard with the boys, we were chasing a rag ball. And then my mother jumped out of the entrance in one combination, barefoot, running and shouting: “Home! Tolya, go home immediately! War!"
Nina Shinkareva:
“We lived in a village in the Smolensk region. That day, my mother went to the neighboring village for eggs and butter, and when she returned, father and other men had already gone to war. On the same day, residents began to evacuate. A big car arrived, and my mother put on all the clothes that my sister and I had, so that in winter we also had something to wear.
Anatoly Vokrosh:
“We lived in the village of Pokrov, Moscow Region. On that day, the guys and I were going to the river to catch carp. Mother caught me on the street, told me to eat first. I went to the house and ate. When he began to spread honey on bread, Molotov's message about the beginning of the war was heard. After eating, I ran away with the boys to the river. We rushed about in the bushes, shouting: “The war has begun! Hooray! We will defeat everyone!" We had absolutely no idea what it all meant. The adults discussed the news, but I don't remember any panic or fear in the village. The villagers were doing their usual things, and on this day, and in the following cities, summer residents gathered.
Boris Vlasov:
“In June 1941, he arrived in Oryol, where he was assigned immediately after graduating from the Hydrometeorological Institute. On the night of June 22, I spent the night in a hotel, as I had not yet managed to transport my things to the allotted apartment. In the morning I heard some fuss, turmoil, and the alarm signal overslept. It was announced on the radio that an important government message would be broadcast at 12 o'clock. Then I realized that I overslept not a training, but a combat alarm - the war began.
Alexandra Komarnitskaya:
“I rested in a children's camp near Moscow. There, the camp leadership announced to us that the war with Germany had begun. Everyone—the counselors and the children—began to cry.”
Ninel Karpova:
“We listened to the message about the beginning of the war from the loudspeaker at the House of Defense. There were a lot of people there. I was not upset, on the contrary, I became proud: my father will defend the Motherland ... In general, people were not afraid. Yes, women, of course, were upset, crying. But there was no panic. Everyone was sure that we would quickly defeat the Germans. The men said: “Yes, the Germans will drape from us!”.
Nikolay Chebykin:
“June 22 was Sunday. Such a sunny day! And my father and I dug a cellar for potatoes with shovels. About twelve o'clock. Somewhere at five minutes, my sister Shura opens the window and says: “The radio broadcasts:“ A very important government message will be transmitted now! Well, we put down the shovels and went to listen. It was Molotov. And he said that the German troops, treacherously, without declaring war, attacked our country. Crossed the state border. The Red Army is fighting hard. And he ended with the words: “Our cause is right! The enemy will be defeated! Victory will be ours!".
German generals
- RIA News
Guderian:
“On the fateful day of June 22, 1941, at 2:10 am, I went to command post group and went up to the observation tower south of Bogukaly. At 03:15 our artillery preparation began. At 3 o'clock 40 min. - the first raid of our dive bombers. At 4 hours 15 minutes, the crossing of the Bug by the forward units of the 17th and 18th tank divisions. At 6 hours 50 minutes at Kolodno, I crossed the Bug in an assault boat.
“On June 22, at three hours and minutes, four corps of the tank group, with the support of artillery and aviation, which was part of the 8th aviation corps, crossed the state border. Bomber aircraft attacked enemy airfields, with the task of paralyzing the actions of his aircraft.
On the first day, the offensive proceeded completely according to plan.
Manstein:
“Already on this first day, we had to get acquainted with the methods by which the war was waged with Soviet side. One of our reconnaissance patrols, cut off by the enemy, was later found by our troops, it was cut out and brutally mutilated. My adjutant and I traveled a lot in areas where enemy units could still be located, and we decided not to surrender alive into the hands of this enemy.
Blumentritt:
“The behavior of the Russians, even in the first battle, was strikingly different from the behavior of the Poles and allies who were defeated on the Western Front. Even being in the encirclement, the Russians staunchly defended themselves.
German soldiers and officers
- www.nationaalarchief.nl.
Erich Mende, Oberleutnant:
“My commander was twice my age, and he had already had to fight the Russians near Narva in 1917, when he was in the rank of lieutenant. “Here, in these endless expanses, we will find our death, like Napoleon ...” he did not hide his pessimism. “Mende, remember this hour, it marks the end of the old Germany.”
Johann Danzer, artilleryman:
“On the very first day, as soon as we went on the attack, one of ours shot himself with his own weapon. Clutching the rifle between his knees, he inserted the barrel into his mouth and pulled the trigger. Thus ended the war and all the horrors associated with it.
Alfred Dürwanger, lieutenant:
“When we entered into the first battle with the Russians, they clearly did not expect us, but they could not be called unprepared either. Enthusiasm (we have) was not in sight! Rather, everyone was seized by a sense of the grandeur of the forthcoming campaign. And then the question arose: where, at what locality Will this campaign end?
Hubert Becker, lieutenant:
“It was a hot summer day. We walked across the field, suspecting nothing. Suddenly, artillery fire fell upon us. This is how mine happened baptism of fire- Strange feeling".
Helmut Pabst, non-commissioned officer
“The advance continues. We are constantly moving forward through enemy territory, we have to constantly change positions. I'm terribly thirsty. There is no time to swallow a piece. By 10 am, we were already experienced, fired upon fighters, who had time to see a lot: positions abandoned by the enemy, tanks and vehicles wrecked and burned out, the first prisoners, the first killed Russians.
Rudolf Gshöpf, chaplain:
“This artillery preparation, gigantic in terms of power and coverage of the territory, was like an earthquake. Huge mushrooms of smoke were visible everywhere, instantly growing out of the ground. Since there was no talk of any return fire, it seemed to us that we had completely wiped this citadel off the face of the earth.
Hans Becker, tanker:
"On the Eastern Front I met people who can be called a special race. Already the first attack turned into a battle not for life, but for death.
In the early morning of June 22, 1941, a terrible disaster came to Soviet soil. The silence of a summer Sunday morning was broken by the hum of Nazi German bombers. In a few minutes, the bombs they dropped will fall on the heads of the inhabitants of the cities of the Soviet Union.
A military invasion of unprecedented scale will begin along the entire length of the western border of the USSR, in which 190 divisions, 4,000 tanks, 47,000 guns and mortars, and about 4,500 aircraft took part.
The Great Patriotic War began, in which the very existence of not only the Soviet Union, but also the peoples inhabiting it, was at stake.
The victory came at a high price - the war claimed the lives of 27 million Soviet citizens.
We know a lot about the first tragic days of the Nazi invasion, and at the same time we know almost nothing.
On the eve of the 70th anniversary Great Victory The Ministry of Defense of Russia on its Internet portal opened the exhibition "The First Day of the War", the exposition of which contains a collection of historical documents from the funds of the Central Archive of the RF Ministry of Defense, dedicated to the events of the first days of the beginning of the great confrontation.
Among the more than 100 historical documents, there are many that until now have been in the closed funds of the special depository and were previously available only to archive workers and military specialists.
"To bomb Koenigsberg and Memel"
“... Troops to attack enemy forces with all their might and means and destroy them in areas where they violated the Soviet border. Do not cross the border until further notice.
Reconnaissance and combat aviation to establish the places of concentration of enemy aviation and the grouping of its ground forces. Destroy aircraft at enemy airfields and bomb the main groupings of his ground forces with powerful strikes by bomber and ground attack aircraft.
Air strikes should be carried out to the depth of German territory for 100-150 kilometers. Bomb Koenigsberg and Memel. Do not raid the territory of Finland and Romania until special instructions.
Timoshenko, Malenkov, Zhukov.
At the end of the order, an indication was added: “T. Vatutin - to bomb Romania.
From the operational report No. 1 of the General Staff of the Red Army at 10:00 22.6.1941:
“4:00 22.6.41 the Germans, without any reason, raided our airfields and cities and crossed the border with ground troops.
... The enemy, having preempted our troops in deployment, forced the Red Army units in the process of occupying their starting position according to the cover plan. Using this advantage, the enemy managed to achieve partial success in certain areas.
Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army General of the Army Zhukov.
From the combat report of the headquarters of the 3rd Army No. 1 at 4:45 on June 22, 1941 to the commander of the Western Special Military District:
“The enemy at 04:00 22.6 violated the state border in the area from the Sopotskin station to Avgustov, bombed Grodno, in particular the army headquarters. Wired communication with the units was broken, they switched to radio, two radio stations were destroyed. We are acting in strict accordance with the directive to cover the state border.”
"The enemy has thrown a landing force, the number of landing forces has not been established"
From the operational report of the headquarters of the Air Force of the Western Special Military District No. 02 dated June 22, 1941 at 20:00:00:
“... I have no connection with three air divisions and have not been able to get operational reports from them so far ...
At the Novy Dvor airfield, up to 15 I-16 aircraft of the 112th Fighter Aviation Regiment were destroyed ... At the Cherlen airfield, all materiel was completely destroyed ... all materiel of 41, 124, 126 and 129 IAP was destroyed by the enemy at the airfields.
“After artillery preparation, the enemy Air Force violated the state border and, starting at 04:15 on 22.6.41, they carried out raids and bombardment of objects on our territory. From 5:25 the infantry and tanks of the enemy went on the offensive ...
At 06:00 on 22.6.41, a motorcycle battalion with tanks occupied Kretinga and by 09:00 occupied Kartena before the infantry regiment. In the area of Vezhaychi, up to the tank battalion, they broke through to Rietavas ... at 7:30, the enemy tank battalion occupied Le Havry ...
... at 7:30 in the Vodzhgira area, the enemy dropped an airborne assault, by 10:00 the number of troops was not established ... "
"Smash the enemy with a counter blow"
From the combat order of the headquarters of the Kiev Special Military District to the commander of the 15th mechanized corps on June 22, 1941:
"According to the report of the commander 124 rifle division, the left flank of the division was driven back to Stojanow. Large enemy motorized parts were found in motion on Radziechow.
The commander of the troops ordered the 15th MK to move out of the occupied area in the direction of Radzechow and with a counter strike to break the enemy’s motorized mechanized units and restore the position of the 124th rifle division.
Nashtafront Purkaev.
“The 5th army is engaged in stubborn battles with cover units and continues to concentrate troops along the front. In the Gorodlo area, up to 200 enemy tanks at 16:00 on 22.6.41 were ready to force the river. Bug. In the Kovel area at 16:20 an enemy airborne assault was landed from 18 aircraft ...
124th Rifle Division - defends the front of Barane Peritoki, Bobyatyn, Stoyanuv. On the right flank of the division, Porytsk is occupied by the enemy ...
During the day, enemy aircraft repeatedly bombarded Lutsk, Lyuboml, Vlodzimierz, Kovel, Rovno. 4 enemy planes shot down...
According to local bodies of the NKVD and district military commissariats, in the area of Kozovo (southeast of Brzezhany) and 12 km northwest of Zalishchyky, paratroopers of unknown numbers were landed; to eliminate them, parts of the 80th and 49th divisions were thrown ... "
“During the day, the Romanian troops, with the support of the German units, conducted active reconnaissance on the entire front of the army, trying to force the Prut and Danube rivers at a number of points. All enemy attacks repulsed ...
2/263 joint venture with 1/69 AP defends the Kartal area. Trophies - 5-7 enemy aircraft were shot down, 5 people were taken prisoner from the crew. Losses are specified.
RIA News
“The Russians asked the command what to do”
From the diary of the Chief of the General Staff of the German Land Forces Colonel General Halder, entry dated June 22, 1941:
"Border bridges across the river. The Bug and other rivers are everywhere captured by our troops without a fight and in complete safety. The complete surprise of our offensive for the enemy is evidenced by the fact that the units were taken by surprise in the barracks, the planes stood at the airfields, covered with tarpaulins, the units, suddenly attacked by our troops, asked the command about what to do ...
A Russian radiogram was intercepted: "The headquarters of the 3rd Army has been defeated. Send fighters" ...
The Air Force command reported that our air force had destroyed 800 enemy aircraft... Our losses still amount to 10 aircraft... I believe that the Russian command, due to its sluggishness, will soon be unable to organize opposition to our offensive.
"People move east"
From the morning report of the operational department of the Army Group Center dated June 22, 1941 at 8:00 am:
“In the sector of the 4th Army, the offensive continues successfully. In general, there is little resistance from the enemy. Apparently, the enemy in all areas was taken by surprise ...
Resistance in Brest is mainly in the city part - in the fortress ...
Units of the 800th Regiment, which prematurely went on the offensive special purpose on Augustow were thrown back by the enemy ...
On the site of the 8th Army Corps, the action of one heavy artillery battery of the enemy is noted ...
The 39th motorized corps reached the Murganinkai area by 06:15 (5 km southwest of Kalvariya). The bridges at Sventoyansk and across the Neman River in the Merech and Alytus regions have not yet been destroyed.
The population is moving east.
Mobilization. Columns of fighters are moving to the front. Moscow, June 23, 1941. Photo: RIA Novosti
"Where the enemy met, he fought to the death"
“Border positions are partially occupied. The enemy was completely taken by surprise, which is confirmed by aerial reconnaissance and Russian radio interception (reports are transmitted in clear text). Few prisoners...
The Russians are in a bad mood, in particular because of the poor food supply. Soldiers don't want to hear about politics. During the fighting, each soldier is entitled to a set of cartridges of 15 pieces.
“Where the enemy met, he offered fierce and brave resistance, stood to the death. There were no reports of defectors or surrendered prisoners. Therefore, the battles were marked by greater fierceness than during the Polish campaign or the Western campaign ...
The lone Soviet soldier was more tenacious than the Russian soldier of the World War era, which must be a consequence of the Bolshevik ideas, which were also fueled political commissars(who themselves, as a precaution, took off their insignia and wore soldier's overcoats). He felt the result of the domination of the Soviet government, which brought up in him insensitivity and a real contempt for death.
The naked lies are much wider than the history of the pre-war years ....
Grade 5 out of 5 stars by Guest 09.07.2013 17:34
an interesting book, but of course a lot of controversy! The political aspirations of Germany described in this book can already be made available to history textbooks!
Grade 5 out of 5 stars by sergey 19.03.2013 10:01
The book is very concise and at the same time concise.
many of these facts met in other sources. the great merit of the author is that he made a global analysis of the situation in the world, focusing on the interests of countries and world forces.
this book would be recommended for reading in history faculties
Grade 5 out of 5 stars by Victor 21.02.2013 20:23
I read "Antinyurnberg. Unconvicted" yesterday. Esmli "What happened on June 22, 1941?" was just a historical sketch - then this book is a real study. Magnificent in quality, impeccable in texture and brilliant in presentation. The author completely killed all Rezun's writings with one of his books! Like all rezunoids. Usovsky - Master, and master with capital letter, I really hope that sooner or later his books will take their place among the best historical research modernity
Grade 5 out of 5 stars from Regimantas Quederavichus 30.10.2011 15:44
Excuse me, but didn’t Mark Solonin write about the same thing? Only much earlier? I advise you to read "Barrel and hoops". A concept that really explains the defeat of the Red Army in initial period war. Usovsky is very vague about the date November 19, 1942. They say this is the date of the beginning of the unification of the people to fight the Germans. Unconvincing. In Solonin, this process is described and tied to time much more convincingly. I still didn’t like the reference to Zhukov, as an example of integrity in relations with Stalin (the episode when he offers to take SW troops F and leave Kyiv). It is cited as an example of the "foresight and integrity" of the "Marshal of Victory". I recommend on this issue to read at your leisure so unloved by Usovsky "Herr Rezun", in particular "I take my nightingales back." If Stalin had listened to such advisers more often and had not put them in their place in time, it would have been quite realistic to expect the Germans to appear somewhere in the region of Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.
Serge 12.03.2011 12:13
Let's be more specific! Who specifically is behind the concept of "World Capital"? It is very easy to blame everything on an abstract substance, to come up with some kind of common name. It has happened so many times already! Who ruined Russia - the Jews. Who started the world war - World capital. Who drank all the water in the tap - ... Poor sheep Hitler and Stalin. They had no choice but to respond to the vile machinations of a phantom called "World Capital". So they have not calmed down, it turns out. Sitting there in Haifa under the palm trees and dreaming how they could once again milk Russia and Germany and dismember.
Tikhon Khrennikov 11.03.2011 14:28
Usovsky did not "discover America" - he created a coherent and logical concept of the Second World War, free from Soviet and Anglo-Saxon lies. After his books - "What happened on June 22, 1941?", "From" sea lion"to" Barbarossa ": in search of a way out", "Sold out Poland. the origins of the September catastrophe", "Antinyurnberg. Uncondemned" it makes no sense to accuse Hitler and Germany of planning and unleashing World War II. This was done by WORLD CAPITAL. This is the merit of Usovsky.
Algirdas Buzas 26.02.2011 22:45
1. Address of Adolf Hitler to the German people on June 22, 1941 in connection with the attack on the USSR
http://aistor.do.am/publ/obrashhenie_adolfa_gitlera_k_germanskomu_narodu_22_ijunja_1941_goda_v_svjazi_s_napadeniem_na_sssr/1-1-0-220
2. And political testament Hitler
http://radioislam.org/historia/hitler/testam/eng/testa.htm
All this data is open and available The situation with Poland http://s-mahat.ru/cgi-bin/index.cgi?cont=68
The merit of Usovsky - he managed to publish a book. There is a lot of information on the Internet, but the Internet is free from censorship - publishers are not.
Alexander 26.02.2011 17:21
I read "Antinyurnberg" by Usovsky. Mr. Nilov is right - this book really destroys to the very foundations all the lies about the Second World War, and does it elegantly, gracefully, in beautiful Russian, convincingly and vividly. Usovsky is a man. really came to the truth - in regard to the mystery of the Second World War. His concept is the only one that does not have dubious places that Rezun carefully retouches with various lies, and Soviet historians simply hushed up. But the fact that Mr. Usovsky is a Russian National Socialist and a fan of Hitler sharply lowers his rating, alas ...
Algirdas Buzas 17.02.2011 16:34
Unfortunately, "Antinyurnberg" in in electronic format I don't have - I had to spend money on a paper version.
Rezun is trying to make Stalin the "author" of World War II. Usovsky argues that this war was started by the financial oligarchy of England and the USA (Anlo-Saxon and Jewish, he writes - "non-national"). And Hitler attacked the USSR not because he decided to "preempt" - but because in this way he tried to outplay the British, seize our resources and, relying on them, try to end the war.
Usovsky has a website www.usovski.ru where he has a lot of articles on this subject - both about tanks, and about the fleet, and in general about everything. I recommend.
And Rezunov's "facts" ... Either he makes the Pe-8 a "superbomber" (although by 1941 both the "Lancaster" and the B-17 already existed, which were much better), then he says that the BT-7 was a "supertank" (although his armor was pierced by ALL anti-tank barrels of the German infantry division - both anti-tank guns, and anti-tank rifles, and 20-mm anti-aircraft guns), but there is nothing to say about "motorway" tanks - nonsense.
Alexey Nilov 20.07.2010 16:39
If there is an opportunity, upload here "Antinyurnberg. Unconvicted" - I will definitely read it (I can’t find it on the internet - everything is only for money).
Well, how do the facts of Rezun differ from the facts of Usovsky - in both books there are facts confirming exactly the same thing, namely, that at the beginning patriotic war "Soviet army outnumbered the German one in terms of numbers and technology. "The conclusions are slightly different, but they do not contradict each other ... What are the contradictions in the facts?
Grade 3 out of 5 stars from Yuri 07/19/2010 13:39
Usovsky's style is, of course, very emotional, but ALL the facts set forth in his books are confirmed from other sources. Whereas Rezun has lies on lies and lies drive. I'm for you, Yuri. I strongly recommend that you still read Usovsky's book "Antinyurnberg. Unconvicted" - there he has a lot of previously unpublished factual material, excellent analytics - which he does not leave a stone unturned from Rezunov's nonsense
Alexey Nilov 19.07.2010 12:34
According to the style of presentation, Usovsky is more like a talker - (I repeat) he writes too emotionally. But the truth is, it is somewhere in the middle - you need to read both Rezun and Ustinov and other sources - but the main thing is to think with your own head ...
Yuri 18.07.2010 21:32
Rezun is a liar like Munchausen, 90% of his "facts" are lies he invented, he distorts and falsifies.
Usovsky has an excellent study on the causes of the outbreak of World War II - "Antinyurnberg. Unconvicted", in addition, about the role of Poland in unleashing this war - "Sold out Poland. The origins of the September catastrophe." Brilliant analysts, masterful selection of facts and impeccable conclusions.
Compared to Usovsky, Rezun is a miserable talker and a liar.
Alexey Nilov 17.07.2010 16:02
Read Suvorov - Icebreaker. Although the author constantly and caustically "runs into" Suvorov, the author is very far from Suvorov.
The book is written very emotionally and often in the language of "bazaar" grandmothers rather than in a language worthy of a historian. If in the Icebreaker 80-90% of the book are dry facts, then Usovsky has 10-20% facts, the rest is the author’s conclusions - and, I repeat, very emotional. The second point that I didn’t like, the author is very nationalistic, in the whole book there are only mentions of the Russian people, and the Russian nation ... it was never mentioned throughout the text that there were other nationalities in the Red Army - it seems that they were drafted into the army exclusively Russian ... Quote: "The three main components of the future Victory - ... and the formation of the Russian national idea as the ideological basis of the war - in the near future will have to tip the scales in favor of the Soviet Union."
The main idea of the book is that Hitler started the war because he needed resources (in particular, Baku oil), and Stalin knew about this but had absolutely no intention of attacking anyone. At the same time, the author himself cites data that at the beginning of the war the Red Army had at least a 3-fold superiority over the Wehrmacht in everything and mobilization was in full swing - and then the author’s conclusions begin that even though the army had a huge morale and lack of training do not allow to consider its army ... But did 5 million people (mouths) mobilize - does it mean that they planned to do something with this army?
Of course, in this book there is a grain of truth - such is the non-desire at the beginning of the war of soldiers to fight for Soviet power. And I am personally sure that in most villages that survived the dispossession, collectivization and famine of the 30s, the Germans were sincerely greeted as liberators with bread and salt ... And soldiers from the same villages were also recruited into the army ...
Total: the author only confirms Suvorov's idea, although he tries to replace it with some national idea Russian nation...
Grade 3 out of 5 stars from Yuri 07/17/2010 00:36