Short Synopsis
In this essential addition to the literature of World War II, international diplomat and author Rodric Braithwaite presents a brilliantly researched and realized history of the 1941 Battle of Moscow, the first strategic defeat of the German armed forces in their march across Europe.

Full Synopsis
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. The Soviets lost many more people in this one battle than the British and Americans lost in the whole of the Second World War. Now, with authority and narrative power, Rodric Braithwaite tells the story in large part through the individual experiences of ordinary Russian men and women.

The narrative is set firmly against the background of Moscow and its people, beginning in early 1941, when the Soviet Union was still untouched by the war raging to the west. We see how—despite a mass of 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, turning the Germans back on the city's very outskirts. Braithwaite's dramatic, richly illustrated narrative of the military action offers telling portraits of Stalin and his generals. By interweaving the personal remembrances of soldiers, politicians, writers, artists, workers, and schoolchildren, he gives us an unprecedented 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.

"Accessible and unforgettable…. [Vance's] reading of this book is engaging and...brings this book to life, making it ideal listening." ---Large Print Reviews

"This is an absorbing contribution to what [Braithwaite] considers WWII's turning point." ---Publishers Weekly

"Eye-opening.... Riveting.... Brilliantly captures a pivotal year not only for Russia but also for the world." ---The Miami Herald

"A symphonic evocation of a great city at war." ---The New Yorker