Ivan's War by Catherine Merridale

Owen · 24-03-2007, 10:15 PM

Anyone read this book?
Looks good, thumbed through it at Tesco's other week, think I should go back and get it?
Ivan's War, by Catherine Merridale

Za Rodinu · 24-03-2007, 10:22 PM

Yes, go get it. I haven't got it yet but it's in my 'someday' list. The two reviews I read, one in The Economist, were very favourable.

Owen · 24-03-2007, 11:21 PM

Just popped out in car to Tescos with ten minutes left before closing.
Picked it up for £6.97.

Za Rodinu · 25-03-2007, 12:35 PM

It probably won't be a very happy read, but enjoy! I found it cheaper in Amazon, but postage will offset this. Anyway, much cheaper than when launched.

Owen · 26-03-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Za Rodinu

It probably won't be a very happy read, but enjoy!

Quite right, rather depressing in fact. First part of book describes Soviet life and environment the soldiers grew up in, very depressing.
Pre-war the RKKA seemed an utter shambles, little training, poor accomodation, lack of equipment, masses of political interference, etc etc

Gotthard Heinrici · 27-03-2007, 08:07 AM

Well given the fact that the lads on the cover arent exactly full of the joys of spring I suppose it was inevitable that it wasnt going to be optimistic. I'm going to purchase said book in Easons this week!

Gibbo · 27-03-2007, 10:46 AM

I've not yet read it, but I was impressed when I heard Catherine Merridale talk about it at the Edinburgh Book Festival.

Owen · 28-03-2007, 12:57 PM

The book states any soldier without a known grave was considered a deserter. Reasons for not having a grave could be as varied as being blown to bits, being transfered to another unit and the paper-work didn't match up, so on and so on.
The author says the families had to live with the stigma that their relative was a deserter even though they may have been extremely brave.
She uses many, many Soviet sources so I must take this as true.
very sad if it is.
In the UK we built Memorials to the Missing, in the Soviet Union the Missing were branded deserters.
The rest of the book is full of such depressing stories.

Za Rodinu · 28-03-2007, 03:05 PM

Welcome to Stalinland.

Owen · 01-04-2007, 09:06 PM

Utterly depressing book.
Story follows the Veterans post-war with Stalin's usual attitude to human life.
Tales full of wrecked marriages, alcholism, offical denial of battle-field stress, an endless list of let downs.
Then there is the offical Soviet line on the War, denial of rapes, murders, etc etc.
A depressing but fascinating read.

24-03-2007, 10:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,709	Ivan's War by Catherine Merridale Anyone read this book? Looks good, thumbed through it at Tesco's other week, think I should go back and get it? Ivan's War, by Catherine Merridale

24-03-2007, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Za Rodinu So you hear voices too? Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,238	Yes, go get it. I haven't got it yet but it's in my 'someday' list. The two reviews I read, one in The Economist, were very favourable. __________________ "Tell me again, son, who lost the frigging war?"

25-03-2007, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Za Rodinu So you hear voices too? Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,238	It probably won't be a very happy read, but enjoy! I found it cheaper in Amazon, but postage will offset this. Anyway, much cheaper than when launched. __________________ "Tell me again, son, who lost the frigging war?"

27-03-2007, 08:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Ostfront is where its at! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,502	Well given the fact that the lads on the cover arent exactly full of the joys of spring I suppose it was inevitable that it wasnt going to be optimistic. I'm going to purchase said book in Easons this week! __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian "With amazement and disappointment, we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist." - General Blumentritt "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen me fight so hard." Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich - Commander of II SS Panzer Korps - (Commenting on the British Paratroopers at Arnhem) - September 1944 "Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

27-03-2007, 10:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gibbo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 313	I've not yet read it, but I was impressed when I heard Catherine Merridale talk about it at the Edinburgh Book Festival. __________________ Martin

24-03-2007, 11:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,709	Just popped out in car to Tescos with ten minutes left before closing. Picked it up for £6.97.

28-03-2007, 12:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,709	The book states any soldier without a known grave was considered a deserter. Reasons for not having a grave could be as varied as being blown to bits, being transfered to another unit and the paper-work didn't match up, so on and so on. The author says the families had to live with the stigma that their relative was a deserter even though they may have been extremely brave. She uses many, many Soviet sources so I must take this as true. very sad if it is. In the UK we built Memorials to the Missing, in the Soviet Union the Missing were branded deserters. The rest of the book is full of such depressing stories.

28-03-2007, 03:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Za Rodinu So you hear voices too? Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,238	Welcome to Stalinland. __________________ "Tell me again, son, who lost the frigging war?"

01-04-2007, 09:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,709	Utterly depressing book. Story follows the Veterans post-war with Stalin's usual attitude to human life. Tales full of wrecked marriages, alcholism, offical denial of battle-field stress, an endless list of let downs. Then there is the offical Soviet line on the War, denial of rapes, murders, etc etc. A depressing but fascinating read.

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