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Icebreaker: Who Started the Second World War? Hardcover – January 1, 1990

by Viktor Suvorov (Author), Thomas B. Beattie (Translator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 165 ratings
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Discusses the role of the Soviet Union in bringing about World War II, and suggests that Stalin was preparing the invasion of Germany when Hitler attacked
Previous page
  1. Print length
    364 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hamish Hamilton
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1990
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0241126223
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0241126226
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hamish Hamilton; First Edition (January 1, 1990)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241126223
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241126226
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 165 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
165 global ratings
The best evidence which is convenient to the armchair historian is ...
5 Stars
The best evidence which is convenient to the armchair historian is ...
The best evidence which is convenient to the armchair historian is this book and the accompanying Youtube video, "Who Started World War II" by Victor Suvorov. We really should support his ground breaking and truth activist work. This book is an amazing accomplishment and revelation, along with his other seven books. I recommend that you do read it!Brian RuheYou Tube channel "Brian Ruhe"
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Top reviews from the United States

HouTexan
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Look at WWII
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
The author provides a very detailed argument for why he sees Stalin as the greatest victor of the war, and how that result came to be.

Certainly a cogent explanation for why Stalin was able to not only win out over his chief rival Hitler, but ended WWII with half of Europe under his control.
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Dennis Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Hitler's fault for starting a war with Soviet Russia debunked
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
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Excellent detailed account of Stalin's plan to attack and overrun Germany then spread out all over Europe and and make all Europeans communists. Stalin didn't count on the genius of Hitler and his preemptive first strike that pushed the soviet state to the brink of defeat. Germany lost the war because the Fatherland was woefully prepared to fight a long drawn out war, Hitler underestimate the mere numbers of soviet troops, namely 600 divisions and many more to draw from the gulags , prisons, very young Soviers, and last ditch choices such as the ill or infirmed. I have read that the Soviet Army had more than 1 million women in it and that was certainly a big plus for Stalin. Many of the women were combat soldiers who were top line snipers, a deadly force to contend with. Another great factor was general winter and failed logistics which did not supply the fighting men with what they needed. Splitting your army into three major army groups breaks the laws of Clauswitz and Sun Zu. The author points out that the first powerful blow that hit the Soviet forces was nearly fatal but as the troops regrouped and stabilized, winter lead the counter charge and ground the assault to a standstill. I thoroughly enjoyed this scholarly work and learn many things and plans that went through Stalin's head. He was certainly a leader that used ruthless measures to win at all costs
23 people found this helpful
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Scruffy Scirocco
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2013
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A very detailed analysis of the Nazi-Soviet conflict which supports the Author's case that Hitler and WWII were the products of Soviet policy to dominate all of Europe. There's so much evidence presented in this book that it would take a dedicated expert in the history of the day to refute it, if such a refutation is even possible.
19 people found this helpful
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Kris
5.0 out of 5 stars Book makes you think
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2016
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Great book with different perspective on WWII and how things went down. Viktor cites many writings by the people who were involved in the war from the Russian side and also relies on his own experiences and knowledge being there as well. Even if you don't believe what he writes it is worth reading to get a different perspective on how the war was started and who started it. It is well known that Stalin was not a fan of the west and wanted to dominate the world as found through his own words. It is also know that he was ruthless with the own people as well as his enemies killing millions. I don't find it a stretch when reading this book that it is the truth, it actually makes sense when you think about how he treated his supposed allies after the war and the way he treated the people he "won" after the allies divided up Europe. I think he hoped that Germany would reach England and occupy so the American help would have been much more difficult without a staging area after crossing the ocean.

But no matter what you believe this is a great book to read and will make you think.
12 people found this helpful
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Roland PA
5.0 out of 5 stars Who really started WW2?! Who caused the entrenchment of communism in Russia & its spread the world
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
He presented the facts of history. Facts that have been sidelined ignored and suppressed.
And continue to be suppressed. To fully expose, present and promulgate these facts in all history books, and grammar school high school college and universities and the media at large would change The entire understanding of the events prior to, during and after the second world war. And no doubt it would not be to the liking of many people, and certain groups of people.
9 people found this helpful
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Lazar
3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, but fundamentally flawed thesis
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2018
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Nice book, but fundamentally flawed thesis that Stalin was the reason for preemptive attack from Hitler and start of WW2. Fact is that Hitler was already in war with several European countries when he attacked Soviet Union which was preparing for inevitable confrontation with Germany.
2 people found this helpful
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A Self Proclaimed Thinker
5.0 out of 5 stars Again, the truth in the fact that the winners make the history
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2019
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As one who lived a good part of his life behind the iron curtain, I have been taught that the Marxism teaches that the best way to overthrow the capitalist regime in to let the capitalist countries fight among them and when they are weak, the people can take over the power and install a socialist one. Stalin knew this and acted accordingly.
13 people found this helpful
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G. S. Bruland
4.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend his later book
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2016
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A very interesting read. A complete new take on the second world war. Viktor Suvorov seems to have an eye for the important details. I would recommend his later book;" The Chief Culprit" for most readers, still Icebreaker is an important book.
5 people found this helpful
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Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars Important information about WWII
Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2020
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One of the best book about WWII beginning.
The author had collected tremendous amount of information that clearly explains military balance in the beginning WWII. I can recommend this book to everybody to understand what is going on in the world.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars USSR wanted to invade europe in the 1920s long before AH came along
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2019
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People should read ice breaker. If they want a detailed analysis of what really happened on eastern front. The author Suvorov was a Russian Military Intelligence Officer until his defection to Britain with his family in 1978.

As such he had access to documents that other historians did not or that they did not understand the significance of. Suvorov describes in well documented detail what the Red Army was doing and what they were thinking. He lists which officers commanded which armies, division, battalions, where and when they were stationed, what their training and equipment was. He asks many questions to which he then applies his knowledge of military strategy and tactics to work out possible answers.

IF the Soviet Union was determined to stay neutral and stay out of the war and their only concern was to defend themselves against German aggression then WHY did they:

Move their border up against Germany, rather than leaving a buffer?
Abandon and destroy the Stalin-Line of defensive fortresses stretching from north to south, which at least would have provided a fall back line of defense?
Train a million paratroopers and establish a marine landing invasion force stationed on the Danube?
Train and organize a First Echelon army of millions and secretly move it up against the Border with Germany and Romania?
Train and organize a Second Echelon army and secretly begin moving it towards the German border?
Build roads and railroads towards the German border and use them to move troops and to stockpile millions of tonnes of fuel, munitions etc within 50 km of the border?
Build airstrips within 40 to 50 km of the border and part aircraft wingtip to wingtip?
Train pilots not in air to air combat but in air to ground bombing and strafing?
Spend months of detailed planning but have no defense plans?

These are activities of an OFFENSIVE Army, not a defensive army. By May and early June 1941 the actions of both armies on both sides of the border were mirror images of each other

Stalin did trust his own intelligence officers who were certain an attack would not be launched even if Hitler were foolish enough to want to fight on two fronts. They were monitoring two critical items which they knew Germany MUST have before an attack on the USSR. Winter clothing and winter lubricants. Hitler's hubris sunk Stalin.

Suvorov's claims have been disputed as revisionist b.s. The mythology of the Great Patriotic War is that Russia did not want to fight but were invaded without cause by the German aggressor. Most of the documentation needed to prove Suvorov's version has of course been destroyed, in particular the detailed plans which every commander along the front had in a red envelope in a safe which was to be opened on command from Moscow. But there are enough clues left to indicate that Hitler attacked to preempt what he knew was coming and that it was just in time.

Until I find a specific detailed rebuttal, I am inclined to go with Suvorov.
4 people found this helpful
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JoseKruzic
4.0 out of 5 stars Who Started the Second Word War?
Reviewed in Brazil on December 14, 2015
Verified Purchase
Aprendi muita coisa com o livro, mas o autor supõem ema consistência que a URSS não tinha. Ele mesmo diz que com todos os gastos e demanda de alimentos da mobilização a URSS estaria falida e faminta em 1942, a menos que atacasse, e saqueasse...
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German Porras Olalla
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesante pero en un inglés pésimo.
Reviewed in Spain on October 26, 2015
Verified Purchase
Tesis novedosa, no muy compartida, pero sólida y convincentemente argumentada.
Pésimamente escrita en inglés hasta el pundo de hacer dificil su lectura.
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Itellyounothing
4.0 out of 5 stars Uncovering lies, damned lies, no statistics
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book, is a combing explanation of the appalling performance of the fearsome red army in the first days of the Eastern front.

It exposes many lies told by Soviets and their apologists since.

It's insights into human behaviour are relevant even today.
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