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Red Storm On The Reich: The Soviet March On Germany, 1945 Paperback – March 22, 1993

by Christopher Duffy (Author)

24 customer reviews

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On the night of January 11, 1945, fog, low clouds, and blizzards reduced visibility at times to literally zero along the Sandomierz bridgehead. So the German troops did not notice tanks, assault guns, and towed artillery pieces moving in position by the thousands along the east bank—the Russian side—of the Vistula River. Within seconds after the order to fire was given by the Soviet commander, General Konev, the air became incandescent with unnatural light. A sky of fire and smoke lowered over the country across the river: Houses flared up like torches, bunkers collapsed, roads were broken up, and men were ripped apart. The ferocity of the first attack shook the Germans so badly that they thought they were dealing with the main assault, and not just a reconnaissance in force. So they were completely unprepared for the principal attack and the horrors it held. Thus began the Red Storm on the Reich—the largest, costliest, and fastest—moving military operation in European history."Essentially, the Second World War was won and lost on the Eastern Front," writes renowned historian Christopher Duffy. Until this book, however, the most dramatic events surrounding this part of the war have been little understood. Utilizing a wealth of recently released Soviet materials from Moscow archives, and cross-referencing these with German accounts, Duffy has uncovered a military campaign of unprecedented scale and intensity during which thirty million lives were lost. Red Storm on the Reich brings to life not only the Russian military assault on Germany, but also the human drama behind the epic sieges of Danzig, Kolberg, and Breslau. Duffy's gripping narrative is essential reading for all those interested in modern European history.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Duffy's solid study describes the Soviet assault on Germany from January to April 1945, reminding us that the war against Hitler was essentially won on the Eastern front. Maps.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Standard military historical fare from Duffy (The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, 1988), who here details the final Soviet drive against the Nazis on the road from Poland to Berlin. With overwhelming superiority in armament and troop strength, the Soviet battle plan initially involved two coordinated assaults across the Vistula River in mid-January 1945. The assaults met with less resistance than anticipated--in fact, the German front collapsed, enabling the Soviet armies to begin a race to the Oder and German soil that made it seem as though the war would be quickly won. However, eventually bogged down by increasingly desperate fighting and the possibility of attack from the flanks and rear, Soviet operations turned to consolidating positions and eliminating pockets of resistance while maintaining steady progress westward. Duffy considers each siege and state of the assault separately, providing a full analysis of strategy and paying particular attention to the divisive role Nazi functionaries played in the Wehrmacht's efforts to fight back and regroup. Although battles are described with dramatic highlights, the march becomes fragmented into a series of isolated conflicts in which descriptions of maneuvers during the siege of K”nigsberg or Breslau, or on the Oder, often appear formulaic or repetitive. A lengthy appendix closely analyzes Soviet and German styles of warfare, with the former's mechanized ability and tactical advantage on the offensive proving decisive. Well researched and meticulously presented, but only occasionally engaging: a history of interest primarily to military specialists. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press; Reprint edition (March 22, 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0306805057
ISBN-13: 978-0306805059
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 24 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,245,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #19881 in Books > History > Military > World War II

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First 2/3 Very Good

ByThomas Reiteron November 21, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The first 2/3 of this book is very good--a good description of the fighting in East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, etc. from January-May 1945. The text focuses on Zhukov's and Konev's fronts, but also addresses others, especially Rokossovky's. The text is well-written, accompanied by very good maps, and is full of interesting quotes and anecdotes, many of which I'd not seen before. Note that the book does not cover the actual taking of Berlin, but it does describe the fighting in various fortress cities, including Konigsburg, Danzig, Kustrin, Kolberg, Posen, and Breslau. This part of the book (up to p 269) I'd rate as five stars.

The remaining 115 pp in the book, however, are pretty weak, consisting of a 40 page summary and "aftermath" section and another 75 pages of appendices on topics such as "The Evolultion of Soviet Mechanised Warfare", "Notes on Some Key Weapons", and "German Forces under the Storm". Much of the information in these sections was not particularly interesting, and what was interesting would have been more so if it had been worked into the body of the book instead of tacked on as a separate appendix. I'd rate this part of the book as three stars.

So on average, I've given this book a four star rating. As of the time of writing this review, new hard copy versions of this book are selling for $5; especially for that price I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in the end of the war in Europe.

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Astounding detail and information NOT found in any other study

ByAmazon Customeron December 3, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Highly informative study of the situation that existed late 1944 to 1945 and the events concerning the Russian Drive toward Berlin.
during WW 2. This under appreciated work of Christopher Duffy is perhaps the best source of understanding the Red Army s organization and Command at that stage of the War, with equal concise comparison to the German Army and Command.
Extensive excerpts from Russian and German Commanders Official Reports prepared during those days and firsthand accounts from both Russian and German Participants.
The Gripping detail ranges from tactical situations to Higher Strategy and the Decisions that directly and indirectly contributed the events on the field of Battle.
Astounding information on the amount of ammunition expended that remained insatiable until the end of the War, as even Trainloads of ammunition were rapidly exhausted.
Of particular interest is the German Russian Operations Chapters explaining the Strategy and Tactics that German and Red Army Commanders had to continually modify during the heavy fighting, that resulted in setbacks or the surprise of success.
This significant aspect demonstrates the snap decisions and the incredible stress and anxiety that weighed on each decision in every action during the helter skelter fighting.
The minutes of Hitlers War Briefings detail the obtuse events in the Bunker as Hitler demanded to know who authorized certain
actions that placed German Reserves in the wrong place, Hitler was then shown the order prepared in Hitlers own writing
that created the problem that resulted from His own orders. Hitler then refused from then on to allow any such evidence into the Briefings.
The Chapter on the Russian methods of breaking through German Fortified positions is explained not just mentioned, the tactical level of operation and organization is presented, this very interesting information is not found in any other study of noted authors such as John Ericksons prestigious books Vol I Vol II Stalins War With Germany.
The difficult fighting to clear the multitude of German Fortress or Festes such as Posen are mentioned in detached detail of
general description of enveloping Posen first from the South , and testing the German defenses using two Rifle Divisions to find if the Germans were in Posen in Force and determined to fight.
The significance of German Festes such as Posen, Kustrin, Konigsberg, occupied the main roads or arterys leading to Berlin and as long as these German Festes held out, the Russian Supply situation for their Tank Armies driving for Berlin that bypassed these Fortresses supply situation would be impacted resulting in an indeterminate delay in the final attack on Berlin.
Of these German Festes, Kustin , was only 38 miles from Berlin.
excellent study captures the imperceptible character of war, uncertainty of battle and trepidation over victory that plagued and weighed heavily on the mind.

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as good explanations and storytelling require

ByMarco Poloon June 7, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The history of the fall of Berlin is often told and most grognard readers will know it well. But what happened at Breslau, or at Poznan, or at Kuestrin?
How did the Red Army manage to leap from outside Warsaw, on January 12 1945, to bridgeheads across the lower Oder and almost on the direct road from Warsaw to Berlin, before the end of January? Why didn't they just roll on in to Berlin then?

All this is not just told, but explained. The level of detail zooms in and out, as good explanations and storytelling require. On the one hand we have Fronts and Army Groups and tank armadas. On the other, a Polish girl walking into the HQ of a Russian force tasked with storming the fortress of Danzig (Gdansk, famous again in history because of Lech Walesa) carrying detailed plans of the German defenses, right down to the level of individual structures, together with a recommendation from the Polish resistance as to how best to master those defenses. [She was believed, her/their suggestions implemented, and they worked.]

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Highly Recommended!

ByWilliam C.on July 20, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent read! Didn't get bogged down in unnecessary details. Gave a good overview along with personal observations by people who experienced these momentous times. The maps were also excellent & placed in exactly the appropriate areas. Highly recommended!