Hi all!
I've just finished an intriguing book by C.Merridale named Ivans War. It is about the dayly struggles faced by the common russian soldier (the titular Ivan), his ambivalent relation with the communistic party and ideology and the culture at the front. Along the way the book dispells some myths, attempts to explain what led to some of the well known examples of crimes commited by these men and how, to this day, the frontovki are used for propaganda purposes.

A truly intruiging book.

Thommie,

You got my attention with this one. I missed it earlier, I have just finished ordering it from Amazon. I'm always interested when a book has been written by a trained historian who uses archival records, interviews, and other primary documents to inform their analysis. I will let you know what I think after I have given it a read.
Thanks,
Rick Cooper

Please do tell us!

The initial post has put this book under my attention, so I am anxious to see what others think of it.

I have it.I read it a few years ago,it didn't really grab my attention,I was excited by the title and the jacket comments,but I don't remember it clearly.I think I just got thru it and never picked it up again because it didn't make a big impression on me.Just my opinion,maybe I'll have to have another look at it.

Anthony: I can imagine you feel that way. At first I expected a lot of stories about offensives, millitairy operations and such. But it is much more about culture at the front and how the comm. party used propaganda and such for the war effort.

Am curious about what others think..

My wife bought me this book for Christmas..I have not gotten to it yet as there are few in front. Forgotten Soldier, In Deadly Combat A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front (the translator of this one is one of my history professors...Derek Zumbro) and Kursk..but I do plan on reading it.

I have recently gone back to school..ha a 44 year old college student (old man of the class...what a trip!) to finish a degree in history.