The author Marshal of the Soviet Union I. Konev, was army and Front commander. The book covers the short concluding phase of the war against Nazi Germany, a period exceptionally rich in events. At the time, I. Konev commanded the 1st Ukrainian Front of the Soviet Army. He tells a vivid and fascinating story of the great Soviet offensive, analyses the military and strategic situation at the time, makes apt and revealing comments on many renowned military leaders, and shows the stamina of the Russian soldier and the magnitude of his feat in the past war.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev occupies an eminent place among the distinguished military leaders of the past world war. Troops under his command defeated the Nazis in battles fought at Smolensk, near Moscow and at Kursk and in the Korsun-Shevchenkovskaya, Vistula- Oder and Berlin operations, and liberated Prague, the Czechoslovak capital.
In reply to the questions of Western journalists as to whether he was a career officer in the old Russian Army and how big his family estate was, Konev said:
“I’m afraid I will disappoint you, gentlemen. I’m the son of a poor peasant and belong to that generation of Russian people who met the October Revolution in their youth and identified themselves with it. My military training is Soviet, and therefore good. The successes of the Fronts, which I have been fortunate enough to command, are inseparable from the general successes of the Red Army. We, Soviet workers in soldiers greatcoats, are in all our thoughts bound to our people; we live their lives and fight for our common ideas. This is the source of our strength. For his distinguished service. Marshal Konev was awarded the Order of Victory, the highest Soviet military order.”
Translated from the Russian by David Mishne
Edited by Robert Daglish
Designed by Victor Korolkov
You can get the book here and here
Cleaned, optimised version of original scan
A 1969 (second printing 1984) Soviet work. Scanned by Ismail, sent to him by Christian Kellum.
From Thomas Mrett’s archive collection
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Contents
FROM THK VISTULA TO THE ODER 5
FROM THE ODER TO THE NEISSE 50
THE SO-CALLED LULL 67
THE BERLIN OPERATION 79
THE PRAGUE OPERATION 193
INSTEAD OF A CONCLUSION 239
Mir Books 