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Endgame 1944

How Stalin Won The War

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Endgame 1944

By: Jonathan Dimbleby
Narrated by: Jonathan Dimbleby
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A Sunday Times Bestseller

A gripping and authoritative account of the year that sealed the fate of the Nazis, from the bestselling historian

June 1944: In Operation Bagration, more than two million Red Army soldiers, facing 500,000 German soldiers, finally avenged their defeat in Operation Barbarossa in 1941. The same month saw the Allies triumph on the beaches of Normandy, but, despite the myths that remain, it was the events on the Eastern Front that sealed Hitler's fate and destroyed Nazism.

In this book, bestselling historian Jonathan Dimbleby describes and analyses this momentous year, covering the military, political and diplomatic story in his evocative style. Drawing on previously untranslated German, Russian and Polish sources, we see how sophisticated new forms of deception and ruthless Partisan warfare shifted the Soviets’ fortunes, how their triumphs effectively gave Stalin authority to occupy Eastern Europe and how it was the events of 1944 that enabled Stalin to dictate the terms of the post-war settlement, laying the foundations for the Cold War . . .


©2024 Jonathan Dimbleby (P)2024 Penguin Audio 20th Century Eastern Europe Military Modern Russia War Stalin Imperialism Soviet Union Red Army Cold War

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Critic reviews

'Pacily written . . . The detail is terrific, and the extracts from diaries, letters and so on make an indelible impression. The description of the last months of the war in Budapest is a tour de force.' (Sir Richard Evans, author of The Third Reich in History and Memory)

'Dimbleby has unearthed some powerful voices to producing an engaging mix of the familiar and the new. Fascinating stuff.' (Roger Moorhouse, author of The Forgers)

'This impressive book describes how Stalin’s armies shattered the Wehrmacht in Operation Bagration - which too few people have heard of - and gained him effective control over post-war Eastern Europe.' (Sir Rodric Braithwaite, author of Moscow 1941)

'A chillingly objective appraisal of the relationship between the ‘Big Three’ Allied leaders who influenced the outcome of the Second World War. It shines a light for general readers on a period of history often the preserve of Eastern Front academics . . . The human interface between the ‘Big Three’ is exposed in fascinating detail.' (Colonel Robert Kershaw, author of Tank Men)

'Magnificent . . . draws on so much good material.' (Dr David Stahel)
All stars
Most relevant
I saw the author give a talk at Chalke History Festival in June and went straight out to get this via Audible. Following on from his excellent book on Operation Barbarossa, this is another fantastic telling of one of the most brutal episodes of warfare in the history of humanity. It is a compelling account of the strategy from a political and military perspective as well as a brutal description of much of the fighting.

Another fantastic book from this author

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Interesting account of how Stalin played off Roosevelt and Churchill to gain control of Eastern Europe.

Good historical link to current conflict

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Having really enjoyed Jonanthan's Russia: A Journey to the Heart of a Land and its People I was looking forward to this very much. However I think Jonathan had a cold when narrating which was a little off-putting. The story is of course excellent and beautifully written. The greatest history telling of this period is Alexander Werth's Russia At War but this is a good addition.

Interestingly the Afterward is the basis for a potential great book by Jonathan. I hope he writes it.

Good

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well written and delivered giving insight to the eastern front russian push and German retreat

factual round up of the eastern front WW2

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Absolutely love it. Definitely a piece i will come back to over the years. However, I feel like I need a loooong break before I come back again to listening about all the atrocities.

Highly Recommended.

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