The pace never lets up in this epic story, with its vast canvas. It is vividly told and finely detailed … plunging the reader into the spectacular but horrifying vortex of Operation Barbarossa.

Iain Ballantyne, author of 'Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron'

Richard Hargreaves exhibits supreme skill at uncovering and synthesising obscure primary sources and contemporary reports to craft a visceral yet enthralling account of the opening stage of Barbarossa.

Jason D. Mark, author and editor

Elegantly written, yet relentlessly searing in its content, Hargreaves' new history of the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, which weaves together grand strategy and heart-breaking personal testimony, sets a new benchmark for the subject.

Roger Moorhouse, author of 'Poland 1939' and 'Berlin at War'

Richard Hargreaves offers us an intricate and meticulous introduction to the start of [Operation Barbarossa]…The detail is extraordinary.

Aspects of History

Without any doubt, this is a book that advances one's understanding and perspectives in relation to Barbarossa, making it highly recommended for those who study the fighting on the Eastern Front during the Second World War.

Iron Cross

This is a powerful account of Operation Barbarossa and is essential reading for those seeking to understand a campaign that reshaped the scale and meaning of total war.

Classic Military Vehicle