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Barbarossa: And the Bloodiest War in History
Drawing on remarkable and never-before-seen material, the extraordinary story of one of the most horrific and devastating encounters of the Second World War.
Sunday June 22nd 1941: 6 million Nazi troops marched on Moscow, with a brutal scorched-earth tactic that saw millions of Soviet citizens massacred. A level of brutality only paralleled after the Soviet's triumphed at Stalingrad, and took mindless revenge as they marched back into Berlin.
Beginning with Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, to the appalling circumstances of the Fall of Berlin in April 1945 and told from the perspective of the people of Russia and Eastern Europe, Barbarossa is a heartrending story of tragedy, suffering and heroism.
Stewart Binns draws on Russian archives to paint a uniquely intimate picture of the war from the Soviet side of this terrible conflict - presenting this dark moment in history in panoramic detail, matching sweeping accounts of tactical manoeuvres with harrowing personal stories of civilian hardship and bravery.
Sunday June 22nd 1941: 6 million Nazi troops marched on Moscow, with a brutal scorched-earth tactic that saw millions of Soviet citizens massacred. A level of brutality only paralleled after the Soviet's triumphed at Stalingrad, and took mindless revenge as they marched back into Berlin.
Beginning with Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, to the appalling circumstances of the Fall of Berlin in April 1945 and told from the perspective of the people of Russia and Eastern Europe, Barbarossa is a heartrending story of tragedy, suffering and heroism.
Stewart Binns draws on Russian archives to paint a uniquely intimate picture of the war from the Soviet side of this terrible conflict - presenting this dark moment in history in panoramic detail, matching sweeping accounts of tactical manoeuvres with harrowing personal stories of civilian hardship and bravery.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2021
67 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Stewart Binns
18 books35 followersStewart Binns began his professional life as an academic. He then pursued several adventures, including a stint at the BBC, before settling into a career as a schoolteacher, specializing in history. Later in life, a lucky break took him back to the BBC, which was the beginning of a successful career in television. He has won a BAFTA, a Grierson, an RTS and a Peabody for his documentaries. Stewart's passion is English history, especially its origins and folklore. Conquest is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 28, 2021
This is not a history book for the squeamish. Throughout there are stories of unremitting horror as the Soviet Union fought back against the largest military invasion in history - "Operation Barbarossa".
It began on June 22nd, 1941, with the attack by almost four million men and would end almost 4 years later with the Red Army's capture of Berlin. Almost all the major battles of World War II took place on the Eastern front. The Battle of Stalingrad, for example, lasted more than 5 months and cost the Axis troops (Italian, Hungarian, Romanian as well as German) 840,000 killed, wounded or captured. In the same battle there were at least 1 million Soviet casualties - 480,000 killed or missing and 650,000 wounded. These figures do not include innumerable civilian casualties.
During the 1960's, Andrei Borodin (former director of the Museum of the Defence of Stalingrad) wrote of the battle: "Nothing but tears. Regiments disappeared with their paperwork. There was no accounting of losses. This was just a meat grinder. Divisions would be destroyed in 3 days. It is not given to us to understand this nightmare."
Before the battle, Hitler said that after Stalingrad was captured all its male citizens were to be killed and all women were to be deported. This was a war of annihilation.
Millions died on the Eastern front - soldiers and civilians. Following the initial success of the German invasion, Einsatzgruppen ( paramilitary death squads of Nazi Germany) were sent in to murder hundreds of thousands of mostly Jewish civilians, communists and partisans. As the Russian people learned of the atrocities being committed, there grew a hatred of the Germans and over the succeeding years, the Axis armies and civilians suffered as the Red Army fought its way to Berlin. The author does not sidestep the brutal behaviour of the Red Army as it "liberated" various Eastern European countries carrying out large scale looting and mass rape.
As well as huge battles there were horrors such as the siege of Leningrad, which lasted almost two and a half years during which the survivors endured unimaginable hardship. Starvation led to people eating family pets and eventually to cannibalism.
The figures for the Russian dead are staggering. World War II losses of the Soviet Union from all related causes were about 27 million, both civilian and military.
Using excerpts from diaries, books and letters, the author, Stewart Binns captures the full horror of the "bloodiest war in history" with heartbreaking stories of how Russia's military and civilians lived and survived, and how, once the tide of war turned they exacted an appalling revenge on the seemingly invincible Wehrmacht.
It began on June 22nd, 1941, with the attack by almost four million men and would end almost 4 years later with the Red Army's capture of Berlin. Almost all the major battles of World War II took place on the Eastern front. The Battle of Stalingrad, for example, lasted more than 5 months and cost the Axis troops (Italian, Hungarian, Romanian as well as German) 840,000 killed, wounded or captured. In the same battle there were at least 1 million Soviet casualties - 480,000 killed or missing and 650,000 wounded. These figures do not include innumerable civilian casualties.
During the 1960's, Andrei Borodin (former director of the Museum of the Defence of Stalingrad) wrote of the battle: "Nothing but tears. Regiments disappeared with their paperwork. There was no accounting of losses. This was just a meat grinder. Divisions would be destroyed in 3 days. It is not given to us to understand this nightmare."
Before the battle, Hitler said that after Stalingrad was captured all its male citizens were to be killed and all women were to be deported. This was a war of annihilation.
Millions died on the Eastern front - soldiers and civilians. Following the initial success of the German invasion, Einsatzgruppen ( paramilitary death squads of Nazi Germany) were sent in to murder hundreds of thousands of mostly Jewish civilians, communists and partisans. As the Russian people learned of the atrocities being committed, there grew a hatred of the Germans and over the succeeding years, the Axis armies and civilians suffered as the Red Army fought its way to Berlin. The author does not sidestep the brutal behaviour of the Red Army as it "liberated" various Eastern European countries carrying out large scale looting and mass rape.
As well as huge battles there were horrors such as the siege of Leningrad, which lasted almost two and a half years during which the survivors endured unimaginable hardship. Starvation led to people eating family pets and eventually to cannibalism.
The figures for the Russian dead are staggering. World War II losses of the Soviet Union from all related causes were about 27 million, both civilian and military.
Using excerpts from diaries, books and letters, the author, Stewart Binns captures the full horror of the "bloodiest war in history" with heartbreaking stories of how Russia's military and civilians lived and survived, and how, once the tide of war turned they exacted an appalling revenge on the seemingly invincible Wehrmacht.
October 25, 2024
More than once I googled a person who was mentioned here to learn more about them, only to find a wikipedia entry that was phrased extremely similarly to the text in the book; one is free to draw one's own conclusions from that. For myself, this book is otherwise a summary and series of quotes that are easy to read and yet fall from memory very quickly because there is no artfulness here, no narrative, no gift for description or structure or emotional connection-- just a summary, and a suspicious one, for the reason stated above.
December 7, 2025
"However, it is the lives of the ordinary Soviet citizens - people whose lives, families and futures were swept away in the ferocious onslaught of Barbarossa - that we truly begin to understand the impact of the campaign in the East...their testimonies - which variously express bravery, resignation, stoicism, devotion to their Motherland, ruthlessness in war, generosity in peace, pride in their intellectual heritage - reveal to us the individual and shared experiences of the people who lived through 'the bloodiest war in history.' Perhaps, in very simple terms, it is Barbarossa - Russia's 'Great Patriotic War' - that bares the soul of the nation."
--Stewart Binns, Barbarossa: And the Bloodiest War in History
--Stewart Binns, Barbarossa: And the Bloodiest War in History
November 11, 2024
Brutal and eye opening first hand accounts
September 27, 2024
This is a very high-level overview of the events that led up to Operation Barbarossa and lead to the fall of Berlin. Filled with first hand accounts from witnesses, it takes a more-Soviet side of the war. I would say that it is 98% from the side of the Russians. If you are wanting more information on individual battles or policies, I would say to look elsewhere. It does offer some depictions of the horrors visited upon the civilian populations by the conquering armies. All in all a decent book.
April 22, 2023
Het verschrikkelijke verhaal over de inval van de Sovjet-Unie is in dit boek op een nieuwe wijze gebracht namelijk vanuit het perspectief van de Russische mannen en vrouwen die hun Grote Pattriotische oorlog van dichtbij hebben meegemaakt. Het begint met de tragische aftocht van de Russische soldaten en burgers die moeten vluchten voor de Duitse troepen die zonder enige vorm van mededogen de Russische steppen doormarcheren richting Moskou. Het boek neemt de lezer mee in de veldslagen die het Oostfront zo’n gruwelijke plek maakte om je in te bevinden, van Stalingrad tot aan Berlijn, en probeert de lezer te verplaatsen in de Russische zijde van deze bloedig oorlog. Een aanrader voor iedereen die vanuit een nieuwe hoek ervaringen en emoties wilt begrijpen over het dodelijkste oorlogsgebied in de geschiedenis.
June 14, 2024
A decent short account of the Eastern Front in WWII from a Soviet perspective interspersed with some excellent diary material and reportage. Interesting coverage of female service personnel. The title implies that only Barbarossa is covered, but this book runs all the way to Berlin.
September 12, 2023
Vodka, Borsch, and Tears.
Armed with newly unarchived historical material and hitherto unpublished sources, TV presenter and writer of historical fiction, Stewart Binns, attempts a concise history of the Eastern Front of World War II. As the saying goes: There is no new history, there is only new TV Presenters writing history paperbacks.
Any reflection on the events of Barbarossa lay waste to faith and morality and exposes the meaninglessness of life. The atrocities of the Eastern Front test the limits with which words and data can capture history. It is beyond comprehension, perhaps beyond language. One is reminded of Odorno’s sage observation that ‘to write poetry after Aushwitz is barbaric’.
In the face of this gauntlet, Binns does not attempt to explain or describe Barbarossa comprehensively. It is clear from the slightly apologetic introduction, that our author is here to provide an overview. Considering that Binns is more used to producing weekly Soccer TV shows than writing historical philosophy, this seems a wise decision.
As an overview, you could do worse. The writing is clipped, forthright, and well edited. Unlike some other popular histories I could name, it does not make the infuriating mistake of assuming knowledge and has an elegant way of showing how the events flow into one another (even when they most likely didn’t). Despite its brevity, it is also capable of surprising emotional heft, not to mention evoking existential disbelief at the propensity of human beings for cruelty, hardship, and hope.
From a historical perspective, Binns does commendably, he is critical of the sources and is careful not to tell one side of any story. Still, while ostensibly interrogating the historiographical status quo, don’t expect anything other than the same old story. Further, although careful to condemn atrocities on both sides, Binns betrays his sympathies when the intro tells of his first trip to Russia as a student and talks – mawkishly – of the “quest for the spirit of Russia”. The research is impressive, but the introductory nature of the book requires that Binns be necessarily selective with the types of anecdotes that sometimes bring this short history to life.
Making sense of Barbarossa and its repercussions is beyond the ability of the best historians, poets, and artists, and I alternated between feeling impressed that Binns even made the attempt and outright dismissive. He set’s a lovely frame, but this slight history is a small chip off the side of an unutterable history.
Armed with newly unarchived historical material and hitherto unpublished sources, TV presenter and writer of historical fiction, Stewart Binns, attempts a concise history of the Eastern Front of World War II. As the saying goes: There is no new history, there is only new TV Presenters writing history paperbacks.
Any reflection on the events of Barbarossa lay waste to faith and morality and exposes the meaninglessness of life. The atrocities of the Eastern Front test the limits with which words and data can capture history. It is beyond comprehension, perhaps beyond language. One is reminded of Odorno’s sage observation that ‘to write poetry after Aushwitz is barbaric’.
In the face of this gauntlet, Binns does not attempt to explain or describe Barbarossa comprehensively. It is clear from the slightly apologetic introduction, that our author is here to provide an overview. Considering that Binns is more used to producing weekly Soccer TV shows than writing historical philosophy, this seems a wise decision.
As an overview, you could do worse. The writing is clipped, forthright, and well edited. Unlike some other popular histories I could name, it does not make the infuriating mistake of assuming knowledge and has an elegant way of showing how the events flow into one another (even when they most likely didn’t). Despite its brevity, it is also capable of surprising emotional heft, not to mention evoking existential disbelief at the propensity of human beings for cruelty, hardship, and hope.
From a historical perspective, Binns does commendably, he is critical of the sources and is careful not to tell one side of any story. Still, while ostensibly interrogating the historiographical status quo, don’t expect anything other than the same old story. Further, although careful to condemn atrocities on both sides, Binns betrays his sympathies when the intro tells of his first trip to Russia as a student and talks – mawkishly – of the “quest for the spirit of Russia”. The research is impressive, but the introductory nature of the book requires that Binns be necessarily selective with the types of anecdotes that sometimes bring this short history to life.
Making sense of Barbarossa and its repercussions is beyond the ability of the best historians, poets, and artists, and I alternated between feeling impressed that Binns even made the attempt and outright dismissive. He set’s a lovely frame, but this slight history is a small chip off the side of an unutterable history.
September 3, 2025
Whenever I read about war, I often struggle to take in the sheer numbers of people killed. Stalin once said: “One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic”, and I feel what makes this book so compelling and ultimately heartbreaking are the personal stories that are woven throughout. It gives the enormous numbers faces, names; hopes and dreams. These were unimaginable times, where people did unimaginable things to each other, and if anything this book reminds me of two things: one, my life is easy and privileged, and two, the generation described in this book was simply built different. This was a time where the overwhelming forces of ideology despotism came crashing down on the ordinary citizen, and this book is a powerful tribute to the millions of acts of bravery and sacrifice that the these people made in the face of utter oblivion.
Well written and deeply moving, I would recommend to anyone interested in WW2.
Well written and deeply moving, I would recommend to anyone interested in WW2.
September 28, 2025
I can see the appeal in this book for someone who is reasonably new to this area of history. This would be a very good book for someone who is looking to get into more mature historical literature. However I thought it was a a bit of a disjointed re-telling of events that lacked any real strategic analysis or storytelling.
In fairness, the use of primary sources (diary entries, letters, etc) lent a very good eye-level perspective of the events of the war.
One example of this would be the chapters on the siege of Leningrad. While I didn’t think there was any analysis of strategy used by the Wehrmacht to siege the city, the use of first hand accounts made it an enjoyable read nonetheless.
It wasn’t what I was looking for, but don’t let that scare you off. I can see how this would be an enjoyable read for someone else.
In fairness, the use of primary sources (diary entries, letters, etc) lent a very good eye-level perspective of the events of the war.
One example of this would be the chapters on the siege of Leningrad. While I didn’t think there was any analysis of strategy used by the Wehrmacht to siege the city, the use of first hand accounts made it an enjoyable read nonetheless.
It wasn’t what I was looking for, but don’t let that scare you off. I can see how this would be an enjoyable read for someone else.
April 21, 2025
The dark history everyone should read.
The book details WW2 from the Russian viewpoint, starting with the pre-text of the German invasion, through to the invasion and Russia's counter march all the way to Berlin.
The book is packed with incredible stories of bravery, as well as tragic atrocities that occurred. The book does not shy away from providing details of the gruesome nature of war, and it makes a sad (but necessary) reading.
The book details WW2 from the Russian viewpoint, starting with the pre-text of the German invasion, through to the invasion and Russia's counter march all the way to Berlin.
The book is packed with incredible stories of bravery, as well as tragic atrocities that occurred. The book does not shy away from providing details of the gruesome nature of war, and it makes a sad (but necessary) reading.
February 4, 2026
Interesting primer on strategic war-time decisions in the Eastern sphere of WW2. Not taught well in Western hemispher schools, mostly new info for me. Also, strong context for my History Course, Life After Hitler in Germany. In Lecture 3, focus on Soviet raping and pillaging of Berlin was discussed in a very similar fashion as book, though course has more focus on primary sources.
January 4, 2025
A magnificent overview of the Eastern Front, the events leading up to Barbarossa, and a post-war summary of Stalinism until his death. There are grotesque scenes described in here to illustrate to the reader what horrors occurred in the east.
Read
January 21, 2025It is a brief introduction to the Great Patriotic War, mainly based on quotes from Soviet citizens, hung on a sparse narrative.
There are no revelations in this text, but it does convey the scale of the conflict.
There are no revelations in this text, but it does convey the scale of the conflict.
September 13, 2025
Drawing on diaries and military accounts, Binns does a remarkable job of describing Barbarossa from its beginnings to the end of the war as Berlin falls. The personal accounts from soldiers and citizens bring the war to life, now 80 years in our past.
September 8, 2023
A survey of WWII on the Eastern Front with remarkable first hand testimony from people who were a part of the horror of the German invasion and the ultimate Soviet victory.
November 2, 2023
Not really Barbarossa but the complete Axis/USSR war mostly from the Soviet point of view. Plenty of excellent diary and memoir recollections to support the narrative. Overall a really good read.
April 8, 2025
Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. What a tragedy.
August 28, 2025
I’ve read several books about this subject, and what sets this one apart is the emphasis on the Russian perspective. A brutal history that needs to be read.
October 5, 2025
Incredible cost to life
Very detailed and informative research on Barbarossa. Highly recommended to any avid reader of WW2 and in particular true first hand accounts.
Very detailed and informative research on Barbarossa. Highly recommended to any avid reader of WW2 and in particular true first hand accounts.
November 28, 2025
excellent
An excellent study of the operation that ended the war. Well written and just detailed enough to keep up a readable pace.
An excellent study of the operation that ended the war. Well written and just detailed enough to keep up a readable pace.
October 12, 2025
One of my all-time favourites, Operation Barbarossa is the epitome of the Soviet soldier’s spirit — never giving in, no matter what (and if you did, you were shot) — and of their determination to “take back what’s ours.” The small anecdotes preserved in diaries and personal accounts throughout the book really helped showcase the gruesome travesties taking place across Russia and the neighbouring countries at the time. Battles like Stalingrad and the race to the oil fields in the Caucasus region stood out vividly. One of the most deeply depraved things I learned while reading was that, during the Battle of Stalingrad, when food supplies were at a standstill… people resorted to eating one another.
July 9, 2025
"...hatred is as much an incitement to fight as fear is an inducement to capitulate."
"In hunger people showed their true selves: some were wonderful, unparalleled heroes; others were villains, scoundrels, murderers, cannibals. There was no middle ground."
Unreal. Scientists sometimes point out that the human mind struggles to actually comprehend how far a lightyear is. It's so far beyond what is familiar and what we can compute. This book was like that. A single death is shocking to me, but once I started grappling with the sheer quantity of brutal deaths and immense suffering, I didn't even know how to file it.
That, and the utter unwillingness of the Germans to surrender when they were certain they would not win, were the main takeaways for me. Hitler could have prevented untold suffering for all parties if he surrendered when he knew victory was out of reach. Unreal.
Also, historically speaking, this was five seconds ago.
"In hunger people showed their true selves: some were wonderful, unparalleled heroes; others were villains, scoundrels, murderers, cannibals. There was no middle ground."
Unreal. Scientists sometimes point out that the human mind struggles to actually comprehend how far a lightyear is. It's so far beyond what is familiar and what we can compute. This book was like that. A single death is shocking to me, but once I started grappling with the sheer quantity of brutal deaths and immense suffering, I didn't even know how to file it.
That, and the utter unwillingness of the Germans to surrender when they were certain they would not win, were the main takeaways for me. Hitler could have prevented untold suffering for all parties if he surrendered when he knew victory was out of reach. Unreal.
Also, historically speaking, this was five seconds ago.
November 25, 2021
Tears water my eyes
It been a great book to read and to listen on audible aswell. Once I started I found it hard to place it down. I even woke up in the middle of the night just to read/listen to it more. It made the reading much easier with other peoples diary accounts. When reading this accounts I had tears in my eyes of the horrific doing from both sides of the war. As a Ukrainian citizen and from a younger generation I appreciate more for my ancestors had to go through at that time. 2 different philosophys in life at that time and both failed but with millions loosing their lives. It has been a great read.
It been a great book to read and to listen on audible aswell. Once I started I found it hard to place it down. I even woke up in the middle of the night just to read/listen to it more. It made the reading much easier with other peoples diary accounts. When reading this accounts I had tears in my eyes of the horrific doing from both sides of the war. As a Ukrainian citizen and from a younger generation I appreciate more for my ancestors had to go through at that time. 2 different philosophys in life at that time and both failed but with millions loosing their lives. It has been a great read.
February 18, 2022
A fascinating read and refreshing perspective in viewing the horrors and scale of the second world war from an Eastern Europe perspective, rather than the West
Read
June 7, 20221
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews