A Michigan Polar Bear Confronts the Bolsheviks: A War Memoir

by Godfrey J. Anderson, Gordon Olson (Editor)

When he was drafted for duty in the United States Army during World War I, Godfrey Anderson had no idea he was about to embark on a horrific adventure that would find him doing battle with Bolshevik revolutionaries in the frozen reaches of northern Russia. He became one of a 5,000-man American contingent assigned to join British troops in an effort to prevent Allied war materials from falling into Bolshevik hands. / Realizing that this compelling story was lost in the larger story of World War I, Anderson decided to offer this memoir so that succeeding generations would know and learn from his experience. And although he chooses not to pass judgment on the policy that sent him to Russia, his story still leaves readers to wonder when ― and if ― interference in the affairs of other nations is justified.

Genres: Nonfiction, Russian History

201 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2010

Reviews

[Brenden Duhr]

I read this book for a class and I am usually not very interested in reading, but this book was always interesting. It was really a great book and very informative about history and things you don't notice that go on for soldiers in war. I had absolutely no problem picking this book up and starting reading and it wasn't easy to put it down. Would highly recommend if you're interested historical non fiction.

[Rachel]

In this candid, honest account of his experiences, Anderson deftly recalls the adventure, the horror, the cruelty, the compassion, and even the boredom of a young man at war — without either sanitizing or sensationalizing his memories, and with little or no editorializing or retrospective criticism. This is both a riveting true story and a truly valuable historical document.