Endgame 1944

By Jonathan Dimbleby

Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War offers a compelling exploration of the Eastern Front during June 1944, a period often overshadowed by the events of D-Day and the Normandy Campaign.

While Western narratives frequently emphasize the contributions of Allied forces, a quick look at the strategic landscape on the Eastern Front in 1944 reveals that, despite substantial gains against Army Group South in 1943, a daunting 400 miles stood in between Army Group Centre's advanced positions and the Soviet Army's final objective of reaching Berlin.

Dimbleby’s work serves as an important reminder of the staggering sacrifices made by Soviet forces to achieve this, countering the popular historical focus on Western battles and neatly reframing our understanding of the Soviet Union's crucial role in the downfall of Nazi Germany. His analysis provides much-needed accessibility to the complexities of the Eastern Front, making it approachable for both casual readers and serious students of history. Echoing and building upon the legacies established in the works of Alan Clarke’s Barbarossa, Anthony Beevor’s Stalingrad, and Lloyd Clark, Dimbleby narrates the penultimate chapter of the German Army’s collapse: Operation Bagration.

A pivotal moment in the German War in the East, this was a decisive event that led to Germany's greatest defeat. For the Soviets, the objective was simple: destroy Army Group Centre at its advanced positions by employing deception and leveraging their superiority in material and manpower. This strategy aimed to create chaos and provide an opportunity to reclaim the territorial losses suffered during Operation BARBAROSSA.

For the Wehrmacht of 1944, the conditions were dire - undermanned, outgunned, and on the defensive. Dimbleby paints a bleak picture of the German soldiers' plight. The once-unstoppable armoured steamroller of the German Blitzkrieg, was now a distant memory, replaced by the stark reality of retreat and impending defeat; yet still doomed to fight a war for which there was no end in sight. In contrast, the Soviet Army, well-equipped and better organized, was poised for vengeance, bolstered by significant numerical superiority and eager to test their newly theorized doctrine of Deep Battle.

Dimbleby’s narrative captures the essence of the strategic chaos that unfolded during Operation Bagration, where meticulous planning and clever deception allowed Soviet forces to break through German lines with devastating effect. The scale of this operation and the shift in momentum resulting from the destruction of 28 of the German Army’s divisions and loss of 400,000 soldiers is conveyed with both striking clarity and urgency.

Beyond military tactics, Endgame invites readers to consider the broader political ramifications of these events, shaping modern Europe and influencing current geopolitics. Dimbleby’s work is not just a retelling of battles; it’s a crucial examination of how the echoes of this history resonate today. Overall, Endgame is an essential read for anyone interested in military history. Dimbleby’s insightful analysis and engaging storytelling revive the Eastern Front's significance, ensuring that the sacrifices of the Soviet forces are neither forgotten nor underestimated.

Captain Kurt Paterson

Published by Penguin Books Ltd

ISBN 978-0241993712