Endgame 1944

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A gripping account of the Soviet victories of 1944, this narrative highlights the pivotal year in World War Two, particularly on the Eastern Front. Following the German Army's brutal advance during Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the Red Army faced a prolonged struggle, retreating and ultimately reaching a stalemate while large portions of the Soviet Union were occupied. The tide began to turn after the lifting of the German siege of Leningrad in January 1944. By June, Stalin and his generals launched Operation Bagration, mobilizing over two million Red Army soldiers in a massive offensive westward. The impact was swift and devastating; within three weeks, Army Group Centre, the backbone of the German Army, had lost 28 of its 32 divisions, signaling the beginning of the end for Nazi forces on this front. Utilizing new sources, including previously untranslated accounts from soldiers and witnesses, the author chronicles this decisive year, exploring the military, political, and diplomatic dimensions of the conflict. The narrative illuminates major battles and the strategic roles of deception, Partisan fighting, and the complexities of warfare in Ukraine. The Soviet victories not only shifted the war's momentum but also empowered Stalin to shape the post-war landscape, setting the stage for the Cold War.