Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century

by John R. Erickson, Christine Barnard, G. F. Krivosheev

Release Date: November, 1997

Edition: Hardcover

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Interesting if you follow Soviet History... Too expensive..

This book by Greenhill Publishing is the authority on Soviet military losses through the years before and after the 'Great Patriotic War.' I often question the stats though, and wonder how many people were victims of democide by their own government... and simply counted as casualties. Anyway, it has a wide range of figures, statistics, providing a plethora of facts, data and information. I've got quite a few books on Soviet history and its wars, so why not this one. The only downside for a red-blooded American is that it is written by a Pro-Soviet General... Be prepared for glorious praise and extol for the Red Army. I guess you can't get everything you want. Though, I got it at a considerable discount and would not pay full retail for it.

If you're interested in Soviet History than I recommend Brian Crozier's The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire.

Good source data. However...

This book edited by Col-Gen Krivosheev is an excellent example of the history we can expect as historians work through the voluminous Soviet/Russian (and E. German) archives. In one volume we have authoritative figures on losses due to all causes-not just combat. Even more interesting than the WW2, are the Korean and "Assistance to Other Countries" sections. I would point USAF historians to the losses reported of aircraft and pilots during the Korean Conflict. Having said this, as other reviewers have commented on, there are some sections that raise one's eyebrow. For instance, on the chapter including the Winter War we read, "[Finnish]military airfields built with [German help] had capacity for ten times more aircraft than were operated by the Finnish air force"-blatantly untrue. Elsewhere: "The Finnish Army had] 600,000 men including reserves, supported by approximately 900 guns...270 aircraft and 29 ships". The real numbers are: some 350,000 men fully mobilized, 120 or so guns, 100 aircraft and 14(!) ships. Finally, all readers should keep in mind that the enormous sacrifice in lives and material was partially self-inflicted due to poor leadership, and Stalin's interference/paranoia. Sustaining heavy casualties is certainly no indicator of military excellence. Which makes the Great Patriotic War even more tragic for the Russian people. Recommended for military historians.