RED ARMY

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Subject, Implausible Ending
Review: When I first got this book in the early 90s, I was an Army ROTC cadet. I had serious reservations about the book then. Not because I thought it was a bad book. No. It seemed decent enough. It was the fact the Bad Guys win! Just couldnt handle it. I eventually got over my prejudices and read it through. Glad I did as its a great story.

Peters gives us a picture of the Soviet Army much different than the mindless horde of barbarians we are used to. He humanizes them. We see an Army filled with competent leaders and brave soldiers who are not necessarily inclined to spout off Marxist rhetoric. We also see incompetants and cowards too. I actually found myself sympathizing with the Soviet soldiers! Peters also reveals that Soviet fighting doctrine may not have been so wrong. Just different. With Peters' military intelligence background, his portrayals carry lots of weight.

While I now dont mind the author writing an outcome where the Red Army prevails, I dont necessarily agree with how he gets there. The Soviet attack on NATO is primarily focused on attacking Northern West Germany defended by Dutch, Belgian and British forces Peters believe to be weak. Ultimately the victory comes from psychological warfare. In particular, the USSR releases a tape showing what is supposed to be a West German city (its really an accurate make up of one) utterly destroyed that frightens the West German government into a cease fire. Also, they send paratroopers into the UK/Dutch/Belgian zones to commit atrocities which causes these NATO forces to expend time in mop up operations. Given the German/Russian historical record, I dont think this is enough to get the Germans to sue for peace and the Dutch, Belgian and UK military are certainly smart enough to not fall for the paratroop diversion.

Despite this, Peters makes a compelling case for the fighting prowess of the Red Army. Bravo!