My Life in the Red Army

My Life in the Red Army is the true-life account of 19-year old Polish citizen Fred Virski, who was drafted into the Red Army of the Soviet Union in 1938. The book chronicles Virski’s experiences as a soldier in the Ukraine and Central Asia, describing the hardships, his comrades-in-arms, the food, clothing, and interactions with officers and the NKVD (secret police). When war with Germany breaks-out, Virski witnesses scenes of brutality and is caught in fierce fighting, where he is wounded and hospitalized. Following his recovery, he eventually makes his way back to his native Poland. My Life in the Red Army is impressive for its straightforward style tinged with a sense of humor, despite the author’s difficult, often dangerous situation.