Red Inferno: 1945
A Novel
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4.3 • 76 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
In April 1945, the Allies are charging toward Berlin from the west, the Russians from the east. For Hitler, the situation is hopeless. But at this turning point in history, another war is about to explode.
To win World War II, the Allies dealt with the devil. Joseph Stalin helped FDR, Churchill, and Truman crush Hitler. But what if “Uncle Joe” had given in to his desire to possess Germany and all of Europe? In this stunning novel, Robert Conroy picks up the history of the war just as American troops cross the Elbe into Germany. Then Stalin slams them with the brute force of his enormous Soviet army.
From American soldiers and German civilians trapped in the ruins of Potsdam to U.S. military men fighting behind enemy lines, from a scholarly Russia expert who becomes a secret player in a new war to Stalin’s cult of killers in Moscow, this saga captures the human face of international conflict. With the Soviets vastly outnumbering the Americans—but undercut by chronic fuel shortages and mistrust—Eisenhower employs a brilliant strategy of retreat to buy critical time for air superiority. Soon, Truman makes a series of controversial decisions, enlisting German help and planning to devastate the massive Red Army by using America’s ultimate and most secret weapon.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
WWII alternate historian Conroy (1945) sets this tale largely in Berlin as it prepares for division among the four Allied powers in accordance with the Yalta agreements. President Truman doesn't trust Stalin and makes the controversial decision to move his troops across the Elbe River toward Berlin in an attempt to lessen Stalin's growing influence in Europe. The move ignites smoldering tensions between Russia and the States, and Stalin's enormous Red Army attacks its former allies, extending the war and threatening the world. An ensemble cast of fictional characters (an American soldier, a German refugee, a professor of Russian history turned secret agent, etc.) and historical figures powers the meticulously researched story line with diverse accounts of the horrors of war, making this an appealing read for fans of history and alternate history alike.
Customer Reviews
Great read
Alt-history is one of my favorite genres. This book was a great read and page turner. What- ifs are tantalizing questions and it's interesting to read one's interpretation.
Mediocre
Exciting premise. Predictable ending that fizzles out quickly. Chapters wasted on romantic subplots that subtract from what the narrative is supposed to be focused on.
The author’s writing style, prose, and dialogue is just plain juvenile; which becomes a chore to read quickly. The suspension of disbelief burns out like a matchstick.
Probably the most annoying aspect of this is the lack of dates or any general realm of time passing, the reader is left to infer on their own how much time has elapsed. Paragraphs end, perspectives change, and weeks have gone by all in the space between sentences.
This is the second novel I’ve dozed through by the author. I won’t be taking a chance on a third.
Review-
Another Superior Alternate History from Robert Conroy ! Deep understanding of this historical setting, with the technical and military details as well as interpersonal dynamics nailed by careful research . This opinion submitted by West Point ( ‘66 ) Infantry combat Ranger turned Physician (‘75) who then trained in Psychiatry , and through seeing patients 80 hrs/wk for the last 40 yrs has earned the right to opine.