Born Under A Lucky Star.

What readers of Born Under a Lucky Star say: "Gripping and humbling read." — Goodreads Reviewer "This book taught me a great deal, and I feel lucky to have read it." — Goodreads Reviewer "Possibly, one of the best WW2 books I've ever read, and I've read a great many. Also, a tremendous example of how to live life. Remarkable story!" — Amazon Reviewer "A startling recount of privation and duty. The author was a very brave soldier in defense of his people and their land." — Amazon Reviewer "This is one of the more compelling memoirs of a WWII soldier that I have read." — Amazon Reviewer History is written by the victors, but the harsh reality of war can only be depicted by its soldiers. As a Russian recruit in World War II, Ivan Makarov witnessed General Chuikov pull out his pistol and shoot their regimental commander as a traitor. That was on his first day at the front. Thrown into an open field to face German tanks and artillery fire, with only rifles and machine guns to defend themselves with, almost 2,000 men of his regiment were wiped out in only six days at the Eastern Front. At this rate, Ivan struggled to comprehend how he would survive the hundreds of battles that lay before him, with death seeming to be the only certainty. In his raw and trenchant memoir, Ivan recounts the terror and despair faced by a Red Army soldier on the Eastern Front. He has no sympathy for Stalin and his incompetent commanders, who sought awards and recognition at the expense of their soldiers' lives. He simply wanted to serve his country. It is rare to find first-hand accounts of the Great Patriotic War from Red Army soldiers, as many did not survive to tell the tale. For the first time, Ivan reveals his gripping recollections of battles, times, places, and people encountered throughout World War II, from when he was drafted in 1941 until their victory in 1945. These recollections he dared not put on paper until 1992.