Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953

Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953. Geoffrey Roberts. Yale University Press. [pounds sterling]25.00. xxii + 468 pages. ISBN 978-0-300-11204-7. This is a study of Stalin's 'military and political leadership in the final and most important phase of his life and career'. Prof. Roberts argues that however evil he was as dictator, Stalin was a 'very effective and highly successful war leader' without whom Russia would not have defeated Hitler.

Likewise, Stalin, he argues, genuinely wanted to continue the alliance with the Western powers and after 1945 genuinely wanted Detente with the West. Finally, the regime under Stalin after 1945, was not as horrific as before the war: 'the process of "destalinisation" began while Stalin was still alive'. Stalin was more 'ordinary' than either his supporters or detractors would suggest. To Prof. Roberts, Stalin was 'an idealist prepared to use whatever violence it took to impose his will and achieve his goals'. The Stalinist regime had 'virtues' and played a role 'in preserving the long postwar peace'. The author seeks not to debunk but to 'demystify'. This is an avowedly provocative book, dedicated to a British Communist, and one that refers to the 'alleged communist threat' after 1945. If only Churchill and Truman could have seen it that way! This will not be the last word on Stalin. (T.B.)

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