With unparalleled insight, Into the Reich examines the strategic, operational and tactical dimensions of the Soviet advance across Poland to the banks of the Oder and the desperate German attempts to halt the Red Army’s seemingly inexorable march towards Berlin. The narrative begins in January 1945, as Stalin’s forces shatter German defences and surge across Poland in a matter of weeks. 

Prit Buttar’s expertise in the Eastern Front is evident in the detailed exploration of Soviet operational art, the logistical challenges of sustaining such a rapid advance, and the Wehrmacht’s increasingly fragmented resistance. The Wehrmacht launched a desperate counter-strike in February, their last major offensive of the war. 

Drawing upon a wealth of primary sources, it details the brutal fighting that followed this final Wehrmacht offensive, the tactical ingenuity of commanders such as Zhukov and Konev, and the strategic miscalculations of Hitler and the German High Command. 

The skilful analysis extends beyond battlefield manoeuvres to assess the broader geopolitical consequences of the Soviet victories, including their impact on post-war Europe and the terrible price paid by civilians caught up in the horrors of the Eastern Front.

Into the Reich is the definitive account of the strategic goals of Stalin, his generals and their armies, and of the German forces who stood in their way.