How the two states developed similar doctrines during the interwar period, why the Soviets eschewed such a valuable innovation, and why and how the Germans took the lead in doctrinal theory and the practice are the questions that Storm of Steel addresses.... This is a fascinating work of great importance to understanding the origins and outcomes of the Second World War.
Virginia Quarterly Review
In a brilliant recounting of parallel developments recorded in extensive documentation from both sides, much of it exposed by the demise of the Soviet state, this book sets forth a stunning review of the next twenty years of development of national goals and accompanying military doctrine from which were derived requirements for equipment, organization, and force structure, training, and education of soldiers and leaders.... Impressive research and analysis; here is the highest standard for the description of armies changed by evolving national and military strategies, intellectual development of war-fighting doctrine, imperatives of changing technology, and the need to organize and train effective military units, soldiers and leaders, to fight their nations' wars.
Journal of Military History
In comparing the formative years of history's two most important approaches to tank warfare, Habeck departs from convention by emphasizing similarities rather than differences.... Although Habeck makes no attempt to downplay the divergence of the two doctrines after 1935, when Voroshilov began to call the Soviet 'Deep Battle' doctrine into question, and 1937, when Stalin's liquidation of Tukhachevsky discommoded it entirely, she notes the efforts of Zhukov—and even Pavlov—to reinstate aspects of that doctrine well before Operation Barbarossa revealed to the world the enormity of the Soviet error.
Choice
In this excellent, sophisticated study, Habeck shows the influences working on both Germany and the Soviet Union as they sought to make sense of World War I and the Spanish civil war. Her account covers a range of factors, including the impact of industrialization, the role of forceful individuals, and broader views about the conduct of war. She concludes that all these elements interacted to produce particular military concepts until the actual experience of fighting a war forced both armies to think again.
Foreign Affairs
Mary R. Habeck's book represents a major contribution to understanding how two high commands in the interwar period adapted to the challenges of a 'war of machines.' Rich and detailed, Storm of Steel is lucidly written and gives in-depth descriptions and analyses of the German Blitzkrieg and Soviet deep battle, both responses to the challenges of stalemated trench warfare. They represented different approaches to integrating the newcomer weapon, the tank, into the armed forces and thereby giving the battle renewed mobility.... Habeck's book could be read not only as a careful reconstruction of events but also as a stimulus for the timeless 'lessons to be learnt' from history.
Slavic Review
The titanic struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia from 1941 to 1945 remains the subject of popular and scholarly interest. The tank was the dominant weapon in this contest and mastery of armored combat the key to victory and defeat... Mary Habeck's Storm of Steel sheds light on the evolution of armored vehicles and doctrine in Germany and Russia during the interwar decades.... Storm of Steel will appeal to tank aficionados and military historians.
History: Reviews of New Books