THE RED GAMBIT SERIES

I love the series!  Read all four books and its the best series I have ever read, can't wait for the fifth book!

I haven't done extensive research on eithers personalities but I get the vibe from the book that Konev isn't as good commander as Zhukov, possibly over arrogant maybe?.  I can't help but wonder what the differences between the two are and how their different leadership will impact the war.

Thanks for the great series!

Bearing in mind that authors take liberties with such matters, it is my read on them that both were utterly ruthless in the pursuit of victory and their own advancement. Clearly, if you read the stuff published when Zhukov was in favour/out of favour, the facts are distirted to suit the times. However, look at some of the stuff since the break-up and you will find that Zhukov was a survivor within teh regime, and to survive you needed either victories or other heads on which to lay the blame. Konev is less well known, but I have read nothing to make me think that he was anything but a lesser Zhukov :-) I was always fascinated by the way the rivallry between them ended up with a race to the Reichstag, for which Zhukov never forgave Konev I might add. Some times generalship is not about being a superior tactician or a master strategist. It's about inspiring you rmen, leading them, threatening them, and ultimately sacrificing them for the good of the country.Chuikov is a fine example at the Mamayev Kurgan in Stalingrad. So, is Zhukov better than Konev? Such matters are undecideable in truth, unless the two generals have been faced with identical problems and you can compare directly.

I have heard that the Allies were quite happy with Rommel in place, as they felt they understood his style and could defeat him. I doubt that myself, but I understand the sentiment. History records many examples of generals who were unimaginative in their tactics; indeed, much of warfare was simply 'up and at em' style.

Glad you enjoy the work. #5 is underway already.