Virtually the entire Soviet effort on the Eastern Front of World War II bears the stamp of Georgy Zhukov, chief of staff of the Red Army and deputy supreme commander under Stalin. The first volume of his memoirs covers Zhukov's peasant childhood, his prewar military career, and the first phase of World War II. Fascinating self-portrait of one of the most remarkable generals of the twentieth century Indispensable source for the Eastern Front, including the early battles for Kiev, Smolensk, and Leningrad"