Red Inferno

1945

By: Robert Conroy

Narrated by: Paul Costanzo

Length: 14 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

In April 1945, the Allies are charging toward Berlin from the west, the Russians from the east. For Hitler, the situation is hopeless. But at this turning point in history, another war is about to explode.

To win World War II, the Allies dealt with the devil. Joseph Stalin helped FDR, Churchill, and Truman crush Hitler. But what if "Uncle Joe" had given in to his desire to possess Germany and all of Europe? In this stunning novel, Robert Conroy picks up the history of the war just as American troops cross the Elbe into Germany. Then Stalin slams them with the brute force of his enormous Soviet army.

From American soldiers and German civilians trapped in the ruins of Potsdam to US military men fighting behind enemy lines, from a scholarly Russia expert who becomes a secret player in a new war to Stalin's cult of killers in Moscow, this saga captures the human face of international conflict. With the Soviets vastly outnumbering the Americans - but undercut by chronic fuel shortages and mistrust - Eisenhower employs a brilliant strategy of retreat to buy critical time for air superiority.

Soon, Truman makes a series of controversial decisions, enlisting German help and planning to devastate the massive Red Army by using America's ultimate and most secret weapon.

©2010 Robert Conroy (P)2018 Tantor

barely OK

This author simply doesn't understand much about WW2. He repeatedly describes the German invasion of the Soviet Union as having taken place in 1940, not 1941. He also doesn't get the balance of forces in place in 1945. The narration is simply terrible. He's no Harry Turledove.

Only One Flaw for me

The reader was great except when he got to a “ southern “ accent in his narrative
All other narratives delivered well as were most characters voices
Story was compelling which, for me, means intriguing, imaginative

Good story - narrator makes it barely tolerable

Good and plausible alternative history story, but the narrator's attempts to do German, Russian, French, and British accents makes it very hard to listen to and barely tolerable. They all sound the same - like a whiney Peter Lorre playing Igor. His normal reading voice is fine - just stick to what you're good at!

German WW2 Apologetics and Predictable Storyline.

** spoiler alert ** I finished this book 📚 since I was getting bored with the other one I have been reading recently. It's difficult to get a good alternative history book. Conroy's books are once again partly cheap political historical analysis & cliché American triumph against all odds. His style of writing is ridiculously cliché but his political analysis of German citizens knowledge of the Holocaust is dangerous historical revisionism; he directly claims the average German was not aware of the Death Camps and of the atrocities, & either he is woefully ignorant or blatantly lying. A disappointing read.

Liked it

As above. Good time killer. Would recommend. 15 words! Seriously Amazon, get a life now!

Interesting premise, corny story

As a big fan of “alt history” especially WWII, I was very disappointed in this book. Soviet invasion of Western Europe in 1945 was certainly something that Stalin considered but this book focuses on contrived romances and tactical level actions rather than broad strategy. Corny narration with silly accents along with a weak story made this a poor use of drive time listening

Great Book by this author, I have enjoyed them all

Great Book by this author, I have enjoyed them all. I have read or listened to most of his books.

Amazing story

I wish I had listened to this the first time again and again. This story is amazing and every time I listen or read it I absolutely love it. The only sad part is that I can’t go back and listen to it for the first time.

Military review

Well there are some historical in accuracies that will put off most people what I enjoy I was seeing the characters and the interaction. I really loved Patton’s reaction to the power of the nuclear bomb with his trademark swearing.

Enjoyed all throughout the story!

Could not be more pleased with the story. From beginning to end it was a pleasure to listen to. Paul Costanzo did a great job of narration yet again and look forward fo picking up more of Robert Conroy's stories