Tank Rider

Into the Reich with the Red Army

By: Evgeni Bessonov, Bair Irincheev - translator

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Honest and irrepressibly frank, these are the dramatic memoirs of a Russian officer on the Eastern Front, where he played his part in a clash of titans and witnessed the shuddering collapse of the Third Reich.

The cataclysmic battle of Kursk in 1943 put an end to Hitler's hopes of victory on the Eastern Front, and it was Evgeni Bessonov's first battle. From then on the Germans were forced into a long, bitter retreat that ended in the ruins of Berlin in 1945. An officer in an elite guards unit of the Red Army, Bessonov rode tanks from Kursk, through a Western Russia and Poland devastated by the Germans, and right into the heart of Nazi Germany.

Tank Rider is the riveting memoir of Evgeni Bessonov telling of his years of service at the vanguard of the Red Army and daily encounters with the German foe. He brings large-scale battles to life, recounts the sniping and skirmishing that tried and tested soldiers on both sides, and narrates the overwhelming tragedy and horror of apocalyptic warfare on the Eastern Front.

So much of the Soviet experience of World War II remains untold, but this memoir provides an important glimpse into some of the most decisive moments of this overlooked history.

©2003 Evgeni Bessonov (P)2018 Tantor

Tactical look at the Soviet march tomarch to Germany

The book’s approach is very different from most historical treatises. One man’s take on his service from high school to military academy to motorized rifle unit. The narration is somewhat emotionless, but still very good tied to an engaging translation.

Wish more about the Soviet POV was written.

Very well done. Makes me wish more audio books were made about the Soviet soldiers in the war.

Amazing 1st hand account of the russian front

Inspiring stories of leadership and determination. My only complaint is the narrator. The way he speaks sound more like a dry college lecture, rather than an amazing true story of wwII combat.

Fascinating perspective and history. Lackluster narration.

Audible should re-do this book. I thought the story itself was fascinating, I haven’t read any other Soviet officer’s experiences from WW2. The narration though, was monotonous.

This guy was lucky.

It was amazing hearing first hand accounts of a frontline Russian infantry soldier. All the close calls kept me wondering if he was going to be able to go on. The only thing is he droned on a little too much about the boring stuff: troop movement, soldier names etc...

Decent book, not very well read.

interesting story but to many names. And the reader is very robotic, but I still recommend it.

more WW II history details and story u missed

great, so different than most all other WAR history books. and i have many. and from our OLD allies side.

A little dry

Not particularly well written. It was a bit hard to stay focused on this book because there were never really any "grab your attention" moments. The soldier was incredibly lucky over and over, but the writing was not at all conducive to the listener being on the edge of his seat as the descriptions were fairly dry.

An Important Memoir

This is an excellent, unflinching look at World War 2 from the Russian perspective. My only complaint is that the translator referred to "artillery shells" as "mines" for some reason.

“Boots on the Ground Company Commander”

Infantry platoon leader and occasional company commander rides tanks through Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany to Berlin.
Your basic “ boots on the ground” view of the closing two years of WWII on the Eastern Front.

Watching less experienced and more going ho officers and soldiers being killed all around him, this platoon leader always seems to avoid getting killed and getting promoted.

Interesting point of view from a young Russian Soldier who gains experience necessary to keep himself and his men alive.