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After attending the Military Diplomatic Academy from 1971-1974, he joined the Soviet mission to the [[United Nations Office at Geneva]] working for the Soviet military intelligence ([[GRU]]). On June 10, 1978 Suvorov defected to the [[United Kingdom]]. Rezun was smuggled out of the country to [[England]] with his wife and two young children, where he worked as an [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] analyst and lecturer.<ref>http://www.suvorovrezun.com/biography.html</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3227310/Sir-Dick-Franks.html Sir Dick Franks. Saboteur with the Special Operations Executive who went on to become Chief of MI6 during the Cold War] – Obituary, published by Daily Telegraph on October 19, 2008</ref>
After attending the Military Diplomatic Academy from 1971-1974, he joined the Soviet mission to the [[United Nations Office at Geneva]] working for the Soviet military intelligence ([[GRU]]). On June 10, 1978 Suvorov defected to the [[United Kingdom]]. Rezun was smuggled out of the country to [[England]] with his wife and two young children, where he worked as an [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] analyst and lecturer.<ref>http://www.suvorovrezun.com/biography.html</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3227310/Sir-Dick-Franks.html Sir Dick Franks. Saboteur with the Special Operations Executive who went on to become Chief of MI6 during the Cold War] – Obituary, published by Daily Telegraph on October 19, 2008</ref>


== Publications and theories ==
== Publications ==
=== Books about the Cold War era ===
=== Books about Soviet Army ===
⚫
Suvorov made his name writing books about [[Soviet Army]], [[GRU]], and [[Spetsnaz]] (Soviet Army's special forces). His publications included ''[[Aquarium]]'', ''GRU'', and ''The Liberators''.

Suvorov has written several books about his Soviet Army experiences and also joined the team led by the British General Sir [[John Winthrop Hackett Junior|John Hackett]] in writing the book ''The Third World War: The Untold Story''.<ref name="untold_story">''The Third World War: The Untold Story'' ISBN 0-283-98863-0</ref> Published in 1982, this book was the sequel to the 1978 original ''The Third World War'',<ref name="wow3">''The Third World War'' ISBN 0-425-04477-7</ref> in which Hackett and his team had speculated about the possible course of a Soviet/NATO war in [[Germany]].
Suvorov has written several books about his Soviet Army experiences and also joined the team led by the British General Sir [[John Winthrop Hackett Junior|John Hackett]] in writing the book ''The Third World War: The Untold Story''.<ref name="untold_story">''The Third World War: The Untold Story'' ISBN 0-283-98863-0</ref> Published in 1982, this book was the sequel to the 1978 original ''The Third World War'',<ref name="wow3">''The Third World War'' ISBN 0-425-04477-7</ref> in which Hackett and his team had speculated about the possible course of a Soviet/NATO war in [[Germany]].

⚫
Suvorov made his name writing books about the contemporary Soviet Army, GRU, and Spetsnaz (Soviet Army's special forces). His publications included ''Aquarium'', ''GRU'', and ''The Liberators''.


=== Historical works about World War II ===
=== Historical works about World War II ===
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Suvorov's assertions remain a matter of debate among historians, and the final result of the debate is not yet clear. See [[Soviet offensive plans controversy]] for details on the debate.
Suvorov's assertions remain a matter of debate among historians, and the final result of the debate is not yet clear. See [[Soviet offensive plans controversy]] for details on the debate.
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In some countries, particularly in Russia, Germany and Israel, Suvorov's controversial theses have left the bounds of academic discourse and captured the public imagination.<ref name="undricks">Teddy J. Uldricks. The Icebreaker Controversy: Did Stalin Plan to Attack Hitler? ''Slavic Review'', Vol. 58, No. 3 (Autumn, 1999), pp. 626-643</ref>
In some countries, particularly in Russia, Germany and Israel, Suvorov's controversial theses have left the bounds of academic discourse and captured the public imagination.<ref name="undricks">Teddy J. Uldricks. The Icebreaker Controversy: Did Stalin Plan to Attack Hitler? ''Slavic Review'', Vol. 58, No. 3 (Autumn, 1999), pp. 626-643</ref>

Revision as of 19:22, 12 April 2013

Vladimir Bogdanovich Rezun
Born (1947-04-20) April 20, 1947 (age 77)
Primorsky Krai, USSR
Notable worksAquarium, Icebreaker

Viktor Suvorov (Russian: Ви́ктор Суво́ров) is the pen name for Vladimir Bogdanovich Rezun (Russian: Влади́мир Богда́нович Резу́н) (born April 20, 1947 in Barabash, Khasansky District, Primorsky Krai), British writer of Russian and Ukrainian descent who writes primarily in Russian, as well as a former Soviet military intelligence (GRU) officer who defected to the UK.

Suvorov made his name writing books about the history of the Soviet Army, GRU, and Spetsnaz, but it was his book Icebreaker about the role of the Soviet Union in World War II that spurred considerable controversy.

Biography

According to his own claims, Suvorov attended the Voronezh Suvorov Military School from 1958-63, and the one in Kalinin from 1963-1965. From 1965-1968 he attended the Kiev Red Banner Higher Military Command School Frunze. In 1968 Suvorov served in the 145th Motorized Rifles Regiment, participating in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. In 1970-1971 he served on the staff of the Volga Military District and with the 808th Independent Army Reconnaissance Company (Spetsnaz). After attending the Military Diplomatic Academy from 1971-1974, he joined the Soviet mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva working for the Soviet military intelligence (GRU). On June 10, 1978 Suvorov defected to the United Kingdom. Rezun was smuggled out of the country to England with his wife and two young children, where he worked as an intelligence analyst and lecturer.[1][2]

Publications

Books about Soviet Army

Suvorov made his name writing books about Soviet Army, GRU, and Spetsnaz (Soviet Army's special forces). His publications included Aquarium, GRU, and The Liberators.

Suvorov has written several books about his Soviet Army experiences and also joined the team led by the British General Sir John Hackett in writing the book The Third World War: The Untold Story.[3] Published in 1982, this book was the sequel to the 1978 original The Third World War,[4] in which Hackett and his team had speculated about the possible course of a Soviet/NATO war in Germany.

Historical works about World War II

Main article: Soviet offensive plans controversy

Suvorov has written ten books so far about the outbreak of the Nazi-Soviet War in 1941 and the circumstances that led to it. The first such work was Icebreaker, followed by M Day, The Last Republic, Cleansing, Suicide, The Shadow of Victory, I Take it Back, The Last Republic II, The Chief Culprit, Defeat. Suvorov's provocative idea is that Joseph Stalin originally planned to use Nazi Germany as a proxy (the “Icebreaker”) against the West. For this reason Stalin provided material and political support to Adolf Hitler, while at the same time preparing his Red Army for an offensive against Nazi Germany and further against all of Western Europe. Suvorov argued that Hitler, learning of Soviet offensive preparations in 1940, chose to launch a pre-emptive strike at the Soviet Union, what we know today as Operation Barbarossa. In the end, Stalin was able to achieve some of his objectives by establishing Communist regimes in Eastern Europe and Asia. However this victory according to Suvorov was unsatisfying to Stalin, as he intended to bring Soviet domination to the whole continent of Europe.

Suvorov's assertions remain a matter of debate among historians, and the final result of the debate is not yet clear. See Soviet offensive plans controversy for details on the debate.

In some countries, particularly in Russia, Germany and Israel, Suvorov's controversial theses have left the bounds of academic discourse and captured the public imagination.[5]

Fictional books

Viktor Suvorov also wrote fiction books set in pre-World War II era in the Soviet Union. The first one Control, followed by Choice, and the last and most recent title Snake-eater. He has also written a film script based on those books.

See also

Bibliography

About the Cold War-era Soviet Union

About the outbreak of the Nazi-Soviet War

  • Icebreaker (Ледокол) 1990, Hamish Hamilton Ltd, ISBN 0-241-12622-3
  • Day "M" (День "М")
  • Suicide. For what reason did Hitler attack the Soviet Union? (Самоубийство), Moscow, ACT, 2000, ISBN 5-17-003119-X
  • Last Republic, ACT, 1997, ISBN 5-12-000367-4 .
  • Last Republic II. Why did the Soviet Union loose the Second World War? (Последната Република II), Sofia, Fakel Express, 2007, ISBN 978-954-9772-51-7
  • The Chief Culprit: Stalin's Grand Design to Start World War II. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2008 (hardcover, ISBN 978-1-59114-838-8).
  • Defeat. Why was the "great victory" worst than any defeat? (Разгромът), Sofia, Fakel Express, 2009, ISBN 978-954-9772-68-5

About Soviet historical figures

  • Shadow of Victory (Тень победы), questions the image of Georgy Zhukov. The first book of trilogy with the same name.
  • I Take It Back (Беру Свои Слова Обратно), questions the image of Georgy Zhukov. The second book of "Shadow of Victory" trilogy.
  • Cleansing (Очищение). Why did Stalin behead his army?, Moscow, 2002, ISBN 5-17-009254-7

Fiction

  • Tales of a Liberator (Рассказы освободителя), novel, this is The Liberators book in Russian language.
  • Control (Контроль), novel
  • Choice (Выбор), novel
  • Snake-eater (Змиеядеца), novel (Sofia, Fakel Express, 2010), ISBN: 9789549772692

References

  1. ^ http://www.suvorovrezun.com/biography.html
  2. ^ Sir Dick Franks. Saboteur with the Special Operations Executive who went on to become Chief of MI6 during the Cold War – Obituary, published by Daily Telegraph on October 19, 2008
  3. ^ The Third World War: The Untold Story ISBN 0-283-98863-0
  4. ^ The Third World War ISBN 0-425-04477-7
  5. ^ Teddy J. Uldricks. The Icebreaker Controversy: Did Stalin Plan to Attack Hitler? Slavic Review, Vol. 58, No. 3 (Autumn, 1999), pp. 626-643

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