Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev, Volume 1, Commissar (1918-1945) (review)

Sergei Khrushchev has edited and released in English the first volume of the most complete and accurate version of his father's memoirs based on the 1999 Russian work titled Vremia, liudi, vlast (Time, People, Power). Volume 1 takes the reader through Nikita Khrushchev's early years up to the Soviet victory over Germany in 1945. This volume far exceeds in detail earlier editions of the Khrushchev memoirs and for readers of this journal especially, his observations of the war years are intriguing.

In the previous editions of his memoirs, the war was passed over fairly quickly. Not so here. Over four hundred pages are included with Khrushchev offering an interesting glimpse into the chaos of the war. Still, as with the earlier editions, it is important to remember that Khrushchev's memories are at times faulty and also self serving. He offers many anecdotes regarding the mercurial nature of Stalin's personality, at times admiring him while at other times seemingly almost repulsed by his behavior. But little analysis is accorded to Khrushchev's behavior. For example, he claims that he was surprised by the Ukrainian famine in 1932 and did not know the true extent of it, and even if he did, he most likely would have accepted official explanations for it, such as sabotage or counter-revolutionary activities.

During the war Khrushchev presents himself as the calm in the storm. While he describes Stalin's behavior between the fall of France in 1940 and the early weeks of the war in 1941 as a man dazed and unable to make decisions, Khrushchev is right by the side of the military leading an active defense against the Germans in the south. He claims that his stalwart support of Soviet officers like Yeremenko and Malinovsky saved them from Stalin's arbitrary wrath, thus maintaining their valuable services throughout the war. Khrushchev even claims his military advice was at least equal to or superior to Red Army officers. For example, during the Kursk offensive he argued against the timing of the preemptory artillery strike suggested by Chistyakov and had it moved to just minutes before the planned 0300 start time by the Germans. Still, these complete memoirs are quite valuable in providing insights into the personalities of many major figures of the war and offering fascinating anecdotes that breathe life into the horror and even comedy of the Great Patriotic War.

The edition itself is very well presented. Although it is geared for people already familiar with Soviet history, Sergei Khrushchev provides a number of supplementary materials to fill out his father's memories. The appendix provides brief biographical sketches of the significant people mentioned in the work. At the end of each chapter there are notes that provide additional detail or context for the reader. Considering that these thoughts were put on tape while Khrushchev was retired and his memory was hazy over certain events, the editor has done a fine job of making the story flow. This is an important work for Soviet historians and I look forward to the future volumes.