About the book: 2009 / Despite entire libraries of books dedicated to the disaster of 1941, this greatest tragedy still remains one of the most controversial pages of Russian history history. What really happened on June 22 on the western borders of the USSR? Why was the powerful and well-armed Red Army defeated in a matter of weeks? What are the main causes of the Great Patriotic Catastrophe? And could the tragedy have been prevented? The most famous modern historians of opposing views and political convictions give their answer to these still painful questions. The best articles from leading experts! New materials provided specifically for this publication! Tough, uncompromising discussion - without political censorship and ideological prohibitions!