"Germany's Eastern Front in World War II saw many campaigns and battles that have been forgotten by a Soviet Union that tried to hide its military failures. The Red Army's invasion of Romania in April and May 1944 was one such campaign, which produced nearly 200,000 casualties and tarnished the reputations of its commanders. The redoubtable David Glantz, the world's leading authority on the Soviet military in World War II, now restores this tale to its proper place in the annals of World War II. Working from newly available Russian and long-neglected German archives - plus Red Army unit histories and commanders' memoirs - Glantz reconstructs an imposing mosaic that reveals the immense scope and ambitious intent of the first Iasi-Kishinev offensive. His re-creation shows that Stalin was not as preoccupied with a direct route to Berlin as he was with a "broad front" strategy designed to gain territory and find vulnerable points in Germany's extended lines of defense. If successful, the invasion would have also eliminated Romania as Germany's ally, cut off the vital Ploiesti oilfields, and provided a base from which to consolidate Soviet power throughout the Balkans."--Jacket.

Introduction -- Prelude -- The 2nd Ukrainian Front's April offensive (8-23 April 1944) -- The 3rd Ukrainian Front's advance to the Dnestr River and the first Bridgehead battles (11-25 April 1944) -- The 2nd Ukrainian Front's preparations for the Iasi (Tirgu Frumos) Offensive (24 April-1 May 1944) -- The 2nd Ukrainian Front's Iasi (Tirgu Frumos) Offensive (2-8 May 1944) -- The 3rd Ukrainian Front's plans and the German Sixth Army's counterstrokes along the Dnestr River (2-30 May 1944) -- Denouement (30 May-6 June 1944) -- Conclusions.