This two volume history examines the life of Russia and its population during World War Two. Attention is paid to the effects of major battles to the surrounding areas. The principles of leadership of the armed struggle, economic confrontation of the parties, foreign policy and diplomacy of the Soviet state are reviewed. The conditions of life of all strata of the population and their contribution to the overall victory over the enemy are shown. The authors relied on the huge number of governmental records, allowing them to shed light on the fate of the millions of former prisoners of war, repatriated peoples and those that were deported. Includes maps.