Alexander Werth
Encyclopedia
Alexander Werth was a Russia
n-born, naturalized British
writer, journalist, and war correspondent.
Werth wrote about France
in the prewar period and about Russia in World War II
, especially Stalingrad
and Leningrad
. He spoke and wrote both Russian and English at the native level. His best-known work is Russia at War 1941 to 1945, (London, 1964) a behind-the-scenes look at life in the wartime Soviet Union; he spent the war there as the BBC
's correspondent, and had unrivalled access due to the combination of his BBC press credentials and his ability to function as a native Russian.
Werth was among a group of journalists to visit the Majdanek
concentration and extermination camp after it had been discovered by the advancing Red Army
. He filed a report on the atrocities, but the BBC initially refused to broadcast it, believing that it was too incredible to be true and suspecting a Soviet propaganda stunt.
He was the Moscow
correspondent for the Guardian
newspaper from 1946 to 1949. He was one of the first outsiders to be allowed into Stalingrad after the battle. Other works include: France 1940-1955: the de Gaulle
Revolution; Moscow 41; The Last Days of Paris: a Journalist's Diary; Leningrad; The Year of Stalingrad; and Musical Uproar in Moscow.
His son :fr:Nicolas Werth is a well-known French historian (Directeur de recherche au CNRS) who is specialized on the history of the Soviet Union
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born, naturalized British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer, journalist, and war correspondent.
Biography
Werth's family fled to the United Kingdom in the wake of the Russian Revolution.Werth wrote about France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the prewar period and about Russia in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, especially Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
and Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
. He spoke and wrote both Russian and English at the native level. His best-known work is Russia at War 1941 to 1945, (London, 1964) a behind-the-scenes look at life in the wartime Soviet Union; he spent the war there as the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's correspondent, and had unrivalled access due to the combination of his BBC press credentials and his ability to function as a native Russian.
Werth was among a group of journalists to visit the Majdanek
Majdanek
Majdanek was a German Nazi concentration camp on the outskirts of Lublin, Poland, established during the German Nazi occupation of Poland. The camp operated from October 1, 1941 until July 22, 1944, when it was captured nearly intact by the advancing Soviet Red Army...
concentration and extermination camp after it had been discovered by the advancing Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. He filed a report on the atrocities, but the BBC initially refused to broadcast it, believing that it was too incredible to be true and suspecting a Soviet propaganda stunt.
He was the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
correspondent for the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper from 1946 to 1949. He was one of the first outsiders to be allowed into Stalingrad after the battle. Other works include: France 1940-1955: the de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
Revolution; Moscow 41; The Last Days of Paris: a Journalist's Diary; Leningrad; The Year of Stalingrad; and Musical Uproar in Moscow.
His son :fr:Nicolas Werth is a well-known French historian (Directeur de recherche au CNRS) who is specialized on the history of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Works
- France in Ferment. London: Jerrolds, 1934.
- The Destiny of France. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1937. Published in USA as Which Way France.
- France And Munich Before And After The Surrender. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1939.
- The Last Days of Paris: A Journalist's Diary. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1940.
- Moscow '41. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1942. Published in USA as Moscow War Diary.
- The Twilight of France, 1933 - 1940: A Journalist's Chronicle. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1942.
- Leningrad. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1944.
- The Year of Stalingrad: An Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods and Policies. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1946.
- Musical Uproar in Moscow. London: Turnstile Press, 1947.
- France, 1940-1955. London: Robert Hale, 1956.
- The Strange History of Pierre Mende's-France and the Great Conflict over French North Africa. London: Barrie Books, 1957. Published in USA as Lost Statesman: The Strange Story of Pierre Mendes-France.
- America in Doubt. London: Robert Hale, 1959.
- The DeGaulle Revolution. London: Robert Hale, 1960.
- The Khrushchev Phase: The Soviet Union Enters the "Decisive" Sixties. London: Robert Hale, 1961. Published in USA as Russia Under Khrushchev.
- Russia At War, 1941-1945. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1964.
- DeGaulle: A Political Biography. London: Simon and Schuster, 1965.
- Russia: Hopes and Fears. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1969.
- Russia: The Post-War Years. London: Robert Hale, 1971.