Russia desperately needs a second front; Germany mortally dreads it. These plain truths became plainer still as the Battle for Kharkov petered out.
By week's end the thunder of battle had subsided to the sob of exhausted men and battle-spent machines. Both sides conceded that it had ended; both sides claimed victory. But the Russian claim was defensive: by the assault on Kharkov, Russia had prevented a Nazi drive on Rostov, 250 miles to the southeast.
Russia had tried, gallantly. Under its best general, dashing, cavalry-trained Semion Timoshenko, it had turned a tremendous striking force against Kharkov, throwing its encircling arms around...
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