His Battalion by Vasili Bykow
As most of the books about World War 2, it is sad and tragic. It is a story about the combat of the military group (battalion) who has an impossible task to complete - to fight the enemy who has better resources and location. The orders given from the ‘above’ is absolutely absurd and suicidal. And the combat has to choose either to follow it and kill meaninglessly his people or to refuse the order and get fired.
The main emphasis is that there is a value of the human life which degrades during the war time. And moral principles which does not allow this to happen.
The book gives many details of the situation, which helps to better understand the character and be absorbed in that horrific story.
But, some things just NEED to be remembered. It also needs to be remembered that the casualties were from the both sides.
Recommended to read.