The book of Lieutenant General N.K. Popel includes two parts of his memoirs about the war of 1941-1945. against fascist Germany. The first part - "At a difficult time" - shows the reader a visible picture of the tragic months of retreat for the country. In the second part, "Tanks turned west," with the same authenticity and depth of comprehension of events by their participant, it is told about the heroic path to Berlin of the First Guards Tank Army, in which N.K. Popel was a member of the Military Council.