Fighting Without a War: An Account of Military Intervention in North Russia

"Fighting Without a War: An Account of Military Intervention in North Russia" by Ralph Albertson is a historical narrative set in the wake of World War I, recounting the largely unknown Allied military intervention in North Russia, and it sheds light on the experiences of the North Russian Expeditionary Force, highlighting the soldiers' confusion and discontent at fighting the Bolsheviks in a conflict after the armistice. The author introduces his role as a Y.M.C.A. secretary embedded with the Allied forces, setting the stage for an exploration of the expedition's composition and the ambiguous objectives surrounding the mission, which contributes to an overall sense of disillusionment as the soldiers confront the harsh realities of war in a foreign land, a war seemingly ignored by their home countries, and one that appears destined for defeat.