I can't remember the title or the author of this book?

Please can anyone help,the novel is an autobiography about a youthful peasant boy in Russia who sees his only channel out is to join the Russian army and become an officer so he can get a passport and escape from Russia to the west,it tells the story of the horrors of serving surrounded by the Russian military as he makes his way up the promotion ladder to becoming an officer and escaping.
Any lend a hand would be greatly apreciated,

Thanks in advance,

Jackal.

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Answers:

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Did you try wikipedia or google?

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