he novel's
Battle of the Windmill is referred to by Sant Singh Bal[
who?] as one "of the important episodes which constitute the essence of the plot of the novel."
[13] Harold Bloom writes that the "Battle of the Windmill rings a special bell: the repulse of the Duke of Brunswick in 1792, following the Prussian bombardment that made the windmill of
Valmy famous."
[14] By contrast, Peter Edgerly Firchow and Peter Hobley Davison consider that in real life, with events in
Animal Farm mirroring those in the
Soviet Union, this fictional battle represents the
Great Patriotic War (
World War II)
[15], especially the
Battle of Stalingrad and the
Battle of Moscow.
[16] Prestwick House's
Activity Pack for
Animal Farm also identifies the Battle of the Windmill as an allegory for World War II, while noting that the "catalyst for the Battle of the Windmill, though, is less clear."
[17] During the battle, Fredrick drills a hole and places
explosives inside, and it is followed by "All the animals, except Napoleon" took cover; Orwell had the publisher alter this from "All the animals, including Napoleon" in recognition of
Joseph Stalin's decision to remain in Moscow during the German advance.
[18]