The battle was fought between 17 july 1942 and 2 february 1943. Enemy at the gates the battle for stalingrad william craig. The battle of stalingrad was a battle fought during the second world war between nazi germany and the soviet union. The battle of stalingrad was not only the psychological turning point of world war ii. Rebuilding began immediately after the citys liberation. The unexpected soviet counteroffensive forms the climax of vasily grossmans 1952 novel stalingrad, one of the great novels of the 20th century, and now published in english for the first time. And when night arrives, one of those scorching howling bleeding nights, the dogs plunge into the volga and swim desperately to gain the other bank. The germans would also never get a chance to launch an offensive in russia as from his point forward it was running back. The two soviet pincers meet at kalach, a vital don river crossing about 60 miles west of stalingrad. The author goes beyond the usual treatment of the germans to share the dissension and disagreement in the ranks. That the soviet regime was almost as unforgiving towards its own soldiers as towards the enemy is demonstrated by the total figure of,500 executions, both summary and judicial, during the battle of stalingrad. The battle of stalingrad was the turning point of the eastern front of world war ii. From antony beevor, the internationally bestselling author of dday and the battle of arnhem. Stalingrad, the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, cost the lives of nearly two million men and women.
Germanys disastrously illfated attack on the russian city is widely. The combined german and soviet losses during the battle were staggeringthe germans alone suffered approximately 300,000 casualties. In the fivemonth siege that followed, the russians fought to hold. Battle of stalingrad facts research paper due and dont know how to start it.
In his acclaimed 1998 account, stalingrad, the british historian anthony beevor puts the number of red army soldiers executed by their own. On august 5, 1942, giant pillars of dust rose over the russian steppe, marking the advance of the 6th army, an elite german combat unit dispatched by hitler to capture the industrial city of stalingrad and press on to the oil fields of azerbaijan. The battle of stalingrad august 23, 1942february 2, 1943 was one of the most brutal and bloody battles of world war ii. Finally, i am really glad to see this gem available in the kindle format. It was one of the most important battles of the second world war. The battle for stalingrad by william craig and attempt to have reading habit. The forgotten secrets of stalingrad the independent. The battle of stalingrad has been something has long fascinated me, the soviets at the close of ww2 went on to become the antagonist in the cold war, thus the soviet contribution to the defeat of nazi germany is often overlooked here in the west, however without the sacrifices made by mostly untrained and poorly armed men, women and in some cases children, it is almost certain we would be. Schroter was among the german war correspondents staff at stalingrad. Stalingrad is hell n soviet morale and the battle of stalingrad. At stalingrad the german sixth army surrendered and with it 90,000 men were sent to prison and labor camps. Among other sources, we find an anchor for the search for individual examples of women in war in stalingrad. Working on a book, from my research at the bibliotheque nationale, on the representation of india in french theatre of the abovementioned time period. For six months, two massive military forces, each instructed by their respective leader not to cede an inch to the enemy, fought for control of the city that bore the soviet dictators name.
Comparing and contrasting this book with stopped at stalingrad, this book, stalingrad. By day it is an enormous cloud of burning, blinding smoke. The battle of stalingrad marked a turned pointing in world war ii. It may come as a surprise, for instance, that 75 years later, that parts of the story of stalingrad remain cloaked. The author goes beyond the usual treatment of the germans to share the dissension and. The story of the siege by the acclaimed author of hitlers war in 199 days, acclaimed historian edwin p. It was first published by viking press in 1998 the book won the first samuel johnson prize, the wolfson history prize and the hawthornden prize for literature in 1999. List of books and articles about battle of stalingrad online. Stalingrad is a narrative history written by antony beevor of the battle fought in and around the city of stalingrad during world war ii, as well as the events leading up to it. Stalingrad, the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, cos. For six months, two massive military forces, each instructed by their respective leader not to cede an inch to the enemy, fought for control of the city that bore the soviet dictators. So i understood that any book on the subject would be focused more on the battle itself rather than the texture of everyday life under siege. Battle of stalingrad facts battle of stalingrad facts research papers discuss the battle that ultimately ended germanys eastern expansion and regime. The battle of stalingrad was a brutal military campaign between russian forces and those of nazi germany and the axis powers during world war ii.
In august 1942, hitlers huge sixth army reached the city that bore stalins name. Russians consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their great patriotic war, and most historians consider it to be the greatest battle of the entire conflict. Hoyt depicts the epic battle for stalingrad in all its electrifying excitement and savage horror. More than the bloodiest skirmish in historya momentous conflict costing three million livesthe siege was. It is estimated that over 2 million died in the 5 months of this one battle.
Stalingrad from a military point of view, analyzing it strictly from a soviet perspective and continuing to dive into a detailed description of the battle of stalingrad. The operation is a textbook execution of the kind of kesselschlacht cauldron battle that the germans had carried. Oct 04, 2007 this is the best history book i had read in a long time. A new york times bestseller that brings to life one of the bloodiest battles of world war iiand the beginning of the end of the third reich. After over six months of fighting at stalingrad, the german sixth army was encircled and captured. Working on a book, from my research at the bibliotheque nationale, on the representation of india in french theatre of the. More than the bloodiest skirmish in historya momentous conflict costing three million lives the siege was a hinge upon which the course of history rested. These few months in the eastern front are also thought to be one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. Russians consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their great patriotic war, and most historians consider it. The battle of stalingrad has a different character since most noncombatants had been evacuated across the volga before the worst fighting began. As far as other important battles with horrible casualty rates go the battle of antietam and percentagewise more lethal battle of stones river are good american examples. The best book i have read about stalingrad is a book written by antony beevor and its called stalingrad.
Advancing into the soviet union, the germans opened the battle in july 1942. Describes the events surrounding the crucial world war ii battle in which stalins troops repulsed the nazi invaders of the soviet union. Craig, despite the fact that he spent five years researching for this book, unfortunately didnt quite familiarize himself with some aspects of russian life and culture. Discover librarianselected research resources on battle of stalingrad from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals. Heroes of stalingrad, the game shows famous locations of the battle, such as pavlovs house, the red october factory and mamayev kurgan, among others. The battle of stalingrad was one of the largest and deadliest battles in world war ii. In the novel the book thief, one character was presumed to have died or been captured in the battle of stalingrad. The battle for stalingrad by william craig will not make you pointless. The battle of stalingrad has been something has long fascinated me, the soviets at the close of ww2 went on to become the antagonist in the cold war, thus the soviet contribution to the defeat of nazi germany is often overlooked here in the. What is the definitive book on the wwii battle of stalingrad. What is the best book to read about the battle of stalingrad.
The battle of stalingrad was fought during the second world war between nazi germany and the soviet union. But this book is long on personality and short on military strategy. Aug 30, 2017 telling the story of the battle of stalingrad fully would help to undercut the dangerous version of the wars myths. This book starts with operation barbarossa and goes on towards the fateful siege of the city stalingrad.
Battle of stalingrad, successful soviet defense of the city of stalingrad that was a turning point in favor of the allies in world war ii. As the germans advanced towards stalingrad in the summer of 1942, the war came to the locals of the city and evacuation was slow to the speed of the wehrmachts advancement. Stalingrad is a narrative history written by antony beevor of the battle fought in and around the city of stalingrad during world war ii, as well as the events. This book covers the battle of stalingrad from beginning to end.
As one of guide collections to suggest, this enemy at the gates. The battle of stalingrad had many consequences for the german military. After losing the battle, the german army lost so many soldiers and took such a defeat that they never quite recovered. Jul 01, 1998 an excellent account of the stalingrad battle on all perspectives. A russian during the battle of stalingrad in the second world war. It may come as a surprise, for instance, that 75 years later, that parts of the story of stalingrad remain cloaked in myth. Enemy at the gates the battle for stalingrad read book. John foster discusses the battle of stalingrad, including.
This is a book including information about the women fighting at stalingrad, including material from german and russian military reports. They were fighting for control of the city of stalingrad. List of books and articles about battle of stalingrad. Oct 30, 2017 it depends on how you want to look at the battle. Published in english for the first time, grossmans 1952 novel is a masterly. Its main focus is the battle of stalingrad, in particular the period from the initial german attack to operation uranus and the soviet victory. The battle of stalingrad is considered by many historians to be the ultimate turning point and most decisive battle of world war ii.
If there is only one book on stalingrad that you want to read, then i would suggest enemy at the gates by craig. The book starts with operation barbarossa, the german invasion of the ussr in june 1941, and the subsequent drive into the soviet union. This is the best history book i had read in a long time. The operation is a textbook execution of the kind of kesselschlacht cauldron battle that the germans had carried out throughout the war thus far. I also been to stalingrad now city of volgograd myself, and my main criticism is this. The 2001 film enemy at the gates utilized the books title and used it as one of its sources, but was not a direct adaptation of the work. The battle of stalingrad was fought from july 17, 1942 to february 2, 1943, during world war ii 19391945. The battle of stalingrad one monthago a soviet guards division with its three infantry regiments and artillery, supply columns, ambulance unit and other auxiliary services arrived at a fishermens settlement on the eastern bank of the volga, opposite stalingrad. Top 10 facts about the battle of stalingrad listverse.
The battle ended with the encirclement and destruction of an entire german field army. In the battle of stalingrad 23 august 1942 2 february 1943, germany and its allies fought the soviet union for control of the city of stalingrad now volgograd in southern russia. Telling the story of the battle of stalingrad fully would help to undercut the dangerous version of the wars myths. The battle of stalingrad was not only the psychological turning point o. Lasting between july 17 th 1942 and february 2 nd 1943, the battle of stalingrad was one of the single most bloody and brutal military conflicts ever. The battle for stalingrad is a book written by william craig and published in 1973 by readers digest press and in 1974 by penguin publishing. But this book is long on personality and short on military.
Feb 15, 2017 as the germans advanced towards stalingrad in the summer of 1942, the war came to the locals of the city and evacuation was slow to the speed of the wehrmachts advancement. The march was accomplished in unusually quick timeon trucks. The soviets followed up with a westward drive and generally remained on the offensive for the remainder of the war. I wanted the to read about the fate of stalingrad but this book gives so much detailes about the. It recounts the battle and the importance of stalingrad as a turning point in the war between the nazi germany and the allied powers as well as the experiences of soldiers of both russian and german soldiers. Marked by fierce closequarters combat and direct assaults on civilians in air raids, it is one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with an estimated 2 million total casualties. Its a very detailed book about the fights in the sovietunion, and the brutal battle of stalingrad. It is not to excuse them for what they did, but to show that they were caught in hitlers maelstrom and how that led to the plots against hitlers life, which. I wanted the to read about the fate of stalingrad but this book gives so much detailes about the battle that it is hard to grasp everything. Perhaps stalingrad was more decisive than verdun in particular, but if you compare it to the western front in general there are a lot of similarities. Battle of stalingrad simple english wikipedia, the free.
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