The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most important clashes of the Second World War and arguably the bloodiest. Epitomised by close combat fighting and heavy losses (both military and civilian), neither the Soviets or the Nazis were prepared to capitulate to their ideological enemies.
The Axis forces were eventually defeated by the Russian war machine, despite withdrawing many troops from the West to fight in the East and losing a significant proportion of the Wehrmacht.
Pen & Sword Books covers the fighting with a wide range titles, which give an extensive insight into this notoriously bitter battle.
For lovers of history who want an inside track and a German viewpoint on the battle, this is an ideal book that gives you a view often overlooked here in the West. Not only that we see their captivity, the turning on the German High Command and what happened after the war. This really is a fascinating account from someone who was there that scholars and the general reader will refer to for many years.
This is a brilliant eyewitness account of one of the bloodiest, stupidest battles that the German’s undertook during the Second World War.
Paul Diggett
For lovers of history who want an inside track and a German viewpoint on the battle, this is an ideal book that gives you a view often overlooked here in the West. Not only that we see their captivity, the turning on the German High Command and what happened after the war. This really is a fascinating account from someone who was there that scholars and the general reader will refer to for many years.
This is a brilliant eyewitness account of one of the bloodiest, stupidest battles that the German’s undertook during the Second World War.
Paul Diggett
Front-Line Stalingrad is a work of fiction by a veteran who commanded an engineer battalion during this most epic of battles, and continued to serve in the Red Army until he was wounded in Poland, in early 1944. It follows events from the retreat to the Volga in 1942, and the bitter fighting which took place from building to building in the shattered ruins of Stalingrad. Although its characters are an invention, they have been heavily coloured by Nekrasov's personal experience, and show the mindset of the typical Red Army soldier as this savage, attritional struggle progressed. The result is a highly realistic and gritty account which is remarkably devoid of the slightly false-feeling patriotic triumphalism which generally pervades such novels. The book was critically acclaimed on its release in 1946 and is now a recognised classic of the period, which is an extraordinary achievement for a man who had no previous experience of writing.
Pegasus Archive, Mark Hickman
Front-Line Stalingrad is a work of fiction by a veteran who commanded an engineer battalion during this most epic of battles, and continued to serve in the Red Army until he was wounded in Poland, in early 1944. It follows events from the retreat to the Volga in 1942, and the bitter fighting which took place from building to building in the shattered ruins of Stalingrad. Although its characters are an invention, they have been heavily coloured by Nekrasov's personal experience, and show the mindset of the typical Red Army soldier as this savage, attritional struggle progressed. The result is a highly realistic and gritty account which is remarkably devoid of the slightly false-feeling patriotic triumphalism which generally pervades such novels. The book was critically acclaimed on its release in 1946 and is now a recognised classic of the period, which is an extraordinary achievement for a man who had no previous experience of writing.
Pegasus Archive, Mark Hickman
The Battle of Stalingrad is etched into the human consciousness with so many books and documentaries on the subject.
But there usually end with the battle but for tens of thousands of German soldiers captured by the Soviets in 1942, their nightmare was beginning in earnest. We seldom hear anything of their fate.
Which is why I can say Adelbert Holl’s story of his seven years in the Soviet prison camps is so important, a valuable historical document as well as a very engrossing story, one described with meticulous detail. Used as slave labour, the prisoners were treated with the utmost cruelty.
Credit must also be given to Tony le Tissier for his superb translation. Pen & Sword have published an important book here.
Destructive Music
The Battle of Stalingrad is etched into the human consciousness with so many books and documentaries on the subject.
But there usually end with the battle but for tens of thousands of German soldiers captured by the Soviets in 1942, their nightmare was beginning in earnest. We seldom hear anything of their fate.
Which is why I can say Adelbert Holl’s story of his seven years in the Soviet prison camps is so important, a valuable historical document as well as a very engrossing story, one described with meticulous detail. Used as slave labour, the prisoners were treated with the utmost cruelty.
Credit must also be given to Tony le Tissier for his superb translation. Pen & Sword have published an important book here.
Destructive Music
‘This is a truly valuable addition to the available English-language literature on the Battle for Stalingrad . . . There are vignettes here that will stay with you for a long time. The young infantryman, for instance, eager for combat, who pushed his way to the front of the queue to be transported to Stalingrad, only to rue his keenness when he realized that he had hastened into a murderous trap. Or the gravely injured soldier who is given a blood transfusion, and to his astonishment sees that the donor is his Russian doctor . . . it is a book that deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in the war on the Eastern Front, or indeed in the Second World War in general.’
Roger Moorhouse, author of Berlin at War
‘This is a truly valuable addition to the available English-language literature on the Battle for Stalingrad . . . There are vignettes here that will stay with you for a long time. The young infantryman, for instance, eager for combat, who pushed his way to the front of the queue to be transported to Stalingrad, only to rue his keenness when he realized that he had hastened into a murderous trap. Or the gravely injured soldier who is given a blood transfusion, and to his astonishment sees that the donor is his Russian doctor . . . it is a book that deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in the war on the Eastern Front, or indeed in the Second World War in general.’
Roger Moorhouse, author of Berlin at War
The writing style avoids the tendency of major histories to produce dry text and can be read effectively by a wide range of reader skills, from the young novice through the many levels of enthusiast and professional to the experienced academic.
reviews.firetrench.com
The writing style avoids the tendency of major histories to produce dry text and can be read effectively by a wide range of reader skills, from the young novice through the many levels of enthusiast and professional to the experienced academic.
reviews.firetrench.com
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Stalingrad to Kursk
The epic battles fought at Stalingrad and Kursk were pivotal events in the war on the Eastern Front. After the catastrophic failure of the German offensives of 1942 and 1943, the Wehrmacht was forced onto the defensive. Never again would it regain the initiative against the seemingly inexhaustible forces of the Red Army. But how did this decisive shift… Read more...
