Product Description

The battle for Stalingrad became the focus of Hitler and Stalin's determination to win the gruesome, vicious war on the eastern front. This book is the extraordinary story of tactical genius, civilian bravery, obsession, carnage and the nature of war itself. Stalingrad will act as a testament to the vital role of the soviet war effort.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3386 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

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• Mint Condition
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Hitler made two fundamental and crippling mistakes during the Second World War. The first was his whimsical belief that the United Kingdom would eventually become his ally, which delayed his decision to launch a major invasion of Britain, whose army was unprepared for the force of blitzkrieg warfare. The second was the ill-conceived Operation Barbarossa--an invasion of Russia that was supposed to take the German army to the gates of Moscow. Antony Beevor's thoughtfully researched compendium recalls this epic struggle for Stalingrad. No-one, least of all the Germans, could foretell the deep well of Soviet resolve that would become the foundation of the Red Army; Russia, the Germans believed, would fall as swiftly as France and Poland. The ill-prepared Nazi forces were trapped in a bloody war of attrition against the Russian behemoth, which held them in the pit of Stalingrad for nearly two years. Beevor points out that the Russians were by no means ready for the war either, making their stand even more remarkable; Soviet intelligence spent as much time spying on its own forces--in fear of desertion, treachery and incompetence--as they did on the Nazis. Due attention is also given to the points of view of the soldiers and generals of both forces, from the sickening battles to life in the gulags.

Many believe Stalingrad to be the turning point of the war. The Nazi war machine proved to be fallible as it spread itself too thin for a cause that was born more from arrogance than practicality. The Germans never recovered, and its weakened defences were no match for the Allied invasion of 1944. We know little of what took place in Stalingrad or its overall significance, leading Beevor to humbly admit that "[t]he Battle of Stalingrad remains such an ideologically charged and symbolically important subject that the last word will not be heard for many years". This is true. But this gripping account should become the standard work against which all others should measure themselves. --Jeremy Storey

Review
A superb re-telling. Beevor combines a soldier's understanding of war's realities with the narrative techniques of a novelist . . . This is a book that lets the reader look into the face of battle (Orlando Figes Sunday Telegraph )

A brilliantly researched tour de force of military history (Sarah Bradford The Times )

About the Author
Antony Beevor began his career as a professional officer in the 11th Hussars. He is the author of several books, including Berlin, The Spanish Civil War, Crete and The Mystery of Olga Chekhova. With his wife, Artemis Cooper, he wrote Paris After the Liberation, but he is best known for his book Stalingrad, the international No 1 bestseller, and winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, Wolfson Price and Hawthornden Prize. He lives in London and Kent.

Customer Reviews

Staggering
I have read and re-read this book because of its brilliance. It is chilling but very very accessible. The humanity and inhumanity is so well written that it appears almost to be a work of fiction. You do not need to be an avid war historian to enjoy this book as I found most of the interesting parts to be on the day to day life in the kessel and the slow ebbing away of all hope that the 6th army would be saved. The letters home are particularly sad, many were found in a mail sack of a plane that was shot down by the Russians.

This book should be used in schools to highlight the desperation and reality of war.

Stalingrad: A comprehensive and harrowing account
Stalingrad is a superb book. Before reading it I had no knowledge of the eastern front, but Antony Beevor's account has compelled me to find out more. The book not only provides a full account of the battle, but an overview of Operation Barbarossa and the strategy in southern Russia. The books main triumph lies in its ability to relate the story from both the German and Russian perspectives of the battle, from an ordinary soldier's point of view as well as the Generals and of course Stalin and Hitler. The author's use of different sources is unbelievable, although I think it could have done with a few more personal accounts - but this is a very minor gripe. With violence portrayed on TV so much, you might think we have been made unshockable (if thats a word) towards war stories, but I definately felt sickened by what I read in this book, especially towards the end with the subjugation of the Sixth Army. It may be that the Stalingrad story is just so unbelievable that it makes this book stand out, but Beevor is as competent an author as any in helping the reader truly understand. Stalingrad is the definitve account of the most momentous event of W.W.2.

Stalingrad - Turning Point of World War II?
This book is probably one of the best I've read about WWII and one of the most accessible. It brings to life the futility of war and the insanity of both Hitler and Stalin. In these pages - their disregard for the lives of their soldiers is brought brilliantly to life. I didn't want to put the book down!

Operation Barbarossa proved to be one of the key turning points of World War II. This book provides the perspective to understand so much of what happened and why. Hitlers inability to trust his generals and their lack of courage in acting against him becomes clear through the actions of the high command at Stalingrad. Through Anthony Beevors descriptions of the sacrifice of the Sixth Army you find yourself asking the question - what would have happened if the British army at Dunkirk had received similar suicidal orders ?

The stories of horror and courage at Stalingrad are numerous but the book never descends into cheap emotion and always maintains it's objectivity. It helps you understand the military and political machinations during the battle - empathising without being partisan.

It's stunning to learn the level of callousness displayed by both Stalin and the German army towards ordinary Russian soldiers during and after the campaign. The bravery of all the ordinary participants but espeically the average Russian soldiers and civillians cries out to you. This book astounded me with the portrayal of the human capacity to overcome adversity - it inspired me and made me cry. It'll help you understand not only Stalingrad but also beyond. It gave me an insight into both the Russian people during WWII and the events during the Russian advance through Germany. Read it!