| Synopsis: |
Of all the grim battles of WWII, surely few can compare with that of the Battle of Stalingrad. This gargantuan and bloody struggle marked a turning point in the course of the war. Hitler was obsessed with capturing this industrial city on the Volga River that bore Stalin's name, yet it was the ordinary soldiers of the Wehrmacht that bore the brunt of trying to achieve that elusive victory. This handy volume details the German efforts to reduce Stalingrad, with the focus entirely on the German army rather than on their Russian counterparts. The knowledgeable author has provided a clear and accurate text that backgrounds the conflict and the key phases of the battle, from the German approach to Stalingrad on 22 August 1942, through to the capitulation of the remnants of Generalfeldmarschall Von Paulus' 6th Army on 2 February 1943. In between was a ferocious battle that the German"landsers" christened "der Rattenkrieg" ("the rat war"). The text also lists an order of battle for the German 6th Army that was annihilated at Stalingrad, and a description of a typical Wehrmacht infantry regiment.This inspirational volume is filled from cover to cover with carefully selected photographs that chronicle this historical Battle of Stalingrad. They start with the summer approach to the Volga River, and the early successful incursions. The photos then chart the horrifying descent into urban warfare amongst the rubble, and the freezing clutches of winter that ravaged both sides in the conflict. These black and white photos are accompanied by highly detailed captions that offer excellent explanations about such matters as uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and the course of the battle. A set of four high quality color plates by the renowned artist, Ronald Volstad, is also a welcome complement to this work. In total, the Stalingrad campaign cost the Germans 400,000 lost, as well as 450,000 of their allies. For the serious student of WWII history, or the modeler looking for inspiration from this savage battle, they need look no further than this volume! |