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Title: Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942-1943 by Antony Beevor ISBN: 0-14-028458-3 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.24 (192 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Vivid account of a horrific battle
Comment: Stalingrad by Antony Beevor is a hands-on account of the epic struggle that centred on this Russian City, between Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia during World War II. For me, this book was engrossing from start to end. I found it hard to put down. The depiction of suffering inflicted on humanity by itself, at times made for harrowing reading, but was necessary in the context of the retelling of this story. This is a book that will appeal to those with a genuine interest in military history. The book focuses much attention on the details of the battle both at tactical and strategic level. It is this ability of Beevor to shift from a strategic perspective to rendering accounts of the battle at tactical level that provide much of the interest. The book is full of description of the decision-making processes of the leaders and Generals from both sides. Complimenting this are stories and anecdotes of individual front line soldiers that anchor this story. Here he has struck a wonderful balance that maintains interest throughout. I'm not sure if this book will appeal to non-military enthusiasts, as there is a significant amount of detail about military units and their disposition, movements and performance in the battle. As an account of the suffering that occurred on both sides the book pulls no punches and allocates blame for atrocities to both the Germans and Russians. Overall this was an excellent read, which I highly recommend. I'm primed now to read Beevors work on the closing battle of World War II, "Berlin".
Rating: 5
Summary: A Gripping, Well-Told Story
Comment: I've read several accounts of Stalingrad and for me this was the best. Beevor gives you the necessary strategic events and context, but his main purpose is to present the battle from the grunts' view and he succeeds marvelously. His description, for example, of the first encounter and conversations between Germans and Russians when the latter arrive ostensibly to seek the Sixth Army's surrender was memorable. I was also impressed with his research into the anti-Stalinst Russians who fought with the Germans (the "Hiwis"); this was the most extensive coverage I've seen of that issue. Finally, Beevor completes his work with a account of the sad fate of the German prisoners, most of whom succomb to disease and starvation, while their officers, given something akin to VIP treatment by the Soviets, bicker over trivialities like possession of eating utensils.
In short, I really enjoyed this book (if that's the right word for such a horrendous tragedy as Stalingrad) because of the authors' concentration on the fate of the individuals involved. You can get the strategic and military analysis elsewhere, but for a close look at what it all was like for the soldiers on the ground on each side, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 5
Summary: Easy reading
Comment: Great book. What impressed me was the fact that it is so easy to read. Usually I have difficulty with history books, but this one kept me interested. A real eye opener to what really happened. I would also recommend his other book, about the fall of Berlin.
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Title: The Fall of Berlin 1945 by Antony Beevor ISBN: 0142002801 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 29 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Spanish Civil War by Antony Beevor ISBN: 0141001488 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 03 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig ISBN: 1568523688 Publisher: Konecky & Konecky Pub. Date: August, 2001 List Price(USD): $12.98 |
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Title: Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942-1943 (Modern War Studies(Paper)) by Joel S. A. Hayward ISBN: 0700611460 Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: In Deadly Combat: A German Soldier's Memoir of the Eastern Front by Gottlob Herbert Bidermann, Derek S. Zumbro, Dennis Showalter ISBN: 0700611223 Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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