Oct 04, 2007 this book starts with operation barbarossa and goes on towards the fateful siege of the city stalingrad. This is a book that sheds light upon the best and worst of the human condition. In the closing months of 1942, only a few yards of bitterly contested ground stood between hitler and the prize which he valued above all others stalingrad. In november 1942 in a devastating counterattack from out. Each story is unique and they give an allround picture of what a german soldiers life was like during the battle. After general friedrich paulus had surrendered to the russians, having been promoted to the rank of generalfeldmarschall in the hopes hed commit suicide by hitler, he was taken by the soviets as a propaganda tool. Vasily grossman seems to be working his way into the consciousness of the modern world. What were the reasons for this unparalleled mass dying. Jan 19, 2018 stalingrad author anthony beevor speaks out over ukraine book ban. Considering the scant number of germans who survived stalingrad are still living, i feel this book serves as an important missinglink to the battles entire story. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 survivors of stalingrad hardback common busch, reinhold on. Excellent book about the experiences of 39 different soldiers who survived the horrors of the fighting during the battle of stalingrad.
Antony beevor has itnerviewed survivors and discovered completely new. The stalingrad protocols has been compiled by the german historian jochen. Stalins city the city, originally called tsaritsyn, was renamed stalingrad, stalins city, in april 1925, in recognition of joseph stalins leading role in saving the city. The snows of stalingrad in markus zusaks the book thief. By day it is an enormous cloud of burning, blinding smoke. In august 1942, hitlers huge sixth army reached the. Eyewitness accounts from the sixth army, 194243, by reinhold busch, frontline books, barnsley, u.
Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 survivors. This isnt the first book about world war ii, or the russians. Pavlovs house the first restored building in stalingrad. When the soldiers of the 6th army went into captivity at the end of januarybeginning of february 1943, they were closer to death than to life. The book was pitched just right for me, with enough detail provided but remaining readable without too much effort.
Several of the men actually survived being a pow of the soviet union a subject i wish busch would consider for a future project. Stalingrad part 2 of 3 audiobook full by atony bevoor. Though this book is very nutral, this book present the gut wrenching horrors of war immense suffering endured by both civilians and the soldiers and detailes accurate to the name of every officer along with all regiments and geographical. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading survivors of stalingrad. The battle of stalingrad marked a turned pointing in world war ii. Antony beevor has itnerviewed survivors and discovered completely new material in a wide range of german and soviet archives, including prisoner interrogations and reports of desertions and executions. In june 1941, when hitler launched operation barbarossa, the invasion of the soviet union, with a vast. The title of this book is survivors of stalingrad and it was written by reinhold busch. The dead bodies were counted later 150,000 humans and 16,000 animals. A new book has finally laid bare the full horrors of the battle of stalingrad in the words of ordinary russian soldiers, whose memories were suppressed by the soviet authorities for 70 years. After adolf hitler failed to conquer moscow in 1941, he turned south toward the prized caucasian oilfields. Read an excerpt the silence that fell on 2 february in the ruined city felt eerie for those who had been used to destruction as a natural state. Jun 01, 2014 excellent book about the experiences of 39 different soldiers who survived the horrors of the fighting during the battle of stalingrad.
Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 194243 by reinhold busch 2016, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. This is where the railway line to stalingrad ended, the final section having been destroyed at tchir. This is not a book about the battle for stalingrad, but about the battle for food, warmth and a flight out. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 busch, reinhold on. Survivors of stalingrad is a unique book in that i havent been able to find anything comparable to it most books about stalingrad are overviews told by an individual usually a historian.
The book won the first samuel johnson prize, the wolfson history prize and the hawthornden prize for literature in 1999. The result is a solid if disquieting addition to the literature on stalingrad. Jan 28, 2016 survivors of stalingrad by reinhold busch, 9781848327665, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Facing stalingrad portraits of german and soviet survivors.
It was published by frontline books and has a total of 256 pages in the book. The forgotten secrets of stalingrad the independent. Survivors of stalingrad by reinhold busch, 9781526734075, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. What is the best book to read about the battle of stalingrad. German history eyewitness accounts shed light on stalingrad. Other survivors of stalingrad committed suicide years later. Busch has done a commendable job in compiling a range of accounts, many from the relatively lower ranks. Ending with the rout of an entire german army, it marked a turning point in world war ii. What follows is my translation from an article by dr. German prisoners of war in the soviet union wikipedia. This book would transform the reputation of anthony beevor, a former british army officer, and would be later translated into 18 languages.
Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. In the first months of operation barbarossa, few germans were captured by soviet forces. Most of the people were able to write their tales because they were wounded and were fortunate to be air evacuated from stalingrad. Battle of stalingrad a brief summary rupert colley.
It stands as testament to the baseness of mankind as well as. 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. Eyewitness accounts shed light on stalingrad german. In november 1942, as the battle of stalingrad continued to rage, the red army launched a devastating counterattack from outside the city. The fateful siege is a narrative account of the battle of stalingrad in the second world war. This 2008 oral history is an interview conducted by a student at american university. Chapter after chapter, one wonders how could so many human lives be wasted in the name of glory and pride for ones country. 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.
Its a very detailed book about the fights in the sovietunion, and the brutal battle of stalingrad. Kesselapocket or became prisoners and lived to tell about it. Feb 16, 2015 battle of stalingrad survivors return to germany october 1955. The soviet forces smashed the german siege and encircled stalingrad, trapping some 290,000 soldiers of the german 6th army inside. Overmans is a historian at the institute of military history in potsdam and author of several studies on the german armed forces during world war ii, including soldaten hinter stacheldraht. The author goes beyond the usual treatment of the germans to share the dissension and disagreement in the ranks. The battle of stalingrad was one of the most ferocious military campaigns of all time.
Surviving the hell of stalingrad sputnik international. The field marshals and generals captured at stalingrad were treated relatively well, with their own quarters near moscow, but the rest of the army prisoners were marched to prison camps on the steppes and the ural mountains near siberia as well. 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. The book isnt quite as suspenseful as the book enemy at the gates by william craig. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As the title suggests, the book is a collection of eyewitness reports from those who served in the stalingrad pocket, some of whom were aircrew, some of whom were airlifted out before the final collapse and some of whom made the journey home, via siberia, over a decade later. As a 99p kindle daily deal though, it was an absolute bargain. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 by reinhold busch isbn.
That is the story that hellbeck, a professor at rutgers specializing in modern russia, tells in stalingrad, a book whose heroic rhetoric and rhythms match the heroism of the people of. Can anyone recommend any books about this subject matter the experience of german prisoners of war from their capture and onwards. This is a painful book to read, as it shows the horror of the war on both sides. The best book i have read about stalingrad is a book written by antony beevor and its called stalingrad. One downside, nothing to do with the book itself, is that the kindle isnt the best device for displaying the maps and photos that would be the hardback. But this book is long on personality and short on military strategy. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Astounding accounts of german survivors of the battle of stalingrad. Of the 110,000 german soldiers taken prisoner at stalingrad only about 5,000 came back home after the war. Pdf survivors of stalingrad download full pdf book. Its very easy to focus on the weapons and tactics of warfare, but this book centres on the human suffering that comes along with combat.
Stalingrad author anthony beevor speaks out over ukraine book. Eyewitness accounts from the sixth army, 194243, dat dankzij het vertaalwerk van geoffrey. The street is no longer measured by meters but by corpses. Stalingrad and finally, with survivors of stalingrad, there is one. Facing stalingrad features portraits of german and soviet veterans who were interviewed in their homes in 2009. On 2 february 1943, in what is considered the turning point of the second world war in europe, the final remnants of the german sixth army surrendered at the battle of stalingrad. The interview subject is american university professor vadim medish, an immigrant from the soviet union who had fought with soviet forces to repel the nazi invasion of russia in the battle of stalingrad in world war ii.
Buschs book is disturbing and thought provoking and is a memorial to those who sacrificed for their country and their comrades. After the battle of moscow and the retreat of the german forces the number of prisoners in the soviet prisoner of war camps rose to 120,000 by early 1942. Stalingrad by jochen hellbeck translated by christopher. Battle of stalingrad survivors return to germany 1955, 6th. Seventy years after the battle of stalingrad, a historian has published longforgotten eyewitness accounts by red army soldiers and. Do german survivors of stalingrad visit the city nowadays. 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. Considering the scant number of germans who survived stalingrad are still living, i feel this book serves as an important missinglink to the battle. The book survivors of stalingrad by reinhold busch has an eyewitness account of joachim feurich. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 194243 kindle edition by busch, reinhold.
A very interesting read with stories from a wide range of combatants. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 at. In november 1942 in a devastating counterattack from outside the city soviet forces smashed the german siege and encircled stalingrad, trapping some 290,000 soldiers of the 6th army inside. What happened to the survivors of the battle of stalingrad. List of books and articles about battle of stalingrad. In august 1942, hitlers huge sixth army reached the city that bore stalins name. This book covers the battle of stalingrad from beginning to end. The book is noted as a source in stalingrad, and the quotes attributed to groscurth are sourced to it. Editor, reinhold busch, has compiled 39 individual and diverse accounts of german soldiers and airmen who either escaped the stalingrad a. My father was in stalingrad, as a captain the the transportation corps. The book is a collection of survivor tales from a multitude of sources. His book stalingrad was awarded the samuel johnson prize for nonfiction, the wolfson history prize, and the hawthornden prize in 1999. If there is only one book on stalingrad that you want to read, then i would suggest enemy at the gates by craig.
The german 6th army surrendered in the battle of stalingrad, 91,000 of the survivors became prisoners of war raising the number. Eyewitness accounts from the 6th army, 19421943 survivors of stalingrad hardback common. The battle of stalingrad was not only the psychological turning point of world war ii. Mar 28, 2001 stephen walshs book, unlike beevors, doesnt aspire to tell the whole story of stalingrad. You will remember this book long after you have put it in your book shelf.
An excerpt from an interview with a soviet soldier who. Oct 30, 2017 it depends on how you want to look at the battle. Mar 24, 2006 out of the ruins of stalingrad, a book that changed my life. Sanitary conditions in the city were appalling and dangerous, but those who survived the hell of stalingrad did not notice the awful smell or the ruins around them they were just happy to be alive. The german 6th army surrendered in the battle of stalingrad, 91,000 of the survivors became prisoners of war raising the number to 170,000 in early 1943. 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. In the fivemonth siege that followed, the russians fought to hold stalingrad at any cost. The eastern front experienced the viciousness of war on a scale of unimaginable horror and brutality.
The book includes firsthand accounts of soldiers who were wounded or fell ill and were flown out of the encirclement. Page 3536 on 23 october we finally arrived at our destination and detrained at tchir on the don. Railroads to stalingrad to supply the german 6th army and. The assault the battle of stalingrad 1 of 3 youtube. 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.
What is the definitive book on the wwii battle of stalingrad. Schroter was among the german war correspondents staff at stalingrad. The battle of stalingrad 23 august 1942 2 february 1943 was the largest confrontation of world war ii, in which germany and its allies fought the soviet union for control of the city of stalingrad now volgograd in southern russia. Adelbert holl, an infantry leutnant, leads his company through the deadly streets of stalingrad. Stalingrad conveys the experience of soldiers on both sides, fighting in inhuman conditions, and of civilians trapped on an urban battlefield. What did the german survivors of stalingrad go through while in russian captivity and why did it take over 10 years before they were allowed to return back to germany.