The German offensive on Stalingrad was originally intended to secure the Wehrmacht's flanks; but it stalled dramatically in the face of Stalin's order: "Not a Step Back!" The Soviets' resulting tenacious defense of the city led to urban warfare for which the Germans were totally unprepared; depriving them of their accustomed maneuverability; overwhelming artillery fire; and air support—and setting the stage for debacle. Armageddon in Stalingrad continues David Glantz and Jonathan House's bold new look at this most iconic military campaign of the Eastern Front and Hitler's first great strategic defeat. While the first volume in their trilogy described battles that took the German army to the gates of Stalingrad; this next one focuses on the inferno of combat that decimated the city itself.Previous accounts of the battle are far less accurate; having relied on Soviet military memoirs plagued by error and cloaked in secrecy. Glantz and House have plumbed previously unexploited sources—including the archives of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) and the records of the Soviet 62nd and German Sixth Armies—to provide unprecedented detail and fresh interpretations of this apocalyptic campaign. They allow the authors to reconstruct the fighting hour by hour; street by street; and even building by building and reveal how Soviet defenders established killing zones throughout the city and repeatedly ambushed German spearheads.The authors set these accounts of action within the contexts of decisions made by Hitler and Stalin; their high commands; and generals on the ground and of the larger war on the Eastern Front. They show the Germans weaker than has been supposed; losing what had become a war of attrition that forced them to employ fewer and greener troops to make up for earlier losses and to conduct war on an ever-lengthening logistics line. Written with the narrative force of a great war novel; this new volume supersedes all previous accounts and forms the centerpiece of the Stalingrad Trilogy; with the upcoming final volume focusing on the Red Army's counteroffensive.
#620062 in Books University Press of Kansas 1998-04-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .94 x 5.92l; 1.40 #File Name: 0700611460412 pages
Review
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful. AN EXCEPTIONAL WORKBy RED BARONThis volume is a major contribution to the history of the Luftwaffe during the Russo-Germano war. "Stopped at Stalingrad" is also a richly drawn study of the most important air campaigns in the Eastern Front. Written in an accessible style this volume will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in the WWII. I was very pleasantly surprised by the book and also the quality of its contents. The author did a masterful job of research. Joel Hayward draws on diaries of both key commanders and regular airmen. He also shows that the poorly conceived strategies of Hitler and his buffoon; Goering; dommed the efforts of men such von Manstein; Milch and Wolfram von Richthofen (an outstanding soldier) to come to grips with an impossible situation. I heartily recommended this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding.By Max PrendergastIf this book has a weakness it is only that the title does not fully convey what a sweeping account this is. In fact; though written from an air war perspective; this book gives an excellent overview of the entire "Case Blue" German summer offensive of 1942 in the USSR; including the land war. An opening chapter sets the stage with a highly useful recap which is not just a rehash of the usual Barbarossa facts; and instead offers an insightful analysis of the strategic imperatives from Germany's point of view; with emphasis on the crucial question of oil reserves (backed up with detailed statistics). This book makes abundantly clear why by 1942 Germany was no longer able to wage offensive operations along the entire length of the Russian front as it had been the previous year. The text is copiously footnoted and dense with facts; yet it remains a pleasure to read; clear and swift moving. Even those who are well read about the Eastern Front will find nuggets here (how about a footnote detailing the composition of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet?). Hardcover edition includes photographs on glossy paper. Only quibble is that the text could have used a few more maps --- a common observation about books covering this vast theater. Unreservedly recommended for anyone interested in the WWII Russian campaign.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Stalingrad Air Power StoryBy William A. ThayerThis is an excellent book because it focuses on the truly important part of the Stalingrad battle-- the airlift. What is great about this book is that it integrates what is happening on the ground with what happened in the air. I've read many books on Stalingrad; Milch; Richthofen; and the author has done his research (see the German Reports from the USAF Air University). Why did the airlift fail? Probably weather and operational readiness were the main reasons. For example; in the Conclusion of the book; the author notes that with better weather a couple of months later; the German Air Force was able to resupply the German Armies in the Caucausas with the 500 tons/day that Stalingrad never received. The Germans were not prepared to operate well at 0 degF and low visibility conditions. By contrast the USAF was able to operate the Berlin Airlift with 5000 tons/day (about 20 times the German tonnage) because of better aircraft (DC-4); better all weather landing systems; and better operational readiness (and no 0 degF weather).What would have been a good additional chapter would have been a comparison of the Stalingrad airlift with Demyansk airlift; Kuban airlift and Berlin airlift. Also some charts showing the tons carried; total planes; operational planes; plane losses per week would have been informative. Nevertheless; this book is a 5 star.
