Stalingrad - Anthony Beevor

With a narrative that unfolds like a novel, this acclaimed book gives a comprehensive account of the events that lead to this brutal and epic episode of WW2. Author Beevor also provides a harrowing account of life in the city during the siege and the terrible suffering of the combatants and civillians. Stalingrad was perhaps the most important turning point of the second World War. Hitler's mad obsession with capturing the city named after his Soviet rival eventually cost the Germans the 250,000 men of the Sixth Army. Their remaining forces never recovered their balance and were soon in a ... more

I spotted this book while drinking coffee at Waterstones. Since it is pretty boring just to seat there doing nothing and since I have "history" as one of my "weak" spots I decided to give it a go. The first impression? The book is gripping! Once you opened it it is impossible to get out. I spent two hours reading it and lots of money for coffee before I realized that I am definitely buying it. So here is my opinion. The story is well presented both from military and the human points of view. Historical evidence from the thick volumes of military history comes through the intimate soldiers ... more

First of all, let me state that I am a keen reader of WWII material, but more specifically 1944. I do not consider myself an 'amateur historian' - my interest for this period in our history stems from the premise that I studied the subject for 'O' level history many years ago. Normally, I would not consider reading a book such as 'Stalingrad' by Anthony Beevor - the reason as to why I did was two fold. I had just finished reading 'Overlord; D-day and the Battle for Normandy 1944' by Max Hastings and references to the Russian Front following the Omaha beach landings made me curious as to this ... more

The word compelling is probably the most apt to describe Antony Beevor’s work on the battle that changed the tide of the war. A compelling narrative would have been interesting enough; but in the style of an excellent historian he combines this with enthralling analysis and of course his own opinions, although he does maintain an exemplorary level of objectivity in giving an accurate balanced account of the war from the aspects of both sides, and from all other aspects. The effect of the battle on the soldiers involved, from unwilling conscripts to enthusiastic (at least prior to ... more

If you ever imagined what hell might be like, if you want to glimpse on one of the darkest episodes of modern history, where filth, starvation, terror and the freezing cold took men to a level of endurance that is incomprehensible, then this might be the book for you. It seems to me that there are two types of military historian. One sort is good at uncovering a lot of minor details, takes everything into account, demonstrates how equipment or steel played a bigger role than tactics etc. How losses were in fact less than commonly thought in so-and-so engagement. How Soviet tank production made ... more