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65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exquisitely detailed and surprisingly readable history . . ., December 12, 2009
This review is from: Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942 (The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 2) (Modern War Studies) (Hardcover)
A note on the availability of the book . . . I pre-ordered my copy about four months ago. I expect those of you who have ordered this book recently will have to wait for a considerable length of time to get it as I expect it to be extremely popular. I suggest pre-ordering vol. 3.
The readability of Armageddon in Stalingrad IMO is easier that Vol. 1 of this series. Glantz now mentions troupe movements and actions down to the company level. He also includes short vignettes on the major players on both the German and Soviet sides as they enter the picture.
As a reader of military history since I was 14 years old, and I am now 61 years old and have read at least two dozen books on Stalingrad alone I know how mind numbing it can be to read page after page enumerating troop movements and orders of battle. This is to some extent unavoidable for reasons of completeness and scholarly vigour, IMO.
As was the case in vol. 1, this is not a book about the personal combat experiences of the men who had boots on the ground on either the German or Russian side, but is a book about broad strategic thinking, troop movements company size and greater and political decisions at the highest levels on both sides. There is, IMO, a place for both types of books.
Be that as it may, the way Glantz goes about describing the large troop movement and actions has a clarity about it that I have found uncommon in other books of this type and scope. For example, the extremely important actions around Orlovka, a suburb north of Stalingrad which had a major impact on the future course of the assault proper on the city, is extremely complex and both sides shuffled dozens of companies, battalions, brigades, and divisions and battle groups in and out of this area as the battle progressed; yet Glantz comes very close to making these extremely complex activities easy to understand and follow . . . a considerable accomplishment in itself.
The maps . .. I consider it absolutely essential that a book which describes movements of military units have good maps. IMO, Glantz does not disappoint. Some of the maps are originals: reproductions of German and Russian situation maps. Some of them seem to have been constructed by the author. Some are more helpful than others. Some of the maps are extremely detailed with elevation markings and type so small that a magnifying glass is needed to read the place names. The maps, IMO, are 5 stars + and help a great deal in following the complicated movements of units.
My perspective on maps in military history come from years of reading books on entire campaigns such as the Italian campaign which did not have a map in the whole book. Absolutely horrible. Others include maps of the area of conflicts but I'll be d*****ded if I could find one name place in the text on the map. From my perspective, the maps included in this book although not perfect are by far the best, the most numerous, and the most complete selection of maps I have ever seen in a military history book of this complexity. Situational maps are not easy to read, especially when they include temporal phase lines of an action. It becomes messy reading a map with temporal phase lines for actions that last for a week. These maps go a long way in clarifying such extended actions.
I am not a big fan of pictures in military history books, however, in the case of this book I am impressed. There are a lot of them. Most or many are astonishing aerial shots of the city of great clarity which show in exceptional detail the layout of the city, and IMO, more importantly, the topography of the countryside through which the Germans had to attack and with which the Russians had to defend. Absolutely superb. Other pictures are of the major players of both sides, and of course there are the pictures of the devastation of the city proper and also of soldiers engaging in battle.
I've seen many, many pictures of the battle for Stalingrad and I can say with considerable confidence that I have not seen any of the pictures in this book before this time.
The information included in this book is exceptionally detailed and I emphasize exceptionally. This book is 722 pages long (not including notes to the text which are over 100 pages long) with fairly small print (although not too small to be easily read) and extensively documented.
Being published in 2009, Glantz had all the benefits of recently opened archives in Russia. Because of this Glantz is often able to disabuse us of accepted accounts of the battle that have become established over time. For example, it has been generally accepted that the German army had a rather easy time of it in their approach to the city, and an overwhelming superiority of material and men. Glantz quickly disabuses us of this notion and documents the relative strengths of the contending sides in detail. In particular, Glantz documents the tremendous problems the German staff had in shuffling around units to the north and south flanks, particularly the north flank to fend off repeated persistent and extremely desperate Russian attacks orchestrated mainly by Zukov.
Additionally, early Russian accounts of the battle were influenced by political considerations, which lead to over inflation of German strength and loses. Russian historians faced a choice of either complying with the political prejudices or not having their histories published. Now, Russian historians can come forth with confidence that they can present information that is accurate without the fear of retaliation.
Glantz includes a "Conclusions" section at the end of each of the ten chapters to give a general overall assessment of the action in that chapter. This is helpful as the "forest is lost in the trees" to some extents because of the tremendous amount of information included in each chapter. Even so, it is rather difficult to gain the broad strokes of the battle as it progresses.
Because of this I would suggest that the reader keep notes in the margins of this book as a help in keeping the actions organized temporally and with regards to the significances of actions to others. For example, although most all the actions initiated by Zukov on the extended northern flank of the German army were tactical failures, they did partially relieve the pressure on Stalingrad, according to Glantz.
Also, IMO, it would aid the reader to have read or to read a book that is less detailed in content, less ambitious so to speak, and more oriented to presenting a more general explanation of the tactical and strategic elements of the battle of Stalingrad.
I also suggest that to fully understand what is presented in this grand work, the reader may need to re-read this book several times and do some note taking.
Finally, I must say I highly recommend this book to a serious student of the battle of Stalingrad, but certainly not to the casual reader.
Pre-order vol. 3 early. I am.
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, Definitive Work on Stalingrad from September to the Eve of Operation Uranus -- At Least from the Soviet Side, December 10, 2009
This review is from: Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942 (The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 2) (Modern War Studies) (Hardcover)
I had previously stated that the 1st Volume by Glantz and House in their Stalingrad Trilogy covering April through August, 1942, was the best book on the Eastern Front I had read, but this one eclipsed that volume. It is very readable, thorough and scholarly with extensive end notes that should be read along with the text, particularly the summaries of commanders' biographies. Most importantly, this work provides a level of detail not available heretofore in books on Stalingrad from the Soviet side. Please read the excellent review by Mr. Schranck for a summary of the contents, and I will confine my remarks to areas I felt were most important to supplement his review.
The only aspect of this book needing improvement is the maps which are better than Glantz's previous works, but still not as useful as they could be. For example in covering the actions for control of the Barrikady Factory, the two Soviet sketches confused the issue as I could not reconcile them with the other maps and photographs of the factory. By the way, the inclusion of aerial photographs of the factory helped immensely.
This work also includes operations elsewhere on the Eastern Front, associated or not with the Stalingrad battle, evidently for completeness during the two and one-half months covered. Frankly, I felt Chapter 8 which covered those other actions could have been left out of this work with no loss to the main theme. I skipped the chapter in my initial read, then came back later to see if it contained anything I needed to know when analyzing Stalingrad. It didn't. That is not to disparage the chapter and its information, it just wasn't important to the main narrative of the book. In addition, there is nothing about the development of Uranus during the months covered which would have been required if the work was to be truly chronological during this time on the Eastern Front. No doubt that will be covered in the third volume of the trilogy. I also note that Glantz's very fine book "After Stalingrad", included Soviet operations during November and December that were not associated with Stalingrad, so apparently the third volume will concentrate solely on operations affecting the Stalingrad battle.
In all of these works it must be emphasized that the authors look at the battles primarily from the Soviet side using archival material only recently released or opened for access. As such, these volumes all break new ground, 67 years after the events took place, and are important to historians or specialists interested in World War II. The German side has been covered fairly comprehensively in other books, but the authors weave it into the narrative to explain the battle in its entirety.
Even concerning the German side, Chapter 10, Conclusions, offers a somewhat new perspective on the battle. The 62nd and 64th armies were strictly delaying/holding forces to fix the German Sixth Army in place while Uranus, the encircling counterstroke, could be prepared. In the event, this defense of Stalingrad cost the Soviets over 1.2 million casualties during the months covered by this volume, in excess of a ratio of 5:1 versus the Germans. But Stalingrad forced the Germans to abandon their war of maneuver and into urban small unit actions that ground them up. Although the Germans made extensive use of specialists and combat engineers, the maintenance by the Soviets of close combat on a daily basis sapped German strength and morale to the point where Sixth Army could not make the decisive push to win the battle. Time and again German units would achieve their objectives, but with only a handful of men remaining, they could not hold their gains or consolidate their positions. And the Soviets remained within a stone's throw dooming the German units to further losses for the next few yards. The authors tell this story extremely well. All quantitative measures would lead the historian to say that the Germans were winning the battle handily, but the actuality was that the Germans could not afford the losses and absorption of their military strength. Even without Uranus, Stalingrad would have been eventually a defeat for the Germans. From this one wonders what would have happened if the Germans had broken into Leningrad or Moscow and faced equally determined resistance. Probably the same result. The Wehrmacht simply could not afford to be forced off its game (war by maneuver) and into a battle of attrition.
The book is 713 pages long with 108 pages of notes. The specialist reader can also skip the first chapter of 25 pages which quickly sets the scene for this volume by reviewing previous actions and plans. For most readers, however, this chapter is essential to understanding the background to put this work into context.
I recommend this book most highly and without reservations. It is difficult to imagine a battle of 2-1/2 months being covered better than this (with another 2-1/2 months to go in Volume III.) Buy and read this book if you are interested in World War II and the Eastern Front. It is a bargain at twice the price.
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36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The iconic battle of annihilation escalates as Paulus reaches Stalingrad, November 1, 2009
This review is from: Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942 (The Stalingrad Trilogy, Volume 2) (Modern War Studies) (Hardcover)
The Saga continues as Mr Glantz's second volume of his definitive trilogy of the assault on Stalingrad is published. A summmary of the authors' first volume, "To the Gates of Stalingrad" is covered in the First Chapter as 6th and 4th Pz Armies near city limits, isolating the 62nd Army in or near Stalingrad. List is also covered as 17th and the 1st Pz Armies drive south into the Caucasus. The book ends in the first few days of September.
This new volume will take you through November 18th, the day before Operation Uranus launches. Mr Glantz provides detailed daily coverage on a unprecedented level of the battle. Though the author doesn't present a level of first hand experiences like Jason Mark or Michael Jones, his impressive presentation of operational details and analysis will give sufficient evidence to the reader to understand that if there was a hell on earth, it had to be located along the banks of the Volga River in 1942-43.
To make it easier for the reader to follow the extensive action, Mr Glantz has broken the book into chapters by geographic sections and from within each of these sections he delivers a daily chronicle of the events. Also, periodically combat status tables are provided to show the present physical condition of the divisions of both sides. In addition to the status tables, the authors show specific deployment positions of the combat units at specified intervals over the course of battle. This is amazing information for interested parties; you can follow the flow of battle, the movements of units, the physical conditions of the divisions much easier. There are also reinforcement tables showing when Chuikov received new forces crossing the Volga as well as Germans moving into the city. In addition to the battle coverage, brief career profiles of many unit commanders is provided, giving the reader an added insight into the overall battle.
In addition to the battle action, intelligence gathering is also discussed. Gehlen's intelligence apparatus recognized the increased concentration of Soviet forces on the northern flank near Serafimovich for a month before Operation Uranus launched and yet during the whole time he equivocated the situation to Hitler. Hitler was always a hard sell but if Gehlen had been more forceful, more convincing with Hitler, Paulus could have made some deployment changes, been more prepared for a counter-attack.
This volume contains the bulk of the German offensive inside of the city with excellent coverage of the fight for the factory section in the northern part of the city where the fighting was most brutal, where staying alive was the hardest. The assault of the three main factories and their worker villages take up five chapters and more than half of the book. Zhukov's attacks on the northern flank near Kotluban as well as Hube's failed attempt to break Russian resistance in the Rynok / Spartakovka area is also highlighted. The southern half of the city and the prominent ridge called Manaev Kurgan also receives good attention. Action on the Volga is also included. AG A's failed attempt in the Caucasus is also given ample coverage but not complete coverage. Books by Greckho and Tieke which were quoted from provide further coverage in the Caucasus.
This flank action, especially to the north is important for it has a direct bearing on how Paulus prosecutes his battle in Stalingrad. The author is also setting up his battle coverage in his third book when Operation Uranus is launched from around this area. The battle in the Caucasus is covered for it was an intergal part of the original battle plan in the sweep to the Volga River of Operation Blue. The retreat from the Caucasus will also be a important part of Manstein's attempt to save AGS after the launch of the Russian offensive. I'm guessing but this Caucasus fighting will also be covered in the final volume of Stalingrad when AG A retreats to Rostov. This action will also dovetail with the coverage provided in the author's "After Stalingrad". In writing these four books, the author is trying to present the entire picture of the fighting in this sector and timeframe instead of just the battle action in Stalingrad.
By discussing both flanks, Glantz is clearly showing that with such extended front lines and so far from their supplies with no reserves left that Hitler was blind to reality and setting his forces up to potential destruction. Weakening his forces by moving into the Caucasus prematurely without securing the Volga was just poor tactics and staying in Stalingrad past October when it was discovered a build up of Soviet forces along the Don just made the situation worse.
In "Conclusions", the authors discuss and analyze the overall aspects of the key commanders and the desperate actions that had to be taken to achieve their objectives. Paulus had to move troops from the northern flanks to replace the high casualties in the city, weakening that flank. Zhukov sacrificed the 62nd Army to draw the Germans deeper into the city but still tried to help by attacking the northern flank. It was clear that the Germans were new to urban warfare while the Russians were masters at it, establishing kill zones among the rubble that would be almost impossible to escape from. An aspect that's not always discussed but the authors thought it important was the fact, that unlike Russia, Hitler didn't completely mobilized his country until it was much too late. In addition to Stalingrad, the authors discuss the influence that the results of Stalingrad had on the Caucasus Front. The chapter ends with listing the costs to both sides of this struggle which was exacerbated by both dictators underestimating his opponent.
Having a military background, Mr Glantz's thoughts and opinions are concise and informative. Each chapter has its own conclusions as well. I have a suggestion that might sound strange but it might be helpful. The level of information in each chapter is so great, so intimidating, it might be useful, especially for new readers, to study the Conclusion section at the end of each chapter before reading the main chapter. By understanding the conclusion, you will enjoy and understand the chapter better.
Also, before tackling this book you might try reading the Stalingrad books by Stephen Walsh and V.E. Tarrant. These are great summaries and will give new students a good foundation when reading the more challenging book of David Glantz.
This stirring story is larger than the first volume and has 896 total pages, 123 photos, 96 maps and 49 tables. The black on white maps outside of the city limits are of similar styles but a better quality than the first volume and the maps within city limits were very helpful. There aren't any bad maps in this volume but there is still room for better clarity. As you're reading there will sometimes be pointers, directing you to the proper map to study. The maps of the city showng troop dispositions really helped the reader follow the extensive engagements. The aerial photos were particularly interesting, showing the structure of the city and the scale of destruction. Most of the photos are Soviet related. There is also a scholarly 107 page Notes section that is incredible; you could spend years just studying this wealth of info. The Notes add intriguing info of people and events (mostly Russian) as well as interesting comments on the other sources. While there are resources for both sides, the Soviet side dominates. A 12 page Bibliography of primary and secondary material adds to your knowledge base. I was delighted at the wide assortment of reputable authors Glantz used for if further study is desired, you will have plenty of sources to choose from. The comprehensive Index will help you find practically any officer, unit or engagement including street skirmishes. This battery of features is ideally suited for the researcher or serious student.
The level of detail is as impressive, perhaps more so than the first volume. With this level of detail, which frequently drills down to regiment level, it becomes clear how brutal this battle evolved into and it also shows the level of determination, indomitability and courage men must have to continue fighting in this all out war of annihilation. This level of detail was helped by the recently released files of NKVD and 62nd Army. Also like the first book, the authors insert commentary and action report fragments of the combatants with their own narrative to enrich the story.
For any Eastern Front and especially any Stalingrad fan who is interested in the tactical aspect of war, this book like its earlier companion is a must read. I haven't read any other author who comes close to these two books for level of detail. Though the Soviet side dominates, the German perspective is also covered pretty well; more so than in some of the author's other books. If you liked the first volume, you'll definitely like this second book. If you didn't read the first book but are interested in the battle for Stalingrad then this is the volume you'll want for it covers all the action of Paulus and Hoth as they fight for the control of the city, the river and the destruction of Chuikov and his 62nd Army. For some this trilogy will definitely be a core segment of their WWII collection. Despite being dry and exhausting, Mr Glantz has made reading this prodigious tome as easy as humanly possible and its highly recommended for those interested in the operational aspects of this iconic battle.
(I originally displayed a list of key engagements but decided to delete it. If you have an interest in seeing this list, let me know and I'll display it. Thanks.)
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