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by: Anthony Beevor  Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Dewey Decimal Number: 940 EAN: 9780140249859 ISBN: 0140249850 Label: Penguin USA (P) Manufacturer: Penguin USA (P) Number Of Pages: 512 Publication Date: 2000-05 Publisher: Penguin USA (P) Studio: Penguin USA (P) Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: Hitler made two fundamental and crippling mistakes during the Second World War: The first was his whimsical belief that the United Kingdom would eventually become his ally, which delayed his decision to launch a major invasion of Britain, whose army was unprepared for the force of blitzkrieg warfare. The second was the ill-conceived Operation Barbarossa--an invasion of Russia that was supposed to take the German army to the gates of Moscow. Antony Beevor's thoughtfully researched compendium recalls this epic struggle for Stalingrad. No one, least of all the Germans, could foretell the deep well of Soviet resolve that would become the foundation of the Red Army; Russia, the Germans believed, would fall as swiftly as France and Poland. The ill-prepared Nazi forces were trapped in a bloody war of attrition against the Russian behemoth, which held them in the pit of Stalingrad for nearly two years. Beevor points out that the Russians were by no means ready for the war either, making their stand even more remarkable; Soviet intelligence spent as much time spying on its own forces--in fear of desertion, treachery, and incompetence--as they did on the Nazis. Due attention is also given to the points of view of the soldiers and generals of both forces, from the sickening battles to life in the gulags. Many believe Stalingrad to be the turning point of the war. The Nazi war machine proved to be fallible as it spread itself too thin for a cause that was born more from arrogance than practicality. The Germans never recovered, and its weakened defenses were no match for the Allied invasion of 1944. We know little of what took place in Stalingrad or its overall significance, leading Beevor to humbly admit that "[t]he Battle of Stalingrad remains such an ideologically charged and symbolically important subject that the last word will not be heard for many years." This is true. But this gripping account should become the standard work against which all others should measure themselves. --Jeremy Storey Product Description: This is a timely analysis and re-creation of the turning point of World War II. In October 1942, a panzer officer wrote "Stalingrad is no longer a town...Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure". The battle became the focus of Hitler and Stalin's determination to win the gruesome, vicious war on the eastern front. The citizens of Stalingrad endured unimaginable hardship; the battle, with fierce hand to hand fighting in each room of each building, was brutally destructive to both armies. But the eventual victory of the Red Army, and the failure of Hitler's Operation Barbarossa was the first defeat of Hitler's territorial ambitions in Europe, and the start of his decline. An extraordinary story of tactical genius, civilian bravery, obsession, carnage and the nature of war itself, "Stalingrad" will act as a testament to the vital role of the soviet war effort. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Never received itemI have never received this book so I cannot give a review except for the problem with delivery. Evelyn Shows Rating:  - Great In-depth AnalysisA great in-depth analysis of the events and personalities that preceded, occurred during and resulted from the battle. I highly recommend this book. Rating: - Very accessible historyThe battle at Stalingrad must count among the most grueling and spectacular events in military history. Beevor's narrative of the events leading up to and during those crucial months is compelling and provides just enough detail to paint a vivid picture without overwhelming the reader with excessive data. The grim images of this long winter struggle linger with the reader long after you have finished the book. I highly recommend Beevor's history to anyone interested in the epic struggle ... Read More Rating: - First Rate AnalysisIf the reader of history wants to get a true idea of the scope of the disaster of Stalingrad, he must read this book. Excellent research on both the planning and issues at the General Staff level and the experiences of the soldiers in the trenches. Highly recommended. Rating:  - How totalitarian dictatorships mishandle leadershipMatter-of-fact telling of a fantastic story--the double disaster of Stalingrad in during World War II, where the German army crushed the Russians (army and civilians alike) and drove them back into the destroyed city, then were themselves surrounded, besieged, and crushed by an encircling Russian force that cut them off from Germany and its supply lines. Not always pleasant reading, but instructive in the way in which totalitarian dictatorships mishandle leadership. 
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