To the Gates of Stalingrad(David M. Glantz)
Posted: 2011-03-09 10:46am
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Stalingrad- ... 0700616306
Anyone read this book?
I found it fascinating, in particular, his claim that even prior to reaching Stalingrad, the German armies was already over-extended. He demolished arguments that the German was advancing over open terrain against retreating Soviet armies, showing Stalin orders where the Red Armies stood to and fought. Similarly, the Germans destroyed a total of six armies prior to reaching Stalingrad, showing the scale and success of the german advance. However, the Soviets brought up more armies from their reserves and essentially fought Stalingrad with the same number of fighting units as before.
Its also amazing the scale of German/Russian combat. My exposure to the topic had focussed entirely on the German drive up to the Cacaussus as well as the battle within the city itself, yet, the author demonstrates that even as the Germans reached Stalingrad, there were still constant flank battles and counter-attacks by the Soviets. More telling, the bridgeheads that would spell disaster for the German allied divisions had already been captured as the siege of Stalingrad occurred. He described a failed counter-attack by 3 tank armies at Voronezh in july and how initial attempts by the Germans to consolidate against this and other threats was overruled by Halder and Hitler.
He also did an excellent expose on German/Russian operations along Moscow, as "diversionary" operations tied up Soviet forces and the like.
I would love to get my hands on the 2nd book where he details how the battle of Stalingrad was fought, and apparently, the Germans even outnumbered the Soviets at time as opposed to an urban brawl.
Anyone read this book?
I found it fascinating, in particular, his claim that even prior to reaching Stalingrad, the German armies was already over-extended. He demolished arguments that the German was advancing over open terrain against retreating Soviet armies, showing Stalin orders where the Red Armies stood to and fought. Similarly, the Germans destroyed a total of six armies prior to reaching Stalingrad, showing the scale and success of the german advance. However, the Soviets brought up more armies from their reserves and essentially fought Stalingrad with the same number of fighting units as before.
Its also amazing the scale of German/Russian combat. My exposure to the topic had focussed entirely on the German drive up to the Cacaussus as well as the battle within the city itself, yet, the author demonstrates that even as the Germans reached Stalingrad, there were still constant flank battles and counter-attacks by the Soviets. More telling, the bridgeheads that would spell disaster for the German allied divisions had already been captured as the siege of Stalingrad occurred. He described a failed counter-attack by 3 tank armies at Voronezh in july and how initial attempts by the Germans to consolidate against this and other threats was overruled by Halder and Hitler.
He also did an excellent expose on German/Russian operations along Moscow, as "diversionary" operations tied up Soviet forces and the like.
I would love to get my hands on the 2nd book where he details how the battle of Stalingrad was fought, and apparently, the Germans even outnumbered the Soviets at time as opposed to an urban brawl.