What is the best book to read about the battle of stalingrad. Antony beevor is the renowned author of stalingrad, which won the samuel johnson prize, the wolfson prize for history and the hawthornden prize for literature, and berlin, which received the first longmanhistory today trustees award. Schroter was among the german war correspondents staff at stalingrad. Antony beevor has produced the first history of stalingrad which gives us the soviet viewpoint.
Richard overy, author of why the allies won cool and heartrending, balanced and. In august 1942, hitlers huge sixth army reached the city that bore stalins. History book stalingrad, by anthony beevor ive been putting off this response to 1999s stalingrad the fateful siege. Antony beevor leads up to the events at stalingrad with some background to the siege and its aftermath. Orlando figes, the independent stalingrad by antony beevor is the greatest battle book ever written. Abberley hall school in worcestershire, followed by winchester college in hampshire. No one, least of all the germans, could foretell the deep well of soviet resolve that would become the foundation of the red army. In the fivemonth siege that followed, the russians fought to hold stalingrad at any cost.
He presents a fairly broad view of the conflict, whilst regularly relying on short anecdotes to give things a personal feel. Historian says prohibition of his book, over passage detailing wartime murder of jewish children by ukrainian militia, is utterly outrageous. Stalingrad part 3 of 3 audiobook full by atony bevoor. Antony beevors thoughtfully researched compendium recalls this epic struggle for stalingrad. In august 1942, hitlers huge sixth army reached the city that bore stalins name. Stalingrad part 1 of 3 audiobook full by atony bevoor. Antony beevor has itnerviewed survivors and discovered completely new material in a wide range of german and soviet archives, including prisoner interrogations and reports of desertions and executions. Antony beevor the second world war part 01 audiobook. From antony beevor, the internationally bestselling author of dday and the battle of arnhem. This superb work of narrative history all of human despair, and also of heroism is there chilled the. To analyze and assess a work on the level of anthony beevor s accomplishment is a pretty daunting task. He has published several popular histories on the second world war and the 20th century in general.
The battle of stalingrad was not only the psychological turning point of world war ii. I initially read this book some 15 years ago and a whole lot went way over my head. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He writes in a clear and logical way that reveals the full horror and tragedy of stalingrad.
The book was pitched just right for me, with enough detail provided but remaining readable without too much effort. One of the book s arresting characters is lt pieter bach, an intellectual with a fiancee in berlin. Stalingrad conveys the experience of soldiers on both sides, fighting in inhuman conditions, and of civilians trapped on an urban battlefield. I used antony beevor s book as the main source of information for my post about stalingrad, and also read his dday. Now, in his newest and most ambitious book, he turns his focus to one of the bloodiest and most tragic events of the twentieth century, the second world war. Leading british historian antony beevor has described a ukrainian ban on his award. Stalingrad author anthony beevor speaks out over ukraine. Beevor s stalingrad is a powerful history of one of the biggest battles in history. Born in kensington, beevor was educated at two independent schools. Stalingrad is a narrative history written by antony beevor of the battle fought in and around the city of stalingrad during world war ii, as well as the events leading up to it. It is a compelling and extraordinary story, richly detailed, and engrossingly written. Stalingrad author anthony beevor speaks out over ukraine book ban. Stalingrad was the first of beevors epic world war 2 history books, meticulously researched with an immense amount of detail, technical and personal, without being overwhelming you get to understand certain things such as the advantages of the t34 over the panzer iv in simple terms t34 was easier to produce, had broader tracks, etc rather than giving hyper specifics like precise barrel calibers and.
The battle for normandy, londres, penguin books, 2009, isbn 9780670021192. Beevor combines a soldiers understanding of wars realities with the narrative technique of a novelist. The fateful siege, 19421943 that the soviet regime was almost as unforgiving towards its own soldiers as towards the enemy is demonstrated by the total figure of,500 executions, both summary and judicial, during the battle of stalingrad. His multiaward winning books have included stalingrad and the fall of berlin 1945. No one doubts that the stalin regime did some terrible things, or that the german soldiers suffered, but to tell the story of the battle of stalingrad primarily in those terms is to fail to tell the. In summary, beevor s book lacks balance, does little in the way of introducing new evidence or insight into the battle, and is poorly documented.
Stalingrad part 2 of 3 audiobook full by atony bevoor duration. Sir antony james beevor, frsl born 14 december 1946 is an english military historian. Antony beevor s stalingrad is a superb retelling of the saga. Stalingrad was the first of beevors epic world war 2 history books, meticulously researched with an immense amount of detail, technical and personal, without being overwhelming you get to understand certain things such as the advantages of the t34 over the panzer iv in simple terms t34 was easier to produce, had broader tracks, etc rather than giving hyper specifics like precise barrel calibers and engine efficiencies or the like. Buy stalingrad 5th or later edition by beevor, antony isbn. His work strives to understand the human element and suffering on both sides of the battle and simultaneously effectively lays out the strategic and tactical elements of. Lately ive been on a binge of antony beevor books, starting with his broad.
July 1, 1998 from independent historian beevor coauthor, paris after the liberation, 1994, etc. The soviet role in world war ii antony beevor youtube. Russia, the germans believed, would fall as swiftly as france and poland. The fateful siege this year marks the centenary of the russian revolution. Stalingrad is a narrative history written by antony beevor of the battle fought in and around the city of stalingrad during world war ii, as well as the events. Over the past two decades, antony beevor has established himself as one of the worlds premier historians of wwii. This first cca of the 20172018 academic year will explore that revolutions leaders.