Stalingrad - Beevor

Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 by Anthony Beevor - 4/5

Beevor's Stalingrad is a powerful history of one of the biggest battles in history. He writes in a clear and logical way that reveals the full horror and tragedy of Stalingrad. 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 the commanders and the sheer insanity of Stalin and Hitler. His empathetic look at the conditions of the German soldiers and POWs in the final chapters of the book is a powerful reminder that war is not about valour and bravery but about death and suffering. And death and suffering is not only reserved for the losers, but also the victors as Beevor also explores the suffering of the Russians and their tremendous sacrifice.

Beevor begins his narrative at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa and the German progress to the gates of Moscow in the winter of 1941. He then follows the German retreat from Moscow and explores the rationale and the initial strategic goals of Operation Blue, the German plan to take over the oil fields in the Caucasus. He is quick to point out that the initial strategic goal of Operation Blue was not to hold Stalingrad but to destroy the manufacturing in the city and then aim for the oil fields. Beevor follows the rapid progression of the German Sixth Army across the Russian Steppe, over the River Don, to the gates of Stalingrad. He then documents in detail the defence of the city and the Russian struggle to prevent the Germans from crossing the Volga. Beevor then follows the Russian plan to liberate the city with Operation Uranus and Operation Little Saturn.

The power of Beevor's history is not the tactical and strategic understanding of the Battle of Stalingrad, but rather the human element involved. Beevor does not spare us from the details of the suffering and bravery on either side of the conflict, and the sheer cruelty and recklessness of the officers and the leaders involved. One of the most poignant anecdotes is the story of how a group of young Russian soldiers were sent out against a Panzer division without a single weapon between them. Of course their officer was drunk. The sheer reckless waste of life on the part of the Russians is shocking. And the willingness of Hitler and Stalin is a strong reminder of the folly of dictatorships and the abuse of power. Beevor is right to blame a lot of the wasted life on the shoulders of the leaders.

Beevor does try to help the reader understand the perspective of the soldiers on the ground and their undying faith in their leaders (although not all of them had the same belief as many betrayed their country and were executed). Even when all hope was lost, the German soldiers still believed in Hitler's promise that they would be saved and that a rescue was imminent. Even when Hitler was planning to sacrifice them as their was no realistic hope of victory.

Beevor also has strong opinions about the unimaginative and non-proactive approach the German Commander Paulus. He argues powerfully that Paulus was a good staff officer but not a battle group commander and squarely lays the blame on his shoulders for not preparing better when the Germans were being surrounded by the Russians. Beevor argues that Paulus should have prepared a Panzer division to enable them to breakout from the encirclement and should have been willing to disobey Hitler and breakout before it was too late. Beevor argues that Paulus would follow commands but never take the initiative to lead. It should be said however that Beevor redeems Paulus at the end when he argues that Paulus agreed to sign Soviet propaganda to encourage German soldiers to surrender so as to prevent the wasteful loss of life in a lost cause at the end of the War.

Still Beevor's most compelling writing is describing the hospital conditions and the suffering of the German's and Russians after the surrender of Stalingrad. His haunting descriptions of the hospitals, the hunger, the louse ridden bodies, the typhus, the dysentery and death by starvation among other things are powerful descriptions of what these men had to face. Of course the officers in the German command were given luxury quarters, but the grunts on the ground were sent off on cruel death marches into ill equipped, badly run prison camps. Yet Beevor does acknowledge that some Russians did help the Germans when they could.

Although Beevor looks at the long term implications of Stalingrad, I feel he rushed it at the end and that the far reaching implications of this battle could have been explored in greater depth, their effect on the German military, its implications for the fall of the Third Reich and the separation of Europe. I felt he kind of rushed the ending and that he could've added a little more. Despite this, it is a stunning book.

Stalingrad is a top-class laymen's history of an epic and important battle in World War 2. It turned the tide and the fortunes of the Allies and started the mighty push back of the Third Reich. It is worth the read, especially if you are interested in the Eastern Front and are looking for a beginner book on the topic. I do highly recommend Beevor's history and hope that no one ever has to go through such a horror ever again, but I do believe that is an idealistic and naïve hope.