An Infantryman In Stalingrad: From 24 September 1942 To 2 February 1943

by Adelbert Holl, Jason D. Mark (Translator), Neil Page (Translator)

The author, Adelbert Holl, was a 23-year-old infantry Leutnant when he rejoined his unit in Stalingrad after recovering from wounds he suffered in April 1942. This book records his own experiences as a junior infantry commander during Stalingrad. The infantry bore the most laborious and difficult role during the battle. They were not propelled forward by engines, were not protected by armour-plating. They stood eye to eye with the enemy. That is why this report is so impressive, so enthralling, so stirring. It is sobre, factual, without pathos ­ as written by a front-line soldier. Holl was awarded many medals, including the Wound Badge in Gold, which demonstrates that he had never spared himself from the dangers of combat. This book does not glorify the it shows the terrible true face of it. 25 photos, 24 maps, 19 aerial photos, 40 supporting documents

Genres: World War II, Russia

250 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2005

Reviews

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stalingrad. A name that inspires horror into any person's breast; a name that means death, destruction, desolation, despair, heroism, and the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

Adelbert Holl was one small part of the German Sixth Army, the force tasked by Hitler to take Stalingrad as part of the Nazi push into the Caucases. What the bare bones version of the Russian front story doesn't emphasise are the large losses borne by the Germans in their push into the Soviet Union. While they inflicted truly horrendous casualties on the Red Army, the Germans too lost many many men in their push eastwards. So, when Hitler determined to make a push for the oilfields around Grozny, he didn't really have enough troops to both do that and take Stalingrad in force. As the advance moved forward, the Stalingrad spearhead was gradually stripped of men and armour, which all turned south to assist in the invasion of the Caucases. This was the first in a chain of events that led to the eventual encirclement and destruction of the Sixth Army by the Russians.

Holl's story has little to do however with grand strategy. The book as we have it here is a diary of little over three months fighting in the city, at first when the Germans were attempting to take the city and then experiences of survival as part of the "Kessel". Holl arrives back at his unit in September after recovering from a wound (his third), to be put in charge of a company attempting to reach the banks of the Volga. The fighting is hard, but successful, with his squad achieving their objectives day by day, but losing many men in the process. The description of the house-to-house fighting is vivid, and Holl's concern for his men apparent. The story becomes more harrowing for his company as the Army is surrounded, and he and his men begin to suffer from the lack of food, ammunition and clothing as the winter sets in. Holl's story is the story of the Sixth Army as a snapshot - the diminishing number of troops available leads to wounded men staying in the front line, the lack of ammunition requires his men to pilfer Russian equipment from the dead, and the lack of food means loyal animals are all slaughtered to keep the men from starving. Holl's retreat to his final position leads to two of his men freezing to death as they walk (at this stage, owing to their lack of condition and to the weather, they can barely make a few kilometres in a day's march). The final pages of the book describe how Holl decides to stay with his wounded comrades rather than retreat further, and the final sentence sees him in his bunker awaiting the arrival of the Russian troops.

The fate of many of the Germans that were captured was not good, many dying in captivity, either from disease or overwork. This edition has an excellent apparatus, including footnotes describing the careers and lives of many of the people Holl mentions; so many of whom died in the battle, or a short time after in captivity. The apparatus also includes many photographs of the areas that Holl fought over, excellent photographic maps showing his positions, and many of the Army's situation reports and orders that refers to areas where Holl was active. There is also an appendix that describes Holl's career from official documents.

It seems that Holl was captured and survived to return to Germany after the war, where he wrote this book in the 1970s as well as another which covered his period in captivity - which has not been translated into English. As an insight into the horrors suffered by both Germans and Russians in Stalin's City, this book is worth reading. One for aficionados.

Check out my other reviews at http://aviewoverthebell.blogspot.com.au/

[İzzet Erten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and unique content. I'm staggered by the events told, by the plain testimony of the officer. Valuable edition, publication. Text is supported by photos, maps, etc.

Only negative thing: childish translation. Why translator leave words like "achtung" or "gut nacht"? That leads to a Hollywood-style anglo-centric story-telling. Disgusting... I wish they were more respectful to the author... Still 5 stars, valuable book...

[Steve Shallenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent individual account of a infantry officer and his experience in the fighting around Stalingrad.

[Mickey Mantle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A no nonsense description of actual combat and human misery.

[John Brosnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good insight from a soldier who was there! Stalingrad! Not a strategical military insight but a personal insight of the hell fought by both sides!