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On to Stalingrad: Operation Winter Thunderstorm and the attempt to relieve Sixth Army, December 1942
The first English translation of a German account of the attempt to relieve Sixth Army in front of Stalingrad.
In late November 1942, Soviet forces surrounded General Friedrich Paulus’ Sixth Army in a pocket at the Russian city of Stalingrad. In response the Germans planned a relief operation, Operation Winter Thunderstorm , intended to break through the Soviet forces and open the pocket, releasing the encircled units. The 6th Panzer Division was the spearhead of the German relief force. The attack started on 12 December 1942 and was aborted on 23 December after heavy Soviet counterattacks. This failure sealed the fate of the German Sixth Army in Stalingrad. This account of the operation was first published in German in 1956, written by the well-respected military historian and retired German officer, Horst Scheibert who was a tank commander in 6th Panzer Division during the attempt. Utilizing many excerpts from war diaries, and telegrams sent during operations, it is a unique account of the entire operation from the situation in mid-November through the two German offensives, the Soviet counteroffensive and ongoing fighting until early January. This book includes 16 maps from the original edition and is the first English translation of this important German account.
In late November 1942, Soviet forces surrounded General Friedrich Paulus’ Sixth Army in a pocket at the Russian city of Stalingrad. In response the Germans planned a relief operation, Operation Winter Thunderstorm , intended to break through the Soviet forces and open the pocket, releasing the encircled units. The 6th Panzer Division was the spearhead of the German relief force. The attack started on 12 December 1942 and was aborted on 23 December after heavy Soviet counterattacks. This failure sealed the fate of the German Sixth Army in Stalingrad. This account of the operation was first published in German in 1956, written by the well-respected military historian and retired German officer, Horst Scheibert who was a tank commander in 6th Panzer Division during the attempt. Utilizing many excerpts from war diaries, and telegrams sent during operations, it is a unique account of the entire operation from the situation in mid-November through the two German offensives, the Soviet counteroffensive and ongoing fighting until early January. This book includes 16 maps from the original edition and is the first English translation of this important German account.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published January 14, 2022
13 people want to read
About the author
Horst Scheibert
104 books1 followerHorst Scheibert served in a German armoured formation in the Wehrmacht in the Second World War.
In the postwar period, he served with the Bundeswehr reaching the rank of brigadier.
He wrote many German language books on Second World War armour. Many of his books were subsequently translated into English and published by an American publisher, Schiffer Publishing.
In the postwar period, he served with the Bundeswehr reaching the rank of brigadier.
He wrote many German language books on Second World War armour. Many of his books were subsequently translated into English and published by an American publisher, Schiffer Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 17, 2025
A detailed and very technical look at the attempt by Germany to relieve the trapped 6th Army at Stalingrad in December 1942. Contains translated orders, radio messages, and the author’s (a tank commander) explanations of the operations. Also includes sixteen detailed maps covering each phase of the attempt. The author believes the plan, called Operation Thunderstorm, ultimately failed because General Paulus’ refused to disobey Hitler and order his trapped army to fight its way backwards to meet the relievers. But this is not a strategic book; rather it is useful to understand the challenges faced by an already under-strength and out-gunned army in a mission with almost no chance of success from the beginning.
March 30, 2024
Very good book. I made the mistake of listening to it on audio book. You need a real book so that you can follow the many map references.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews