The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Epic Siege at the Heart of WWII's Greatest Battle

by Iain MacGregor

To the Soviet Union, the sacrifices that enabled the country to defeat Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-45 are quite rightly sacrosanct. The battle for the city of Stalingrad between September 1942 to the beginning of February 1943 is a pivotal landmark of this sacrifice. It was the most decisive of the Second World War with over two million combatants killed, wounded or captured. It was also the bloodiest in history. July 2022 will mark the eightieth anniversary of the start of the campaign in Southern Russia ('Case Blue') that Adolf Hitler predicted would knock the Soviets out of the war. The culmination of this campaign would end in the showpiece city's ruins that stretched along the mighty Volga river as German and Soviet armies battled for its occupancy in brutal house-to-house fighting which lasted five months.

Within this deadly struggle Soviet war correspondents such as Vasily Grossman lauded the fight for a key strategic building in the heart of the city, 'Pavlov's House', situated right on the frontline, codenamed: 'The Lighthouse'. Standing a few hundred metres from the river the legend grew of a small garrison of Russia guardsmen holding out against overwhelming odds right up until the battle had been won.

In this riveting narrative, unearthing new German and Russian testimonies from those who fought there, The Lighthouse of Stalingrad sheds new light on this iconic conflict that established Soviet dominance in the East and thus guaranteed the Third Reich's defeat in the ruins of Berlin two years later.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Russia, War, Military Fiction, Military History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2022

About the author

Iain MacGregor has been an editor and publisher of nonfiction for over twenty-five years. As a history student he visited the Baltic and the Soviet Union in the early 1980s and has been captivated by Soviet history ever since. He has published books on every aspect of the Second World War on the Eastern Front 1941-45 and has visited archives in Leningrad, Moscow and Volgograd. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and his writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Spectator and BBC History Magazine. He lives with his wife and two children in London.

Reviews

[Helga · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This is a detailed account of the September 1942 battle of Stalingrad between the German and Russian troops. This epic and momentous battle for the siege of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest and deadliest battles in the Second World War that lead to Nazis’ defeat and millions of lives lost.
The book is well-written and well-researched but a bit dry and text-book-like for my taste.

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lighthouse of Stalingrad by Iain MacGregor is a tale of two books. Well, actually, one book and one major marketing error.

First, the good. MacGregor does a great job recapping the Battle of Stalingrad. MacGregor uses a hybrid style where he goes into great depths to talk about strategic aspects of the battle but will also drop down to the street level to give a view of the tactical warfare going on. If you have not read a book on Stalingrad, this is an excellently told one which moves at a steady pace without getting bogged down in details.

The bad, however, is a huge misstep. The title, "The Lighthouse of Stalingrad" is a reference to Pavlov's House in Stalingrad. Without diving into too much detail, Pavlov's House is a symbol of Russian resistance in World War II and is a cultural icon. Besides the title, the book description makes it seem like Pavlov's House will play a huge role in the narrative. It does not. It takes up shockingly little. I have read about Stalingrad before, specifically, Antony Beevor's Stalingrad which is the gold standard according to many including MacGregor in the introduction. I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be a more tactically focused book which dove into the myth of Pavlov's House.

I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. I feel guilty doing so as Iain MacGregor is an excellent writer and much of the book is excellent. However, the marketing seems to make a promise that it does not deliver on and that needs to be taken into account.

(This book was provided to me by Netgalley and Scribner Books.)

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 13 hour unabridged audiobook.

I was looking forward to this book and I'm afraid I set my expectations too high. It was a decent amount of small unit combat interspersed by an overall view of the larger situation, but I had hoped for more. I feel unfulfilled.

[Martin, I stand with ISRAEL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed book about the turning point of WWII. the Russian troops were much more motivated fighting he Nazis, than against the Ukrainians.

[Rohan Dharamshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed account of the war for the city of Stalingrad validated with accounts from major and minor players on both sides. The book reads at a steady pace. While similar to Anthony Beevor's Stalingrad, it differs in that the book does not provide a complete picture of the armoured and airforce roles and outcomes. While the book's title focuses on Pavlov's house, there is little material about it but does shed light on the story.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Scribner for an advance copy of this history of Stalingrad and its legacy.

Many people might have been introduced to Stalingrad and the battle that took place there from a variety of places. My history classes in school were not one of them. Some might have seen the movie, Enemy at the Gates, or read the fiction novel War of the Rats about snipers fighting in the city. Others might know it better as one of the levels in the Soviet campaign from the bestselling game Call of Duty, levels that captured quite a bit about the winter war, even as a first person shooter. The war here was one not just of attrition, but barbarity men women and children reduced to eating rats, or even cannibalism. Soldiers fighting not only for blocks, but building, even feet and inches in a struggle that neither could give up on. The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of World War II by historian and writer Iain MacGregor, is a look at both the battle for the city, and one particular fight that took place among the violence, and the influence it might have had for the Soviet war effort.

The book begins with a funeral for Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, the General who helped liberate the "Hero City" who passed away in 1982. Thousands of people, including many of his troops who had fought with him at Stalingrad attended, giving the book a sense of what the city meant to the Soviet people, even forty years later. From there the book covers the events and actions leading up to Stalingrad, the mistakes made by both defenders and invaders, and the slog the war was becoming. The need for victory is made apparant as both the Germans and the Soviets had not only strategic and propaganda reasons for victory, their own egos demanded a win. The book than focuses on the battle of Pavlov's house, a battle that is considered a turning point for the Soviets, but is still a controversial historical subject even today.

The book is very well written, drawing on many journals, letters and notes from troops on the ground, more than on the leaders who were deciding the war. The book has a good style, not a lot of jumping around, with a clear narrative and not a lot of asides. MacGregor has a way of communicating ideas and sharing events with the reader without getting bogged down on points or slowing the book down. This is a grim book, with lots of barbarity on both sides, and plenty of moments where reality might seem just a little too real.

A very good holiday gift for readers both fiction and nonfiction on World War II. The book has avery good overview of the battle in general, with a good style that keeps the reader intrigued to the end.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book narrates the early history of the battle of Stalingrad which was one of the bloodiest battles during World War II. The book is well written and researched presenting the positive and negative decisions that took place on both sides. One of the things I found most interesting was the author’s inclusion of quotes from individuals at all levels involved in the battle from both the Nazi and Soviet perspectives. This is a must read for those interested in specific battles that took place during World War II.

I received a free ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book and it is pretty good. I have heard about the battle of Stalingrad and it being a turning point in the war for the worse for Germany and now understand why.

This is the first book I have read about Stalingrad and I do plan to read more.

I recommend this book especially if you like WWII history.

[Minos Trigonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is for 5 but i give 4 only because the title of the book was misleading.
An epic reference to the battle of stalingrad, however only 20 pages were dedicated to the lighthouse itself.
But an amazing book nonetheless!!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and illustrated which takes the reader through the campaign. It gives many insights into the present day political situation, particularly Russia’s sense of insecurity. As a person with an interest in military history I rate this one of the best

[John Crippen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noted, I'm not an expert on military histories, but this struck me as a good, readable, up-to-date explanation of the Battle of Stalingrad. It seemed to cover most of what Beevor covered in his classic Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942–1943, plus MacGregor added new information about Pavlov's House, AKA The Lighthouse. I wish I had read this short history before tackling Grossman's Stalingrad dilogy. Again, live and learn.

[Philip Healey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Worth reading if you have an interest in the topic.

Not as good as Stalingrad or Enemy at the Gates.

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Very detailed account of the battle for Stalingrad. But, because of the detail, it was hard to stay interested. I had trouble keeping the groups and soldiers straight. As another reviewer mentioned, the title object, Pavlov’s House, was rarely part of the story.

[Arthur Morrill III · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of World War II," by Iain MacGregor (ISBN: 781982163587), publishing date 29 November 2022, earns a strong four stars.

This is an extremely well-researched and superbly written book that provides the reader with many heretofore not widely known details concerning the seminal battle for Stalingrad. Necessarily, it is not a quick read but instead is one that must be read carefully and thoughtfully, while frequently pausing for reflection

Yes, it does contain information generally known, but it also looks at the way the then Soviet Union and the Russian Federation since publicized the events (e.g., Pavlov's House), machinations, and personalities of that battle in ways that have more to do with raising the morale, confidence, and fighting spirit of the Russian population and fighting forces--then and now--than it did revealing many of the facts of the event.

Make no mistake, this epic battle was as significant, if not more, than any other battle in the Second World War and since, and its legacy is just as great--even today. This book reveals new information that highlights just how great the Soviet sacrifice was, and, ironically, reminds the reader of how despots from all quarters can injure if not destroy any nation. It is a worthy read.

Thanks to the publisher, Kindle (EPUB), for granting this reviewer this opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

[Elliot · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other readers have noted, this book is a disappointment and the title is misleading. The book is an amalgam of some new insights, gleaned from original research, into a very minor element of the overall battle, plus a difficult-to-follow overview of the entire battle. The book is very poorly edited (if edited at all) with misspellings, grammatical mistakes, endless run-on sentences of vaguely Germanic ilk, and abysmal syntax. I honestly wondered whether the book had been translated from original Russian or something, but no, the author appears to be of Scottish origin.

It reads like a sophomore term paper, where vast tracts of information are recycled from other works, combined with a few, original portions focused on the "Lighthouse", which turns out to be a house defended by a Sgt Pavlov, whose exploits can only be found in his personal diaries and a few reminiscences of other soldiers.

[Roger Abadias Arencibia · Rating 3 out of 5]

El tótulo es engañoso, puesto que el libro no trata de eso. Podríamos decir que es una historia de la batalla de stalingrado, que en vez de centrarse en los aspectos técnicos de la batalla, incorpora muchos testimonios de amos bandos.
Por lo que respecta a el faro, la casa de Pávolv, es una historia de las que se cuentan en el lubro, para nada se trata de lo principal.

[Alberto Orós · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increíble.

[Cropredy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got rave reviews from the WW II history podcast crews so I decided to read it.

The "hook" for the book was about a specific building deep in Stalingrad made especially famous by Russian propaganda for its stout defense by a handful of soldiers against the onslaught of the Nazis. One particular soldier, Sergeant Yackov Pavlov became nationally famous for his leadership and courage. The building was nicknamed "the Lighthouse".

Now the book does address this struggle and does enlighten the reader on how Soviet propaganda works but the real meat of the book is in fact the German attack on Stalingrad and the stubborn defense by the Soviet 62nd Army. As such, "The Lighthouse" is just a metaphor for the brutal struggle over every building in Stalingrad, many of which are covered in detail.

The author had the singular advantage of access to Soviet archives before they were closed to westerners and hence was able to read first hand accounts from survivors. The author also uncovered an unpublished manuscript from the German 71st Division regimental commander (Lt.. Col Roske) who had fought its way almost to the Volga banks and whose forces battled over the buildings featured in the narrative. Roske was captured as part of the final surrender and miraculously survived 13 years in the gulags to write his memoirs. Riske was physically proximate to General Paulus in the last few weeks so the reader gets an unvarnished look at the high command.

Because MacGregor had both first hand German and Soviet accounts made the writing especially vivid.

Now, is this the definitive book on Stalingrad? No, it is not. It was a bit too breezy for my taste when covering grand strategic matters, the initial German summer offensive, and the Soviet Operation Uranus that encircled the 6th Army in November 1942. The book's strength is in the house-to-house fighting in a particular section of the city. Years back I read Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942–1943 and was impressed (I think it made Beevor's reputation).

Good maps of the street fighting; some photos.

Recommended for Stalingrad buffs and not a bad introduction to the battle if you've read nothing else

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the historian’s history as opposed the accounts by Vasily Grossman, done in the form of the novel Life and Fate, or his subsequent account, Stalingrad.
The Lighthouse at Stalingrad by Iain MacGregor
The maps and the detail help one get as good a picture as is feasible, 80 years later, of this battle that turned the tide of the Great Patriotic War, and quite possibly WWII as well.
MacGregor delights in capturing some of the lies told by the propagandists on both sides, particularly though those in Berlin, who brag about the soon to come Berlin-Tsaritsyn express after Goebbels learns that at least for now the central Stalingrad (Tsaritsyn before, Volgograd now) train station is in German hands.
However, the Russians also were not loathe to embellish what they were doing to the Germans. The reality of the awfulness of the German siege as well as the awfulness of their intentions makes it hard to feel too bad for the fate of the many many thousands of them who froze to death in the city after they were trapped in the Kessel, or who spent up to 10 years in the Gulag until they finally got back to Germany in the ‘50’s.
The foolhardiness of Hitler thinking he was a military strategist stood behind at least in part, the inability of his generals to build on their initial momentum that took them almost to the East banks of the Volga River.

The account told by MacGregor and by Grossman concerning how the reinforcements that the Russians were able to bring in to ensure the ultimate battle outcome are not so dissonant, despite their very different format. They both, also describe the cacophony of the daily battling, artillery rounds, bombs and shooting that made a wasteland of the city before the surrender of the remnants of Paulus’ 6th Army.
The initial air superiority of the Germans did not persist by the time of the counterattack and encirclement. The tales demonstrate the stupidity of the assumptions that the Nazis made, that they could continue to get away with their plans. In hindsight it is clearer today that the size of Russia, as well as the determination of the Russians to resist the Master race’s plans would eventually lead to a similar leveling of Berlin, rather than to a Berlin to Tsaritsyn express

[Arthur Morrill III · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of the Greatest Battle of World War II," by Iain MacGregor (ISBN: 781982163587), publishing date 29 November 2022, earns a strong four stars.

This is an extremely well-researched and superbly written book that provides the reader with many heretofore not widely known details concerning the seminal battle for Stalingrad. Necessarily, it is not a quick read but instead is one that must be read carefully and thoughtfully, while frequently pausing for reflection

Yes, it does contain information generally known, but it also looks at the way the then Soviet Union and the Russian Federation since publicized the events (e.g., Pavlov's House), machinations, and personalities of that battle in ways that have more to do with raising the morale, confidence, and fighting spirit of the Russian population and fighting forces--then and now--than it did revealing many of the facts of the event.

Make no mistake, this epic battle was as significant, if not more, than any other battle in the Second World War and since, and its legacy is just as great--even today. This book reveals new information that highlights just how great the Soviet sacrifice was, and, ironically, reminds the reader of how despots from all quarters can injure if not destroy any nation. It is a worthy read.

Thanks to the publisher, Kindle (EPUB), for granting this reviewer this opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before reading The lighthouse of Stalingrad I knew nothing of the battle of Stalingrad.

One thing that surprised me is that Russia lost some many soldiers during world war II. Towards the beginning of the book the author says the numbers lost by the United states, Britain, and Russia. American and Britain lost over 400 thousand while Russian lost 27 million. I think he was talking only about Soldiers.

The Lighthouse of Stalingrad goes into a lot of detail about the fighting between Russian and Germany over Stalingrad. There are also some maps of the battles at the beginning of some of the chapters. It also has a small section of photos.

I learned about German and Russian Generals who I had not heard of before and the battles and the conditions that the German soldiers lived in before their surrender. It wasn't bad. I don't know what else I want to say about the book.

While reading the lighthouse of Stalingrad I thought of The talking of Berlin: The bloody defeat of the third Reich. If I had to choose between reading that book or this book I would read The bloody defeat of the third Reich. I know the books cover different battles but, I liked that book better.

And that reminds me I half also read blitzed which talks about drugs the Nazi's took and how Hitlers health was not that great later in the war. Which the light house of Stalingrad never mentions. Though I don't remember if his health was that bad by the time of Surrendering at Stalingrad. I also liked Blitzed better than the lighthouse of Stalingrad.

[Randall Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book is very deceptive. Quite a bit of the book is a general description of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany starting on June 22, 1941. Another good chunk of the book is an overall description of the battle for Stalingrad, which lasted from September 1942 to January 1943, when the major part of the (remaining) German forces surrendered. Despite the title, very little of the book is actually about "The Lighthouse" which was the code name for Pavlov's House in the center of Stalingrad, and which was a focal point for a lot of bloody and close-in fighting. So, I started this book expecting one thing - a story about the battle-within-the-battle surrounding this house - but got something completely different - a more general description of the overall battle for Stalingrad. I also felt like the last 50 pages of the book - the collapse of the Germans - was rushed and a lot of details were passed-over, and there was very little discussion about what happened to the Germans after they surrendered, and how few ever made it back to Germany. So, I finished this book feeling pretty disappointed and dissatisfied, as I was expecting more based on McGregor's reputation and his 30-years as an editor of other well-known historians. Well, perhaps I've learned a lesson here - don't rush to read a new historical book without thoroughly checking the reviews. I think there are better books out there about Stalingrad - Antony Beevor's being one of several - so I can't say I recommend this book.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book on the greatest battle of World War Two, the Battle of Stalingrad which gave Germany it's first major defeat and altered the course of the war. It's mostly a book of tactical battles, not strategic, describing in great detail the brutal, victious, house-to-house and room to room fighting.
The book's title, and its sleeve description, is a bit misleading. There is very little about this "Lighthouse", or "Pavlov's House". (I knew about this house mostly from platoon level computer games I'd played). He breezes past it in passing; but then spends most of the epilogue on the house and its legacy, primarily as a symbol and piece of propaganda used by the Soviet Union during the war. It was one house of many, and Pavlov was one soldier of many.
Still, for those interested in the Battle of Stalingrad, I highly recommend this book. As I said, it's mostly on the tactical level, more Chuikov than Zhukov. MacGregor does a fair bit of research through archives, diaries and interview with the offspring of the major players, incluidng Pavlov's son. He also offers, in one of the final chapters, a previously untold account of the German surrender of the German Sixth Army-- a sort of blow-by-blow of the encounter between the German officers and their Soviet counterparts. What was enlightening to me, was that the Sixth Army's commnader, Paulus, had very little involvement in these discussions.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's the challenge of this book for me - the title of the book and the introduction set up the concept of the book as the story of the struggle particularly important building in the struggle for Stalingrad. As you get into the book, there is a nice background on the lead up to the battle. MacGregor then drills down to the level of a sector of fighting between a German division and a Soviet Guards division. Then, roughly halfway to the book, we come to a diagram of the key building and its immediate environment, followed by 1 chapter of approximately 12 pages, and then MacGregor zooms out again.
MacGregor is a good writer who does a nice job telling the Stalingrad story. He also introduces new material. It's just odd that the title and introduction don't appear to line up with the focus of the book. In the final chapter, he discusses important themes on how the legend of this house evolved, its symbolism and propaganda role, but again, it is odd that this wasn't covered in the main body of the book.
Again, it's well written with good content, but the theme of the title, intro, and conclusion do not (at least in my mind) line up with much of the content and focus of the book.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) (Audiobook) I didn’t quite get into this work as much as I thought that I would. This work covers the battle of Stalingrad, but with an emphasis on the most prominent Soviet general (Chuikov) as well as circling back to a legendary lighthouse associated with the mythology that has grown around the battle. While he circles back to that account, most of the work is a recollection/recap of the battle. MacGregor does make good use of German and Soviet sources for his account.

However, it is only really at the beginning and the ending of the work that he focuses on the lighthouse and the key mythology of the battle. That is probably the most intriguing and interesting part of this overall volume. The recap of the overall fighting, you can find better works to cover that (see Beevor’s Stalingrad or Enemy at the Gates). Not a bad work, but probably not the best account of this critical battle. Would be interested to see if there is any follow up, especially as we crossed the 80th anniversary of the fighting and how Putin continues to use the myth of Stalingrad to promote his current war in Ukraine.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 rounded up to 4 ⭐ because can only do whole stars.

I love to read history books. I enjoy learning things that I didn't know before and this hit the mark. When I was reading this book, I thought about America and the Alamo, very similar situations between the Alamo and Stalingrad.

The Russians fought the Germans hard for this city. It was completely destroyed during the fall and winter of 1942.

Even though, I did enjoy reading and learning about this battle, I found parts of it slow. The chapters were really long, also. One reason for my 3.8 rating is that there were so many names. I kept getting confused on who was on what side. It was well researched, as Macgregor interviewed relatives and saw papers from both sides that had never been interviewed or seen before.

Published November 29, 2022

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#netgalley
#simonschuster

[Richard Moneymaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The months long battle for control of Stalingrad was a major turning point in WWII, that much all of those who even have a modicum of knowledge about the war are sure of. This book however gives the more interested reader a much broader base of data and detail. It's truly a work of dedicated scholarship. MacGregor lays out the entire story in a compelling fashion and his use of original source material fleshes out the various tactical issues faced by both the German and Russian forces. It's concisely written, and spares no detail describing the depth of human drama and suffering the battle and siege wrought. The sheer numbers of casualties are staggering, the hubris, hardheadedness, and outright cruelty of both Stalin and Hitler are on full display. He also does what a good historian will do, debunk the fabrications that arise from such an important historical event. It's a must read for any WWII history buffs. A fascinating and sobering read.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read recently about WW2, in which it seems there is a new angle and new revealed unpublished sources of famous parts of the Second World War. It then goes onto to fill the book with a 'Brief' history that leads up to the point of the title. Trouble is I know all this and have read and studied this many times before?
Saying this I found the descriptions and first hand accounts of the Battle for Stalingrad so fascinating and horrifying. The book approaches from both sides of the battle and does show some new evidence. But we all know that the stories of the snipers and tank and defence men stories have been embellished. But there is still the facts and the fantastic history of bravery and fighting against unbelievable odds against an evil German army and its leaders that are so interesting.

[Katerina Efstathiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5. Κάπως βαρετό, φλύαρο και μονοτονο. Αν περιμένετε να μαθετε συγκεκριμένα για το κτίριο του Παβλοφ που πραγματεύεται αυτο το βιβλιο , ε λοιπον, δε θα μαθετε και πολλα. Ο τίτλος,μεγα διαφημιστικο τρικ τραβάει τους αναγνωστες μονο για να ανακαλυψουν μια εμβριθη και πολυσελιδη εξιστορηση σε ακριβες timeline της επικοτερης μαχης του Β' Παγκοσμιου πολεμου.

Βεβαια, σε αναγνωριση της προσπάθειας του συγγραφέα μαθαινουμε τω οντι πως η μαχη αυτή, η τοσο ξεχωριστή κριθηκε στην τεχνικη των Ρώσων και τη λυσσαλεα άμυνα τους οταν σχεδον εχασαν το προπύργιο τους.Μαθαινουμε για εφοδους 4-5 ατομων αντι για ολοκληρα ταγματα, για μαχες σωμα με σωμα και πολεμοφοδια ακομη και οικοδομικα υλικα /συντριμμια ελλειψει πολεμοφοδιων, όπου Γερμανοί και Ρώσοι κατειχαν ακομη και διαφορετικα δωμάτια εντός του ίδιου κτιρίου. (σοκ)

[Regi Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb fascinating analysis of part of the battle for Stalingrad.
Beevor's book is off the whole battle, this book covers a much smaller aspect which is no less riveting.
Shoes the price the Russians paid to defeat the Nazis, and by extension for the freedom of western Europe.
A must read for analysis of the great patriotic war and why it is so important to the Russian mythology today.

One criticism I have. MacGregor recognises the bravery of Roske and Paulus, and other senior Wehrmacht officers. But that bravery was in the service of evil, and MacGregor, I feel does not contextualise what responsibility these people had in committing atrocities across Eastern Europe, and their willingness to the Naxi ideology and Generalplan Ost.