CONCORD 6509 STALINGRAD INFERNO

This volume details the German efforts to reduce Stalingrad, with the focus entirely on the German army rather than on their Russian counterparts. The author has provided a clear and accurate text that gives background to the conflict and the key phases of the battle, from the German approach to Stalingrad on 22nd August 1942, through to the capitulation of the remnants of Generalfeldmarschall von Paulus' Sixth Army on 2nd February 1943. In between was a ferocious battle that the German "landsers" christened "der Rattenkrieg" ("the rat war"). The text also lists an Order of Battle for the Sixth Army that was annihilated at Stalingrad, and a description of a typical Wehrmacht infantry regiment. This inspirational book is filled from cover to cover with carefully selected photographs that chronicle this historical battle. They start with the summer approach to the Volga River, and the early successful incursions. The photographs then chart the horrifying descent into urban warfare amongst the rubble, and the freezing clutches of winter that ravaged both sides in the conflict. These black and white images are accompanied by highly detailed captions that offer excellent explanations about such matters as uniforms, weapons, vehicles and the course of the battle. A set of four high-quality colour plates by the renowned artist, Ronald Volstad, is also a welcome complement to this work.