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The battle of Stalingrad is an especially important event that will always remain a major incident in history. This battle started in Russia in August of 1942 and ended in February of 1943. This fight led to the defeat of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad. It also included the tragic blow to the campaign of Hitler in the East.
This battle of Stalingrad also marked to be a turning point in the period of the Second World War. Also, that this fight has earned the title to be the biggest military debacle of all time. In addition to this, the unforgettable battle of Stalingrad also throws light upon the senseless sacrifice of humans for political purposes. In the middle of November of 1942, two Russian armies carried out a surprise pincer attack that caused great damage to the German Sixth Army.
What are the Best Books on Stalingrad to read?
The Sixth Army was being controlled by General Friedrich Paulus, which was then given the order by Hitler to strengthen its grip on the ground instead of showing back. This war will lead to massive destruction on a huge scale and ended many lives. Below mentioned are some books that tell us about the details of the battle of Stalingrad.
Best Books on Stalingrad: Our Top 20 Picks
Here are some of the best stalingrad books that you can consider to expand your knowledge on the subject:
1. Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 by Antony Beevor
Shares that the Hilter’s huge Sixth Army arrived at the place where Stalin’s name was bored in August 1942. The Russians gave their best to keep a hold of Stalingrad. They then trapped their Nazi enemy. This battle led to the loss of millions of lives and destroyed on a massive scale. Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 by Antony Beevor shares about the circumstances that were faced by soldiers and the hurdles that the civilians stuck on the urban field went through. The author Antony Beevor carried out interviews of several survivors and got to know a ton of information about German and Soviet archives. This information included the interrogations of different prisoners and various reports of desertions and executions.
- Authors: Antony Beevor (Author)
- Publisher: Penguin Books; 1st Edition (May 1, 1999)
- Pages: 493 pages
2. Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig
Tells about the time when Russian steppe had to face severe troubles on August 5th, 1942. They had to face a German combat unit that was dispatched by Hitler to get control over the city of Stalingrad (famous for industries) and the fertile oil fields found in Azerbaijan. The Germans were potential winners, and they did not know what defeat is for three years. The city was already shattered into pieces by Luftwaffe. The only aim of the German soldiers was to carry out their goal of defeating their enemy and to get back home for Christmas in time. Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig spent years gathering proper information about this battle. Thus, he carried out to give the readers the most authentic and research-based information about the battle of Stalingrad.
- Authors: William Craig (Author)
- Publisher: Open Road Media (September 29, 2015)
- Pages: 463 pages
3. Survivors of Stalingrad: Eyewitness Accounts from the 6th Army, 1942–1943 by Reinhold Busch
Marvelous piece of writing that tells us a lot about the battle of Stalingrad. The Red Army destructively counter-attacked its enemy in November 1942. The German siege took under control by the Soviet forces resulting in the capture of the city of Stalingrad. This further lead to the arrest of about 290000 soldiers of the German Army, which was quite a considerable number. Survivors of Stalingrad: Eyewitness Accounts from the 6th Army, 1942–1943 by Reinhold Busch has the first-hand accounts of soldiers who were physically damaged and were kicked out of the encirclement. Also, of those soldiers who gave their best in surviving the attack and were put in prison by the Soviet Army.
- Authors: Reinhold Busch (Author)
- Publisher: Frontline Books; Reprint Edition (November 16, 2018)
- Pages: 288 pages
4. After Stalingrad: Seven Years as a Soviet Prisoner of War by Adelbert Holl
Shares quite a detailed piece of information about the battle of Stalingrad. This battle had always remained amongst the significant interests of the time when in 1942, the Red Army laid down a trap for the German 6th Army in the destroyed city. But most of the accounts ended when the battle was over, and columns of many German soldiers vanished when they got under the Soviet rule. After Stalingrad: Seven Years as a Soviet Prisoner of War by Adelbert Holl has made the best choice of words to share his story as a captive in the Soviet camps. He also shares the details about the hurdles and complications faced by him during Soviet imprisonment.
- Authors: Adelbert Holl (Author), Tony Le Tissier (Translator)
- Publisher: Pen & Sword Military; Reprint Edition (March 30, 2016)
- Pages: 238 pages
5. Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman
Says that in 1942 there was carried out a meet-up between Hitler and Mussolini at the place of Salzburg and decided to make a compromise on a renewed assault on the Soviet Union. Over time as the Red Army moved to the banks of Volga, where there were the industrial centers of Stalingrad, the campaign started gaining more prosperity. Stalingrad by Vasily Grossman is a story that was the first-ever English translation of the battle of Stalingrad. The author Vasily Grossman has used strong emotions and firm compassion to write on the battle of Stalingrad. He has talked about the destruction caused by the fight in noticeably clear and detailed terms.
- Authors: Vasily Grossman (Author), Robert Chandler (Translator), Elizabeth Chandler (Translator)
- Publisher: NYRB Classics (June 11, 2019)
- Pages: 1088 pages
6. Disaster at Stalingrad: An Alternate History by Peter G. Tsouras
Talks about the time of early September of the year 1942 when General Paulus, the German commander of the Sixth Army along with the assistance of the Fourth Panzer Army, wanted to get control over Stalingrad, a city of Russia. His primary goal was to destroy the city of Stalingrad and to demolish the communication and manufacturing center of the city. Moreover, he also wanted to take control of the fertile oil fields situated in the Caucasus. Disaster at Stalingrad: An Alternate History by Peter G. Tsouras enables the reader to know details about the history of the battle of Stalingrad. He gives an entirely different scenario of the battle of Stalingrad.
- Authors: Peter G. Tsouras (Author), Ralph Peters (Introduction)
- Publisher: Frontline Books (March 19, 2013)
- Pages: 414 pages
7. Red Road from Stalingrad: Recollections of a Soviet Infantryman by Mansur Abdulin
Talks that when it was time to fight against the German invaders, Mansur Abdulin stood in the front ranks of the Soviet infantry to play his part. This fight took place at the banks of Dnieper, Kursk and Stalingrad. With his strenuous efforts, he proved his extraordinary efforts. He enabled us to get an idea of the real strategies of war and the thinking of the Soviet Army. Red Road from Stalingrad: Recollections of a Soviet Infantryman by Mansur Abdulin has the story of a fight against a skilled army in his own words. He shares a clear experience of his face to face fight with an enemy that is hard to defeat.
- Authors: Mansur Abdulin (Author), Artem Drabkin (Editor)
- Publisher: Pen & Sword Military (December 31, 1990)
- Pages: 280 pages
8. Breakout at Stalingrad by Heinrich Gerlach
Counted amongst the greatest novels of the second world war. It is known as a masterpiece that lists remarkable content about Stalingrad. This book showers light on the unforgettable story of the Stalingrad fight. The author of the book himself got imprisoned by the Soviets while fighting at Stalingrad. While he was living as a captive, he thought to author a novel about the present situation. He wrote about the circumstances that he had to face before his release from the cage of the Soviets. Breakout at Stalingrad by Heinrich Gerlach is the very first translation of the breakout at Stalingrad in English which also includes the story about the Gansel’s sensational discovery.
- Authors: Heinrich Gerlach (Author), Dr Peter Lewis (Translator)
- Publisher: Apollo (January 11, 2018)
- Pages: 660 pages
9. To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942 (Modern War Studies) By David Glantz and Jonathan M. House
Describes about the clash that took place on the land of Stalingrad between the German and the Soviet forces. This clash resulted in being the turning point during the period of world war II. Also, that this fight showed people the destruction and devastation that war results in. To the Gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German Combat Operations, April-August 1942 (Modern War Studies) By David Glantz and Jonathan M. House is a fabulous piece of writing that gives the reader an eye-opening account on the battle of Stalingrad. Also, that this book enhances our knowledge about the most devastating battle of all times, which is the battle of Stalingrad.
- Authors: David Glantz (Author), Jonathan M. House (Author)
- Publisher: University Press of Kansas; Illustrated Edition (April 21, 2009)
- Pages: 678 pages
10. Endgame at Stalingrad: Book Two: December 1942-February 1943 (Modern War Studies: The Stalingrad, Vol. 3) by David M. Glantz and Jonathan M. House
Fabulous piece of writing in which the author continues with his story and sums up his information about one of the most famous battles of history, the battle of Stalingrad. This battle was no less than a turning point at the time of the world war II. Endgame at Stalingrad: Book Two: December 1942-February 1943 (Modern War Studies: The Stalingrad, Vol. 3) by David M. Glantz and Jonathan M. House provides a clear and even more precise image of the incidents that took place during the battle of Stalingrad. In this book, the author has listed genuine information about that battle instead of taking the support of myths and misinformation to fill his pages.
- Authors: David Glantz (Author), Jonathan M. House (Author)
- Publisher: University Press of Kansas; Illustrated Edition (June 9, 2014)
- Pages: 768 pages
11. Battle of Stalingrad: A History from Beginning to End (World War 2 Battles Book 1) By Hourly History
Contains that the battle of Stalingrad is named amongst the most famous battles if the history. Also, this fight resulted in massive destruction and devastation and completely changed the situations of the world war II. Battle of Stalingrad: A History From Beginning to End (World War 2 Battles Book 1) By Hourly History shares details about Josef Stalin who was the man of steel, Adolf Hitler who was the quest of vengeance, the Operation Barbarossa, the Stalingrad street fighting academy and the heroes of Stalingrad. Other than all this information, there us a lot more about the battle of Stalingrad hidden in this book.
- Authors: Hourly History (Author)
- Publisher: Independently published (September 6, 2017)
- Pages: 47 pages
12. Stalingrad: The City that Defeated the Third Reich by Jochen Hellbeck
Talks about the turning point of world war II, that was the battle of Stalingrad. In September 1942, Hitler’s soldiers aimed to destroy the city of Stalingrad into pieces. Despite all the terrible circumstances, Stalingrad stayed firm and determined and did not lose hope. After several months of miserable fighting, about 100000 German survivors surrendered in front of the Soviet troops. Stalingrad: The City that Defeated the Third Reich by Jochen Hellbeck has marvelously portrayed the events’ unforgettable battle of Stalingrad that proved to be the turning point in world war II.
- Authors: Jochen Hellbeck (Editor), Christopher Tauchen (Translator)
- Publisher: PublicAffairs; Illustrated Edition (October 11, 2016)
- Pages: 512 pages
13. With Paulus at Stalingrad by Wilhelm Adam
Presents the true image of the battle that took place at Stalingrad involving the genuine description of the people that took part in that fight. Also, the author can say the extent of hopelessness and stress that people were going through in that battle. Also, the book shares the detail about the stress that Paulus and his workers had to go through when the Soviet pincers closed around the men of the abandoned 6th Army. With Paulus at Stalingrad by Wilhelm Adam is not written by any ordinary person. It is written by Colonel Wilhelm Adam, who was the senior ADC TO General Paulus and the commander of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. This piece of writing gives complete detail of the German defeat and the time of war.
- Authors: Wilhelm Adam (Author), Tony Le Tissier (Translator)
- Publisher: Pen and Sword Military; Reprint Edition (June 12, 2017)
- Pages: 304 pages
14. Eastern Front Combat: The German Soldier in Battle from Stalingrad to Berlin (Stackpole Military History Series)
- Authors: Hans Wijers (Editor)
- Publisher: Stackpole Books; Illustrated Edition (August 6, 2008)
- Pages: 339 pages
15. Island of Fire: The Battle for the Barrikady Gun Factory in Stalingrad by Jason Mark
Tells us that Stalingrad is known to be amongst the most famous fights that have took place in the earlier times. It is also known as an incident that proved to be the turning point of world war II. The fight took place over a single factory situated in the locality of Stalingrad. This fight was between two forces, out of which one was the German force, and the other one was the Soviet force. Island of Fire: The Battle for the Barrikady Gun Factory in Stalingrad by Jason Mark has photos and maps for the better understanding of the readers. The book is matchless if we consider its quality of text that is completely based on research.
- Authors: Jason Mark (Author)
- Publisher: Stackpole Books; Illustrated Edition (May 1, 2018)
- Pages: 656 pages
16. An Infantryman in Stalingrad: From 24 September 1942 to 2 February 1943 by Adelbert Holl
Is written by an infantry lieutenant who is only 23 years old and his act of rejoining his unit in Stalingrad. He had to take a leave from his job because he was severely injured in April 1942. After he recovered from the wounds, he aimed to join back his unit and serve his country. This book has the subjective experiences of Adelbert Holl while serving his land as a junior infantry commander during Stalingrad. An Infantryman in Stalingrad: From 24 September 1942 to 2 February 1943 by Adelbert Holl. The infantry was the most affected because of the battle. They lacked proper protections. The author Adelbert Holl was honored by various medals including the Wound Badge in gold.
- Authors: Adelbert Holl (Author), Jason D. Mark (Translator), Neil Page (Translator)
- Publisher: Leaping Horseman Books; First Edition (June 1, 2005)
- Pages: 250 pages
17. The Road to Stalingrad (Cassell Military Paperbacks) by John Erickson
New paperback edition of the first volume in John Erickson’s famous history of the Soviet-German war. The book tells us the details about the command structures and strategies that were considered about the pre-invasion Soviet Union via Russia’s humiliation. The Russian armies had their grip on the front line before the situation changed in Stalingrad. The Road to Stalingrad (Cassell Military Paperbacks) by John Erickson includes the assessments of the generals and other leaders. Its further shares details about the unforgettable battle which leaves the Red Army poised for the time taking fight with Berlin. This book is worth reading for any military personnel or a student of world war II.
- Authors: John Erickson (Author)
- Publisher: Cassell (April 1, 2007)
- Pages: 608 pages
18. Stalingrad 1942 (Campaign) by Peter Antill
States that Stalingrad is an unmatched example of endurance and tenacity. It is amongst the most remarkable events of the history and gives a message of consistency and firm determined regardless of the extent of compromises and sacrifices that you must make. Stalingrad 1942 (Campaign) by Peter Antill gives us a complete insight of one of the most famous battles that took place in history. The book also lists the question about the divergence of the Germans from their prime aim. The main aim of the German Army was to take hold of the oil fields found in the Caucasus. Also, their aim was to confine such massive resources on a secondary target.
- Authors: Peter Antill (Author), Peter Dennis (Illustrator)
- Publisher: Osprey Publishing (June 19, 2007)
- Pages: 96 pages
19. Front-Line Stalingrad by Victor Nekrasov
Masterpiece and is considered an exceptional piece of writing amongst the most classic novels to talk about the fight on the Eastern front in the second world war. The author has beautifully managed to let the readers know about the background of the hard struggles made by the Soviet Union while fighting against the Nazi Germany. Front-Line Stalingrad by Victor Nekrasov calls the Nazi Germany as the group of battered and outnumbered Red Army soldiers who were eager to defend the land of Stalingrad. This matchless piece of writing got reissued to mark the seventieth anniversary of the unforgettable battle of the second world war.
- Authors: Victor Nekrasov (Author)
- Publisher: Pen and Sword Military; Reprint Edition (July 19, 2012)
- Pages: 336 pages
20. The 64th Army at Stalingrad 1942-43: A Day-By-Day Account of a Soviet Combined Arms Infantry Army During the Battle for Stalingrad by Mr. Dann Falk
Second edition that tells us about the Russian 64th joint Arms Infantry Army in the time of fight of Stalingrad that started in July 1942 and ended in February 1943. This book is a complete note of the 64th Army at an operational level written on day by day basis. The 64th Army at Stalingrad 1942-43: A Day-By-Day Account of a Soviet Combined Arms Infantry Army During the Battle for Stalingrad by Mr. Dann Falk gives a piece of detailed information about the Soviet Red Army during the world war II. It shares details about the operations of a single Combined Arms Army. It further includes coordination, medical, combat actions, command and control, and the overall situation that a common Soviet infantryman must come across with.
- Authors: Mr Dann Falk (Author)
- Publisher: Falken Books (June 16, 2019)
- Pages: 290 pages
Choosing the Best Books on Stalingrad
The battle of Stalingrad was not any ordinary fight and is still remembered by the people of today’s world. This battle made several people face big loss as and ended their lives. In this fight, about a quarter of a million German soldiers were wiped off. In addition to this, several German panzers and eighteen hundred articles of artillery were destroyed. Moreover, a complete air force of transport planes and limitless military supplies were extirpated. Behind all this massive destruction, none other than the joint forces of the Soviet Army and the Russian winter were responsible.
