books dvds about Stalingrad?? (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out if anyone may know where I could find some detailed books or dvds on Stalingrad?? such as tank units/ infantry/vehicles/ dates, etc for both sides?? since I started collecting First Legion WWII Stalingrad I have become very interested in it, besides the general knowledge of the battle, I have been to barnes book store as well as a few others but no real deep down info, so if anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it, thanks...Sammy

 

[FirstLegion]

Sammy, the best source for books on Stalingrad has to be Leaping Horsemen books.....

Other books that have tons of data are the Glantz Trilogy. Very detailed, but not so very readable.

Of course, for a general history and by far the most readable is Beevor's Stalingrad. Many will point out that it's got errors in it, but it still is the best "read" of the lot.

There is documentary that was made in 2003 called "Stalingrad". It's decent.

If I were to recommend anyone of the above, I'd go with Island of Fire from Leaping Horsemen. This book more than any other was a big inspiration for our figure range.

Hope this helps and I'm sure others can add more.

Matt

 

[debrito]

Sammy, I really liked Stalingrad from Antony Beevor, very interesting details about the day life from both sides.

High recommend


Rod.

 

[sammy719]

Sammy, the best source for books on Stalingrad has to be Leaping Horsemen books.....

Other books that have tons of data are the Glantz Trilogy. Very detailed, but not so very readable.

Of course, for a general history and by far the most readable is Beevor's Stalingrad. Many will point out that it's got errors in it, but it still is the best "read" of the lot.

There is documentary that was made in 2003 called "Stalingrad". It's decent.

If I were to recommend anyone of the above, I'd go with Island of Fire from Leaping Horsemen. This book more than any other was a big inspiration for our figure range.

Hope this helps and I'm sure others can add more.

Matt

I appreciate the help guys, I will look into the suggestions tommorow, thanks again...Sammy

 

[fmethorst]

The Leaping Horseman books are truly excellent I recently got a copy of the out of print "Death of the Leaping Horseman" which I have yet to read. I really enjoyed "Island of Fire". If I had to recommend one of the books to get you started it would be "Angriff: The German Attack on Stalingrad in Photos".

 

[Panzer]

Sammy,

I have four documentary DVDs on Stalingrad and will rate them from best to worse. (My opinion only).

#1 - Stalingrad –
Clearly the best of the four documentaries.
Three 55 minute segments done in HDTV format with Dolby Digital. Stock footage visuals are quite good and the use of CG animation that shows the advancing and the capturing of the Sixth Army is very informative.
Filmed from both the German and Russian perspective with several veterans on both sides giving first hand accounts. Additionally, there are several deleted interviews in the extra features section.

#2- History Channel Lost Evidence- Stalingrad
The lost evidence is essentially is the recovery of a vast amount of aerial imagery taken during the battle. With CGI animation, 3d maps are created as we are walked through the battle on specific dates and times in chronological order. Interesting stock footage along with reenactments of fighting. If you want to know what Mamayev Kurgan hill looked like or where the Red October steelworks, the Barrikady armaments factory, and the Lazure Chemical works were located, this video will show exact locations and walk you through the fighting through 3d animated maps and movie quality reenactments.

#3- History Channel Battlefield Detectives - Stalingrad
Uses stock footage, demonstrations, reenactments, advanced forensic and historical analysis to clarify advantages and disadvantages of both Russian and German equipment, weapons, and clothing among other things. The insight on why the German bombing had an unforeseen negative effect on the Germans was especially interesting.

#4 Road to Stalingrad.
My least favorite of the four. Unlike the other 3 DVDs which are fairly balanced, this one seems more like a Russian propaganda film.

Semper Fi!
Rick

 

[Blowtorch]

2003 doc titled "Stalingrad" as mentioned

Jason Mark's books as mentioned

Glantz Trilogy as mentioned

also, email Glantz directly as he sells many other self published books and maps. Recently he added a translation of 62 Army diaries during the battle

also, Chuikov's book. Some people are put off by the Soviet rhetoric, but the book is factually accurate, and he was the first guy during de-Stalinization to have the courage to put in print the heavy losses suffered & Soviet leadership deficiencies.

Ziemke's & Bauer's "Moscow to Stalingrad" (relevant chapters)

Erickson's "The Road to Stalingrad" (relevant chapters)

I wouldn't be me without mentioning that imo, Beevor is an inferior rip off of Craig's "Enemy at the Gates" & of the two, read Craig

Also post questions at www.feldgrau.com, as many relevant authors & researchers hang out there & can often answer very detailed questions.

Also, if you are really in to it, learn German & go right to the source, the BA-MA in Freiburg Germany. Hold the situation maps that Paulus himself held during the battle & read the divisional histories. The collection at the National Archives in DC is incomplete. Also, most of the German divisions in the battle have their own history books published offering many details (in German).


When I went to BA-MA, I was looking at really rough situation maps of the 22nd PD. The actual maps with hastily pencil drawn hedgehog positions on it that very morning of Nov 19, 1942. I could feel the desperation in those maps as whoever drew it, was in quite a hurry. Very few documents of the 22PD made it out as the unit was overrun in days. In contrast, the units in the pocket had enough time to fly out many of their records.

 

[Blowtorch]

Several more come to mind:

a) Werner Haupt's trilogy "Army Group North/Center/South" is built around translations of selected German divisional histories, Stalingrad included.

b) "Stalingrad" by Michael Jones. When I first opened the book I thought he was a hack because of the two erroneous maps in the beginning...so he's not a great map detail researcher, but the text is very good information and is fresh & new material from the Soviet side. Glantz endorsed this book too. My suggestion would be to read a general overview of Stalingrad on the web somewhere to get a feel for the campaign, and then read Jones at the expense of both Beevor & Craig.

c) how could I forget: 'Germany and the Second World War' Volume VI, by the MGFA & translated by Oxford press. The original German edition has pretty color maps-well done for German units & movements...but the Oxford has black & white equivalents...but English text.

 

[sammy719]

Thanks to all the ideas, have already checked into a few, thanks again...Sammy

 

[Blowtorch]

Thanks to all the ideas, have already checked into a few, thanks again...Sammy

One more DVD comes to mind...

the Line of Fire production by Cromwell is a good overview of the battle

check out www.fireonthevolga.com too

 

[MapleLeaf]

Osprey publication has one for stalingrad
i was looking at it last night
u can get it at borders
very cool pictures and informations