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Summary: No mere sniper duel in this one . . . .
Review: William Craig's classic on this herioic, oftentimes heartbreaking battle remains the definitive book on Stalingrad even today. Meticulously researched and based on many first-hand accounts gleaned from various sources, Craig masterfully captured the intensity and human drama that characterized what was undoubtedly the biggest, most destructive single conflict in recorded history. Sweeping in its scope, Craig still manages to keep the reader enthralled with a brisk writing style and "you are there" immediacy that rival the best contemporary suspense novels. This is a book that appeals to more than military history buffs; it is a tragic tale of valor, sacrifice, stupidity, the stubborn refusal to face reality (on Hitler's part), and human suffering. This is one of the top 25 books on my list.
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Summary: A Great WWII Historical
Review: This book is about the Battle for Stalinsburg during World War II. During the five years that the author researched the battle, he interviewed hundreds of people concerning it. This provided an accurate and detailed look at the battle. The book is about the battle for Stalinsburg, with information on how the Germans advanced and attacked the city, how the Russian forces retaliated and fought. It contains some primary documents and dialouge that occured in the battles. The book catpures the horrors and thrills of battle, for both sides. If you are looking for a movie novelization however, you may be disappointed to find that the entire movie that was based on the book was really based on the events in about five pages. Other than that,Enemy at the Gates is an exciting read and one that I wouldn't pass up.
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Summary: A Great Book! One of my favorites!
Review: This book was an incredible book to read. Once I started I could not put it down. Everywhere I went I had it with me. The book really takes you into the minds of the soldiers who were there fighting, and when you're done leaves you begging for more. I recommend this book to anyone who can read and I truly do not think it is possible to dislike this book.
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Summary: A refreshing style
Review: To begin, let us warn the folks who wish to read more about the movie's protagonist. You may be disappointed because unless you read the movie-tie-in (I read the original 1973 version) the book actually deals with very little of Vassili. Though what happens in the movie and the book is not 100% accurate, it is closer than most historical movies are. The book is an excellent blend of military tactics and operations, and personal narratives. The use of personal diaries is probably this books greatest strength and the wide range of narratives from German, Italian, Hungarian, and Russian soldiers, support staff, commanders and civilians and to the realism of the book. Two types of readers would find this book both useful and enjoyable. First the historian, whether academic or amateur, will find this book an excellent source of information on various topics. Second, the casual read will find the book easy to ready with more information about the people than the military logistics, which can quite overwhelming and boring. After reading this book one can begin to understand why the Russian wanted to reach Berlin first.
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Summary: Excellent Book: Turning point of Hitler's Blizkreig!
Review: This book began in summer 1942, when Hitler planned to invade the southern part of Russia as it failed to invade Moscow and Leningrad in Operation Barbarossa. The target was Stalingrad located at the banks of the Volga deep into Russian territory aprroximately 3000 kilometres from Berlin! This will create a couldron. The city was name under Premier Joseph Stalin as an honor defending it from the white army in the Russian revolution. If the city fall to the hands of the Nazis, this would disgarce Stalin and open the road for the Nazis to invade the oil rich Central Asia and the Caucasus Mountains that would lead to the fall of Communist Russia! Whatever it takes, Joseph Stalin ordered his generals to defend what ever they have to delay the Germans till the winter comes as further reinforcements and equipments would be supply from Siberia.The German 6th Army was in full confidence as they won every battles until they reach the outskirts of Stalingrad! The Russians 62nd Army under General Chuikov defended every inches of the buildings to stop the Germans from reaching the Volga. William Craig decribed excellent accounts faced by German and Russian troops in the bloodiest urban warfare include close combat from rooms to rooms in apartment buildings to large tractor factories and some places exchanges hands several times in one day. The Russians defended bravely as never seen before by the Germans. Craig described accounts of Russian and German troops losing up to 75% battalion to divison strength from September to November 1942. German Panzers were vulnerable to ambush compared to the plains in the steppes. Artillery bombardment destroyed the city buildings created important fox holes and bunkers for the Russians. Russian snipers sniped German officers and soldiers everyday decreased the morale of the German Army. Example Russian sniper Vassili Zaitsev in the movie. As winter arrived, the Germans was exhausted and failed to invade the whole city. To entrap the German 6th Army, Operation Uranus was launched to counter attack the Germans breaking the weak rear front lines of the Romanians and the Italians surrounded the German 6th Army in 9 days! Food, fuel, clothing and ammunition were scared as the Russian winter arrived. Craig described the accounts of individual German army in starvation and suffered from the cold winter! As Hitler failed to supply and counter-attack the Russians, the entired 6th Army surrender to the Russians in February 1943. The fall of Stalingrad was the truning point of Hitler's Blizkreig that lead to the fall of Germany. The Battle of Stalingrad in this book tells us the history of urban warfare that brutally killing each other in a war of terror that killed alomost 2 million soldiers and civilians from August 1942 to February 1943! Unlike Operation Overlord in Normandy by the Americans and her allies, Stalingrad was not know by many people that led to the fall of the German blizkreig! Craig described a terror in military blunder faced by the Germans in World War II and the importance of Russia struggling to fight back alone in the East! This book is different than the movie and it give importance history information Battle of Stalingrad from to the beginning to the end!
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Summary: A Great Historical Narrative
Review: This book is a history of the whole battle of Stalingrad, and not just the story of sniper Zaitsev as portrayed in the movie. It is an excellent history of this pivotal battle of World War II.
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Summary: Fantastic!!!!!-- Not the movie.
Review: Still the best book on the subject. Be warned, the movie is based more on Robbin's "War of the Rats". This book gives a very personal account from all sides (Corti's contribution from the Italian point of veiw is remarkable). It reads like a novel, a very easy but exciting read.
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Summary: An Excellent War Novel
Review: If you want an excellent World War Two novel, don't pass this book up. This book includes war from both sides, German and Russian. There is no main character, but there are about 5 that you follow around and get their side of the story. I love the way that the characters can affect each other. For example, if the German commander orders an attack on a building, you then get a perspective from the Russians having to defend the building. This book is similar to Tom Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" and the movie "Stalingrad". I seriously reccomend this book for anyone who has an even small interest in World War Two. Thanks
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Summary: Truly remarkable
Review: Easily the best account of real life in the second world war. No bad guys, no good guys. Just soldiers. That is why i find this book so appealing. All we ever hear about and see in movies are the atrocities committed by Germans. This book graphically describes crimes on both sides. I highly recommend this book. DO NOT bother with that awful film "Enemy at the gate". It has virtually nothing to do with this book and it trivializes the entire war.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but nowhere near WAR OF THE RATS
Review: If you want to be educated, read Craig's book. If you want to be educated AND enthralled, read David Robbins' WAR OF THE RATS instead. Honestly, if I were David I'd have to be scratching my head over why a studio passed him over for an out-of-print book.
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