Anthony Beevor, combining rigorous analysis, exploitation of new sources, narrative talent, presents an unspeakable picture of what was this confrontation since German triumphal march across the steppe to the final destruction of the VI th German army.
Reregistering the confrontation in its ideological and racial vision, focusing the relationship between both of Staff officers and Hitler or Stalin that terrible day soldiers, Anthony Beevor manages to make us consider what was the shock.
Stalingrad turning a page in the history of the Russo-German war. In the USSR Military takes precedence over politics, relegating the NKVD-only- for a time to the rank of "Feldgendarmerie". The General Staff, under the rule of Zhukov and Vasilevsky, learns to articulate the inter-arms cooperation, create an intermediate vision between tactics and strategy that will take the name of operational art (cf John Lopez works) and carries a very high over-the art of concealment (see the preparations for Operation Uranus). Finally Germany, for the first time, truly losing back, this time, definitely the initiative.
In human terms, there is no name for the atrocities committed by the Germans throughout their run with the complicity of génraux officers. The coup in return could not be terrible. He was. He who sows the storm, the hurricane harvest.
It also measures the missed opportunity by Nazi Germany to destroy communism through what were the Hiwis. Nazi doctrine could not leave room for cooperative Slavic.
Finally, the sublime of Russian patriotism is still staggering. There is no doubt that coercion, indoctrination and group training effect play a very important role .... but we feel emerging infinite love for the Motherland which is breathtaking.
This book by Anthony Beevor is the counterpart of that of Jean Lopez. On one side a rather narrative book, the other a very remarkable polémologiste text. Both offer a complete view of what will remain as a Glory page, and Sufferings of Horror and the Symbolic Moment when Victory finally chooses his camp.
Just for this we are indebted to the Russian people a part of our Liberty.
