Posted on 12/02/2016 2:42:03 AM PST by C19fan
Nobody says what you just said, but you are absolutely, 100% correct.
“Enemy at the Gates” is one of my favorite movies. Second only to “We Were Soldiers”. Both films depict war as the horror that it is. They should be required to show to college snowflakes.
James Woods was not in “Enemy at the Gates.” That was Jude Law.
I have been a history buff my entire life (and my degree is in History), with particular attention to the American West and WWII. I have read countless books and accounts on the Battle of Stalingrad. That was clearly “urban combat” at its most brutal. The Russians are an odd group, on many levels. But I don’t think there has ever before been a people who could have gone through the horrors of the Battle of Stalingrad and the Siege of Leningrad and not only survive, but win, and come out of it all far more powerful than when the fights started. The fights at Stalingrad and Leningrad define the adjective “horrific.”
The Russians are an odd group, on many levels. But I don’t think there has ever before been a people who could have gone through the horrors of the Battle of Stalingrad and the Siege of Leningrad and not only survive, but win, and come out of it all far more powerful than when the fights started.
I read a book (I can’t recall the name) that pointed out a number of times when, in a concentration camp, the prisoners could have easily overtaken the guards, and didn’t. In some cases, the prisoners were even armed and acting as guards, and out-numbered the actual guards. I have to think there is a psychological component to it all that we can’t imagine. Still, I like to believe I wouldn’t just give in without a fight.
While such stories are action packed, I prefer the 1993 GERMAN version of STALINGRAD released by FOX LORBER.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(1993_film)
Which reminds me, fifty years ago I saw an old sword and sandals movie at the theater, HERCULES, SAMSON & ULYSSES. It was on yesterday, on TCM and I remembered the evil Philistines all wore 20th Century German helmets. It was a hoot!
Some believe the famous sniper “duel” was a Soviet propaganda piece and did not really occur. Still makes a good story, but the movie did not tell the duel the way the soviet propaganda machine did.
I still believe taking Moscow should have taken priority for it probably would have created a scenario where Stalin would have been deposed and the Soviet Leadership been fractured.
“...but Paulus was treated quite well.”
Only after he became a converted Communist and started cooperating with his Soviet slave masters.
Not being critical, just saying.
At some point that’s right. But even initially, Paulus was treated with kid gloves by the Russians. He just got promoted to Field Marshall and they had never captured a German that high in rank before. He was their trophy prize and they didn’t want anything happening to him, including suicide. I’m not saying he had a great fate, but it sure beat that of his men.
The Stockholm Syndrome would explain it for imprisoned folks.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=stockholm+syndrome
But for those rounded up, trucked to a mass murder site, beaten (as many were), hurried to the murder site where there were other corpses, then just stand there waiting to be shot?
Many of the victims knew this would be the possible end for them long before they were captured, as it had happened to fellow family members & other countryman.
History has repeatedly told us socialism eventually turns violent against it’s own citizens. Our left is socialist. Look to what they are doing with regards to the election. Given enough money & armed by the Clinton/Soros bunch, they may go full violent with intent to kill.
This is why we can never, ever, allow ourselves to be disarmed.
Instead of declaring war on the U.S. right away Hitler might have held out for a Japanese attack in Siberia in 1942 as a quid pro quo. Had he done so the two armies Stalin shipped in from there that encircled the 6th Army in Operation Uranus might not have been available and the Germans might have withdrawn successfully. Lots of "might have beens" here.
I cannot understand how Hitler expected Army Group A to take the oil fields intact in the face of the existing Soviet scorched earth policy elsewhere. Naturally when they got there the place was in flames and it would have taken them a year of occupation to put them back into production. Instead, what happened...happened. For which we all may be grateful.
Very good book. I much enjoyed reading it.
Also essential reading for anyone interested in the battle is Antony Beevor's Stalingrad.
Nothing of the incident was written during the war. Only Chuikov’s memoires after the war mention it. The were written during the early 60s. A bit late for a folk hero to support the war effort don’t you think. Zaytsev didn’t even make the top ten of Soviet Army snipers for kills recorded.
Agree a small footnote at the very best. But it is one of the few thinks that people seem to recall about Stalingrad.
The incident as recorded by Chuikov may never have happened. Who in this country has heard of Sgt. Pavlov’s house. Or Rodimtsev and the 13th Guards rifle divison actions in Stalingrad. Very few, but anyone that saw EATG knows Zaytsev. Poor way to learn history IMO
‘I thank the Lord for the 2nd Amendment.’
Amen to that, Brother.
You’re right; he COULD have gotten out early on. It was a shameful waste of an army to lose them like that.
General Manstein knew how to fight the Soviet masses much better; I believe he was sacked for withdrawing against Hitler’s orders. His strategy of giving ground, then crushing the Soviets as they filled the vacuum, was brilliant.
The problem was the Soviets had moved so much industry beyond the Urals; they knew Moscow could be taken, and put up a great defense, but I don’t think the war would have ended if it fell. The Soviets had moved so much beyond the reach of Germany’s air power; Germany’s military was designed to fight short-range wars, and in the end it paid a price for that.
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