The battle of stalingrad was fought during the second world war between nazi germany and the soviet union. Graduates stood a chance of surviving one of the most brutal and grinding battles in history. He commanded the 62nd army as it fought from september 1942 to february 1943 against the initially far superior german forces in the city center and the industrial district to the north. The heavy casualties, the constant retreat, the shortage of food and munitions, the difficulty of receiving reinforcements. The soviet sixtysecond army was pushed back into stalingrad proper, where, under the command of gen. Vasily chuikov simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Many early ones were german memoirs, or about specific germans. Now this rifle is kept in a stalingrad battle museum and everyone can see it. Joseph vilsmairs 1993 antiwar stalingrad, a film about a group of soldiers shocked a new generation of germans by reenacting the battle through the experiences of a rankandfile wehrmacht soldier.
On august 23 a german spearhead penetrated the citys northern suburbs, and the luftwaffe rained incendiary bombs that destroyed most of the citys wooden housing. Lieutenant general vasily ivanovich chuikov 12 february 190018 march 1982 was the commander of the soviet 62nd army during the battle of stalingrad. In the novel the book thief, one character was presumed to have died or been captured in the battle of stalingrad. He is considered a hero of the soviet union as he is believed to have killed 225 enemy soldiers during the battle of stalingrad. Vasily zaytsev the legendary sniper of the stalingrad battle. His role in the stalingrad defense was not major general vasily chuikov, who led the citys defense, mentions khrushchev only briefly in a memoir published while khrushchev was premier but to the end of his life, he was proud of his role. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The two opposing commanders, 51yearold friedrich paulus of the german 6th army and vasily chuikov, aged 42, commander of the soviet 62nd army, could not have been more different. Vasily chuikov the heavy casualties, the constant retreat, the shortage of food and munitions, the difficulty of receiving reinforcements. Memoirs of a soviet military adviser to chiang kaishek.
The germans called the style of battle rattenkrieg, or rat war. I read this when i was 16, and have been interested in stalingrad ever since. Lieutenant general vasily chuikov 19001982 is probably the bestknown defender of stalingrad. It was one of the most important battles of the war because it marked the end of germanys advances. Vasily chuikovs sixtysecond army overcame incredible odds to save stalins namesake city from german invaders during the. In effect, the germans had to fight for every street, every block, every building, every floor, and every room. The best single book on stalingrad, based on archival material and extensive interviews with russian and german survivors. Over one million people died during the 200 days of fighting in the city, but eventually the russians managed to break the siege, encircle the german troops. The story of the battle for stalingrad, london, 1963.
General vasily chuikov came up with this name to describe a soldiers adaptation to the tactics that led to survival in the battle of stalingrad. His role in the stalingrad defense was not majorgeneral vasily chuikov, who led the citys defense, mentions khrushchev only briefly in a memoir published while khrushchev was premierbut to the end of his life, he was proud of his role. Chuikov meeting eastgerman president wilhelm pieck vasily chuykov february 12, 1900 march 18, 1982 was a soviet military leader. Battle of stalingrad, successful soviet defense of the city of stalingrad that was a turning point in favor of the allies in world war ii.
They were fighting for control of the city of stalingrad. Vasily chuikov, soviet general and later marshal who in world war ii. One soviet general, vasily chuikov, liked to point out that the 42d. Hitlers rise to power and eventual defeat may appear to some people as distant history. Stalingrad and the evolution of soviet urban warfare.
Battle stalingrad chuikov vasili ivanovich ballantine. Vasily grossmans life and fate has been hailed as a twentiethcentury w. Vasily zaytsev was a russian sniper who served during the world war ii. Chuikov and khruschev hold stalingrad buks historical ad.
Battle stalingrad chuikov vasili ivanovich vasily ivanovich chuikov 12 february 1900 18 march 1982 was a soviet military officer. Wikimedia commons has media related to vasily chuikov. Vasily chuikov article about vasily chuikov by the free. That book was translated into english and published in the 1965 book, the battle for stalingrad. Chuikov, who led his troops in the defense of stalingrad that. Nikolay chuikov laid flowers on the grave of his grandfathermarshal, whose birth has passed 120 years. Vasily chuilovs soviet 62nd army in the rubble of the industrial city of stalingrad. Top 10 facts about the battle of stalingrad listverse. In the 1980s and 1990s, many were essentially derived from those sources plus a narrow base of soviet sources, the predominant one being memoirs by vasily chuikov, who headed the soviet sixtysecond army. Vasily chuikov, in full vasily ivanovich chuikov born february 12 january 31, old style, 1900, serebryannye prudy, near moscow, russian empiredied march 18, 1982, moscow, russia, u. Vasily chuikov battle of stalingrad, soviet red army. Joness outstanding new book, uses memoirs, eyewitness accounts, and recently opened soviet archival material to uncover how the soldiers of gen. Vasily zaitsevs name quickly became known across the soviet union.
The victor of stalingrad went on to become the conqueror of nazi. Battle of stalingrad simple english wikipedia, the free. As the germans advanced towards stalingrad in the summer of 1942, the war came to the locals of the city and evacuation was slow to the speed of the wehrmachts advancement. Though he visited stalin in moscow on occasion, he remained in stalingrad for much of the battle, and. He was the commander of the 62nd army which saw heavy combat during the battle of stalingrad. At stalingrad, he literally wrote the book on the tactics of successful urban war. Vasily chuikov offers an authentic history of the battle of stalingrad. This would not have bothered marshal of the soviet union vasily ivanovich chuikov, commander of the legendary 62 nd army that for more than five months fought the huge nazi sixth army to a standstill on the banks of the volga, always outnumbered by factors of up to 15 to one. Vasily chuikov, in full vasily ivanovich chuikov, born february 12 january 31, old style, 1900, serebryannye prudy, near moscow, russian empiredied march 18, 1982, moscow, russia, u. Buy battle for stalingrad by vasili ivanovich chuikov isbn. How the red army survived the german onslaught, michael k. While vasilii chuikovs troops of the soviet 62nd army were. The luftwaffe began its bombing campaign against the city of stalingrad on august 23rd, a day which will never be forgotten. Chuikov, who led his troops in the defense of stalingrad that turned the fortunes of hitlers army, died thursday at the age of 82, his family said today.
Vasily ivanovich chuikov 12 february 1900 18 march 1982 was a soviet military officer. He subsequently became commanding general of all soviet land forces. Grossman wanted to call this earlier work stalingradas it will be in this first english translationbut it was published as for a just cause. The battle of stalingrad has been something has long fascinated me, the soviets at the close of ww2 went on to become the antagonist in the cold war, thus the soviet contribution to the defeat of nazi germany is often overlooked here in the west, however without the sacrifices made by mostly untrained and poorly armed men, women and in some cases children, it is almost certain we would be. Soviet general in the red army during world war ii who heroically defeated the germans in. With soviet armies closing in as part of operation ring begun january 10, 1943.
Before that, british historian antony beevors book stalingrad. Review books why stalingrad still matters a world to win. Following world war ii, chuikov was chief of the group of soviet forces in germany 194953, commander of the kiev military district 195360, chief of the soviet armed forces and deputy minister of. Chuikov s memoirs remain one of the cornerstones of research and understanding into the soviet version of events in the battle of stalingrad. The red armys defense of stalingrad and the encirclement of. Vasily chuikov author of the end of the third reich goodreads. Russians consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their great patriotic war, and most historians consider it to be the greatest battle of the entire conflict. Jones spends a lot of time criticizing anthony beevor who paints chuikov as a cold blooded monster apparently while. Prior to 10 november 1942, he killed 32 axis soldiers with a standardissue rifle. Khrushchev reached the stalingrad front in august 1942.
Feb 15, 2017 as the germans advanced towards stalingrad in the summer of 1942, the war came to the locals of the city and evacuation was slow to the speed of the wehrmachts advancement. Heroes of stalingrad, the game shows famous locations of the battle, such as pavlovs house, the red october factory and mamayev kurgan, among others. It was at stalingrad that chuikov developed the important tactic of hugging the enemy. The first and most simple one was a pu sight with a fourpower telescope. Vasily zaytsev bio, facts, family life of russian sniper.
Battle of the century, is a translation of chuikovs 1975 edition, a. Born in yeleninskoye, russia, to a peasant family, zaytsev learned marksmanship from an. During world war ii he was commanding the 62nd army, with which he was especially outstanding himself in the battle of stalingrad. And from reading your book, it seems that it was by sheer force of will that he managed to hold stalingrad. Chuikovs account of the battle was first published in 1962. There was the famous interview, whether its apocryphal or not one doesnt know, with khrushchev, who was the chief political officer of the stalingrad front, and chuikov.
Vasily ivanovich chuikov bio, facts, family famous. Many longed to get across the volga, to escape the hell of stalingrad. Vasily ivanovich chuikov february 12, 1900 march 18, 1982 was a soviet lieutenant general in the red army during world war ii, commander of the 62nd army during the battle of stalingrad, twice hero of the soviet union 1944, 1945, and after the war a marshal of the soviet union quotes. One sanction, which chuikov was never ashamed to use, was the threat of a bullet in the back. The red armys defense of stalingrad and the encirclement. Sixth army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contribution toward the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of the western world. Chuikov, the son of a peasant, joined the red army in. Stalingrad, battle ofsoviet soldiers on the offensive against german. Lieutenant general in the soviet red army during world war ii who after the war became a marshal of the soviet union. Mar 03, 2020 this would not have bothered marshal of the soviet union vasily ivanovich chuikov, commander of the legendary 62 nd army that for more than five months fought the huge nazi sixth army to a standstill on the banks of the volga, always outnumbered by factors of up to 15 to one.
Vasily chuykov february 12, 1900 march 18, 1982 was a soviet military leader during world war ii he was commanding the 62nd army, with which he was especially outstanding himself in the battle of stalingrad he was twice hero of the soviet union 1944, 1945 he was made marshal of the soviet union in 1955. January 10 russians resume bombardment of the sixth in light of no response from germany. The battle for stalingrad by chuikov vasili i abebooks. Born in yeleninskoye, russia, to a peasant family, zaytsev learned marksmanship from an early age by shooting wild animals. Today, february 12, marshal, twice hero of the soviet union vasily chuikov, would have turned 120. For the legendary soviet 62nd army, clinging to the western bank of the vast volga river sometimes by as little as 20 yards, was commanded by chuikov, who miraculously almost overnight became the red armys leading expert on urban combat tactics. Mar 14, 2020 vasily chuikov, soviet general and later marshal who in world war ii commanded the defense at the battle of stalingrad, joined in turning adolf hitlers armies back, and led the soviet drive to berlin. However, life and fate is only the second half of a twopart work, the first half of which was published in 1952. Dec 26, 2003 general vasily chuikov came up with this name to describe a soldiers adaptation to the tactics that led to survival in the battle of stalingrad. Cited by just about every author who writes about the battle, chuikov provides a firsthand account of the events and efforts that led to soviet victory in the ruins of the city, though not without some communistera quirks.
The battle of stalingrad underlines the great contrasts between the german and soviet war machines. Nikita khrushchev during battle of stalingrad 1942. Mar 08, 2020 for the legendary soviet 62nd army, clinging to the western bank of the vast volga river sometimes by as little as 20 yards, was commanded by chuikov, who miraculously almost overnight became the red armys leading expert on urban combat tactics. Areas, in soviet documents on the use of war experience, vol. To understand the hardships of battle in stalingrad, the actual conditions of the city must be clarified.
Vasily ivanovich chuikov bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Vasily chuikov offers an authoritative history of the bat. The battle was fought between 17 july 1942 and 2 february 1943. The first 100 pages are largely devoted to vasily chuikov the commander of the soviet forces and the man he was. He was decorated twice as a hero of the soviet union 1944, 1945 and after the war was promoted to the rank of marshal of the soviet union. Following world war ii, chuikov was chief of the group of soviet forces in germany 194953, commander of the kiev military district 195360, chief of. Vasily ivanovich chuikov february 12, 1900 march 18, 1982 was a soviet lieutenant general in the red army during world war ii, commander of the 62nd army during the battle of stalingrad, twice hero of the soviet union 1944, 1945, and after the war a marshal of the soviet union. General chuikov s defenders to tie down the advancing 6th army. The book is redolent of its communist origins, but remains an insightful analysis of the tactics and history of the battle within the city. Chuikov and khruschev hold stalingrad buks historical.
Vasily chuikov battle of stalingrad, soviet red army, red army. Battle of the century, is a translation of chuikov s 1975 edition, a. Fall of berlin mass market paperback vasili ivanovich chuikov author mass. Between 10 november 1942 and 17 december 1942, during the battle of stalingrad. Every german soldier must be made to feel that he is living under the muzzle of a russian gun. The discipline he maintained was savage even by the standards of zhukovs red army. Chuikov was the general on the scene at stalingrad. See more ideas about battle of stalingrad, sniper, soviet union. Vasily grossmans life and fate has been hailed as a twentiethcentury war and peace.
Before the soviet unions entry into world war ii, vasily chuikov was an advisor of chiang kaisheks in china, but in 1942 he was recalled to lead the 62nd russian army in stalingrad. The son of peasants, chuikov worked as a mechanic apprentice from the age of 12. Chuikov instituted a policy of hugging the enemy to neutralize the germans superior firepower. He was also the commander of the soviet forces that defended stalingrad. The last two chapters cover the battle of stalingrad through operation uranus. The commander of the 62nd army vasily chuikov and a military council member kuzma gurov scrutinizing a rifle of a legendary sniper vasily zaytsev.
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