Jochen Hellbeck

This book is primarily a compilation of interviews taken from the participants in this epic battle that turned the face of WWII on the eastern front. I was actually looking for more of a historical account of the battle and I soon found this was not close to that format. About 80 percent is devoted to descriptions of various length about individual experiences and fights of the Red Army soldiers. It got quite repetitious and rambling in effect and was not very engrossing to me.

The high point of the book came in the capture and surrender of Field Marshal Paulus in downtown Stalingrad. The descriptions and narratives were gripping and intriguing. The closing accounts from the German soldiers was limited but more interesting from the perspective of these combatants. The closing chapter spins off into so obscure struggles of those producing accounts and political takes on the battle that seemed very much out of place. In conclusion I would say if you are looking for a strategic or historical narrative this is certainly not a good choice.… (more)

Jochen Hellbeck's "Stalingrad" is a testament to how much we still don't know about the Eastern Front over 70 years after the war has ended. Within the Soviet Union a historical commission was created to chronicle the struggles of the Red Army and the Soviet Union during the war years, to create a history that well enough encompassed the courageous actions of men and women in the face of an enemy that few others were able to withstand, less so achieve victories against. Unfortunately, while much information was gathered by the historians of this commission, little of this rich material ever saw the light of day. Hellbeck, however, was given the ability and funding to be able to take numerous interviews from survivors of the Stalingrad battle and weave a compelling narrative about the endurance of the Red Army and the fighting for the city that bore Stalin's name. In many ways Stalingrad became a turning point in the war against Nazi Germany and while initially numerous Soviet publications appeared on the battle, including memoirs, readers must keep in mind (and many already know) that much of that literature was tainted by Soviet propaganda, rhetoric, and adhered to the whims of Soviet censors. Those histories and memoirs that appeared in the post-Soviet period are recollections that without doubt have been influenced by time (not to say that they should be dismissed, but simply treated with an understanding of their weaknesses and limitations). Thus, a work that encompasses written interviews with survivors of the battle mere days or weeks after the fact offer many advantages for those interested in this period and these events. Of course these accounts are tinged with ideology and Socialist cliches, but they are also rather candid about topics like German prisoners of war, cowardly behavior by some Red Army commanders, commissars and soldiers, as well Hellbeck offers a large number of endnotes that help guide the reader through many of the actions, units, and locations that are mentioned and also helps to showcase where readers can find discrepancies in accounts by the likes of Chuikov and Rodimtsev. Without a doubt this is a fascinating look at the Red Army and its struggle against the Germans at Stalingrad, the fierce nature of the fighting comes through these interviews on a regular basis and some of the descriptions of the courage and loyalty shown by Red Army troops are truly inspiring. This is a needed addition to Eastern Front literature and I can only hope that this rich archive is further explored and utilized by historians in the near future.… (more)

I have read numerous accounts of the battle of Stalingrad, from General Chuikov's personal account of the battle to Anthony Beevor's (still) definitive study. Reading Jochen Hellbeck's "Stalingrad: The City That Defeated the Third Reich" was both fascinating and frustrating. The transcripts of interviews with participants in the battle, both Soviet and Wehrmacht, are fascinating in the extreme. These interviews, previously unavailable, took place within months of the end of the fighting and, in some of the cases of captured German soldiers, while the fighting was ongoing. These interviews present a very personal and local perspective of the fighting. Soviet entries from September and October provide an intense picture of just how desperate the situation was; while German interviews during January depict the sudden drop off in morale and increasing desperation inside Der Kessel. Particularly poignant is the diary of a young German soldier that abruptly ends on December 18.

What is frustrating is Hellbeck's overview of the battle and his attempts at deconstructing some of the conventional wisdom. For example, he comments that Beevor's assertion of 13,500 executions of Soviet soldiers under orders from General Chuikov does not cite convincing proof while his own assertion comes from Soviet sources taken during and not long after the war. Soviet sources have been demonstrated to be not exactly the most reliable. Also, throughout the interviews are firsthand account of commanders shooting men under their command:

"...but the main party didn't move, they just stayed put...The platoon commander just lifted them up by their collars and shot them."

Hellbeck also comes off as somewhat of a Stalin apologist. Concerning the Red Army purges of 1937 - 39, Hellbeck claims that of the 34,000 officers purged, 11,000 were reinstated by 1941 and of the remaining 23,000, half were brought up on minor charges. That may be so but that still leaves 11,000 or so shot, tortured, imprisoned, etc. This appears to be a fact Hellbeck dismisses out of hand.

One theme presented throughout the book is that of Soviet men over German metal; the Red Army soldier's ideological preparation outweighed the Wehrmacht's superiority in technology and weaponry. This theme is reinforced throughout the series of interviews that make up the majority of the book. The politruk, or political officer, of each company holds meetings and instruction for the soldiers. The depiction of these meetings as natural, comradely occasions is almost laughable, much like something out of a Soviet propaganda film. (Ironic in-so-far-as Hellbeck makes this precise criticism of Beevor's portrayal of the Wehrmacht soldiers) I find it hard to accept that anyone interviewed would say anything for posterity knowing that the NKVD would read it. Also, once the battle was over and you have survived and won, a little boasting and elaboration along party lines is not that hard to imagine.

Similarly, I think by the end of January 1942 the physical situation inside the Kessel deteriorated to the extent as to nullify all but the most hard core ideology. Were the situation reversed the Red Army soldiers would have acted the same. What's more, the Wehrmacht had in it's ranks large numbers of Soviet defectors (the so-called "Hiwis") which also belies the superior Red Army ideological preparation.

All in all, I still think "Stalingrad: The City That Defeated the Third Reich" is a worthwhile read for those interested in the battle that swung on the hinge of fate. Just be aware of some of the inconsistencies.… (more)