Unity of Command Forums

Being a bit of a history buff, in particular WW2, I've read a lot of books on Normandy and Africa etc but only over the last year or so have I started reading more about the actual fighting on the Eastern Front.

Antony Beevor's - Stalingrad was excellent. Having read it though I have been at a loss for other quality books on the subject. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Hi Centy,

I like this book too for overall narative. If you feel like delving deeper into the campaign, I recommend the books by David Glantz. Note however that they are really heavy on detail and facts. You might find them dry and difficult - I did at first - but the writing is really good and they seem to be well fact-checked.

To the gates of Stalingrad: Soviet-German combat operations, April-August 1942
Armageddon in Stalingrad: September-November 1942

Too bad there's no such quality book from Glantz on the final part of the campaign. I have both After Stalingrad and From the Don to the Dnepr but they're definitely not in the same league as the first two. Possibly the author is working to bring the third part of the Stalingrad trilogy up to this high standard, I don't know. If he does count me in, I'm buying it

Those certainly look good for a finer look into the campaign which is what I was after. As you said 'Stalingrad' is a good overall introduction and I want to go further. Dry and detail orientated isn't a problem for me I am currently reading a very in depth book about Stalin's life which has been incredibly tedious so far I am hoping it picks up more after 1932 when things start to get really interesting.

Those are now on my wishlist, cheers.

Another good reading is The greatest battle by Andrew Nagorski:
http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Battle-D ... 0743281101

I found a book called "The Secret of Stalingrad" by Walter Kerr. I just stumbled upon it in a used bookstore not too long ago. It was published in 1978, and is quite fascinating. If one can believe the author, it was he who first "discovered" the details of the 10 Reserve armies that Stalin had dispersed throughout the Soviet Union, amazingly in total secrecy. He traces how over the course of the campaign Stalin would release an army as required to save each near-disaster that befell the Soviets. IIRC they had 1 or 2 armies left over, according to the author. Quite a nice find for $2.00!

A quick comment about Beevor, i'd be a bit careful about him as i do get the impression he has a thing of omitting details here and there.

Otherwise, a good book on the Eastern front is War without Garlands by Robert Kershaw, really nice book on Operation Barbarossa.

I still read the Beevor book and enjoyed it, these objections notwithstanding... for most up to date facts and analysis (it's an actively researched area) I still recommend books by David Glantz and also the official German history of WW2(that one's pricey though).

Another book that I think stands out, after reading many about the subject, is this:

Joel Hayward: Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943

It is about the Luftwaffe, but it's a good read on the overall campaign too. Gives a bird's eye view I guess. I recommend it completely.

Well i certainly learned a few things from it. Certainly did not know the extent to which Russian soldiers were fighting for Germany there. Though at times it did feel a bit like a chore to read it. Otherwise the amount of books i do have that deal with the eastern front are a bit limited at the moment :p So i can't recommend a lot except be careful with Beevor.

You mean the Hiwis? Very interesting, true. I even wanted to have them as a specialist step, but gave up on that... early on, in fact. Didn't have a good idea of what the step would do in game terms. It's unfortunate, because it would have added some extra historical flavor to the game.

Well that depends on what things those specialist steps could do or can't do.

An example i suppose could be to make the unit it is attached to tougher in general through the additional manpower supplied by the Hiwis. Otherwise, hard for me to say without a greater understanding of the game mechanics

Edit: Well having thought about it a bit more.. Perhaps something more in the lines of an "expendability" step, ie, they die first ? Could be mirrored with Soviet Penal battalions Not sure if it would be the best fit, but it's an idea