Osprey- Soviet Tanks at Stalingrad 1942-43

Book Specifics

Author: William E. Hiestand

Illustrator: Steve Noon

Price- $20.00

ISBN 978-1-4728-6522-9

New Vanguard Series 345

Softcover, 48 pages, with 40 photos and 8 pages of color illustrations

What's Inside

Anyone who has ever read into the major battles of the Eastern Front in World War II knows of the major upset the Soviets dealt to the German 6th Army with their eventual encirclement that caused their humbling surrender and defeat. Ever since I read the excellent William Craig book Enemy at the Gates, I have been immensely interested in reading all I could about the battle. This release from Osprey shifts the focus from the city itself and the struggle that caused starvation and suffering from both sides, and shines light on the armor side and it's influence on the engagement. Earlier in the summer of 1942, despite the introduction of the formidable T-34 and KV-1 tanks, the Soviets were unable to successfully merge infantry and artillery with armor. By November, tactics and coordination had shifted and the Fifth Tank Army challenged the Romanian Third Army which led to success and to the weakening of the German side leading to victory.

The photos in the book are for the most part smaller and many tend to be quite dark in contrast. Some of them are blurred- but showing tanks in action so that is to be expected. The color artwork shows side profiles of KV-1 and KV-1S, T-60 & T-70, Matilda, Valentine, Grant, and Stuart tanks and a three-view of the T-34. There are also profiles of a armored river gunboat and a rail gun platform. The book is broken down into the following table of contents:

• CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• DOCTRINE AND ORGANIZATION
• TECHNICAL FACTORS
• THE CAMPAIGN
• BATTLE ANALYSIS
• FURTHER READING
• INDEX

The Doctrine and Organization section speaks on Tank Brigade, Tank Corps, Mechanized Corps, and the 1942 Tank Army levels.

Technical Factors focuses on the tanks, with sections dedicated to the T-34 (76mm), KV-1 and KV-1S, T-60 and T-70, and Lend-Lease tanks including Matildas, Valentines, Lees, and Stuarts. 

 The Campaign breaks down into the following components:

• Kerch and the second battle of Kharkov
• Operation Fall Blau
• The drive to Stalingrad
• Stalingrad, Uranus, and Winter Storm
• Operation Little Saturn
• Operation Mars
• Tigers at the Front

This is the real meat of this series from Osprey- where we get brief synopses of each phase in the battle- accompanied by informative charts and photos of the tanks in action. The Soviet use of tank turrets on top of riverboats and rail platforms were of particular interest to me- another excellent example of the Soviet's sort of kit bashing to create challenges to the Germans and the T-34 turrets on these platforms provided protection for the gun crews.

The Battle Analysis draws the book to its end by stating that the early losses and defeats by the Soviets refined their tactics and led to a reversal at Stalingrad that gained momentum and carried over into further operations at Kursk and Kharkov.

Conclusion

In the end, it really came down to one thing-- the ability of the Soviets to increasingly absorb and adapt to the heavy losses it encountered while the Germans were in turn less able to do so. Soviet resources and tactics increased and grew while the Germans were unable to sustain them. Advances in better designed tanks like the T-34-85 and heavier designs, and the shift from Lend-lease Matildas, Valentines, and Lees to Shermans shifted the momentum away from Moscow and towards Berlin. Stalingrad was the turning point and while putting up a fight, Germany was never able to shift things back their way.

Highly Recommended for anyone interested in the armored aspects of this crucial Eastern Front battle.

Thanks goes out to Osprey Publishing for this review sample.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves

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