Enemy at the Gates

The Battle for Stalingrad

By: William Craig

Narrated by: David Baker

A classic work of World War II history that brings to vivid, dramatic life one of the bloodiest battles ever fought - and the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.

On August 5, 1942, giant pillars of dust rose over the Russian steppe, marking the advance of the 6th Army, an elite German combat unit dispatched by Hitler to capture the industrial city of Stalingrad and press on to the oil fields of Azerbaijan. The Germans were supremely confident; in three years, they had not suffered a single defeat. The Luftwaffe had already bombed the city into ruins. German soldiers hoped to complete their mission and be home in time for Christmas.

The siege of Stalingrad lasted five months, one week, and three days. Nearly two million men and women died, and the 6th Army was completely destroyed. Considered by many historians to be the turning point of World War II in Europe, the Soviet Army's victory foreshadowed Hitler's downfall and the rise of a communist superpower.

Best-selling author William Craig spent five years researching this epic clash of military titans, traveling to three continents in order to review documents and interview hundreds of survivors. Enemy at the Gates is the enthralling result: the definitive account of one of the most important battles in world history. The book was the inspiration for the 2001 film of the same name, starring Joseph Fiennes and Jude Law.

©1973 William Craig; This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc. (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

1000x better than the movie

This book covers so much more than the movie. The sniper battle comes up a few different times in it but overall it is maybe eight minutes (three pages) in total. It covers both sides of the war from each push and from the bottom to the top of the chain of command. Definitely worth a read/listen.

Some factual errors

Older book with factual errors but worth listening to because of fascinating first hand accounts.

Gripping, devastating read.

The book follows a handful of officers and enlisted men, along with anecdotes from others, and the over-all history of the moment. The story tells the building war not as a series of bullet points, but as a smear of hell that existed for those who lived it, while the world seemed to be normal just a few miles away.

Excellent

An excellent factual re-telling of the battle of Stalingrad. Very in-depth details are provided that allow a superb understanding of what the civilians of Stalingrad endured as well as German and Russian soldiers. I've read many books about WWII and I am always amazed by the stories of the events that took place. The magnitude of loss and destruction is hard to believe. If you want to know specifically what happened at Stalingrad then this book won't disappoint you. I am always grateful that so many historians and authors have dedicated incredible amounts of time traveling, performing research, and writing about such an important time period in human history for others to understand and learn from.

epic tale!!

Loved it! Kinda makes you wonder how would I have handled the situation! Enjoy it!