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Dear Stalingrad-enthousiast!
Finally I can bring
you the news that a new Stalingrad book is done.
Called "The Battle for
Stalingrad - The Battle for the Factories", it is the translation of
the German Stalingrad book that appeared now nearly 3 years ago. At
that time still many of the German veterans who participated on the
book were still alive. Forword is written by my best friend Joachim
Stempel, who sadly died much to early!
It has colour pictures
of the battle as from after the battle. Also it contains lot of
private pictures from many of the veterans themselves.
The cover contains a
"smashing" picture of the fightings in Stalingrad area, a new
picture out of the private collection of the 24th Pz. Div.
men who was a forward observer with the leading attacking elements!
Below you find the
foreword by Joachim Stempel (Oberst a.D. BW). Joachim Stempel was
the son of Generalleutnant Richard Stempel who was killed in action
at Stalingrad on 26 January 1943. Joachim Stempel survived Russian
captivity after he was captured by the Red Army at Stalingrad.
Hans J. Wijers.
Since August 1942 the
attack of the 6th Army assaulted Stalingrad. Now it has this
important industrial city in an iron grip. After the last combat in
September the Battle for Stalingrad now enters the winter. The
Grenadiers partially stand in the city centre of the Stalingrad. The
regiments of the 71st Infantry Division (General von Hartmann) have
penetrated deeply into
the inner city and have reached the banks of the Volga there. In the
south - as well as in the north armoured units (16th Panzer Division
and 24th Panzer Division) have taken positions in the Stalingrad
suburbs and there stop the Russians who are attacking continuously.
Now the northern part
of Stalingrad, where the Russians still hold the bigger industrial
estates, is to be the scene of the decisive attack. The last
positions of the Russians are to be taken from both south and north.
Before the onset of winter Stalingrad is to be in German hands.
In this book the
adventures and experiences of eyewitnesses, who took part in the big
battle for Stalingrad, after more than 60 years are put to paper.
Many of these men, who only now discuss their adventures and fates
of those days for the first time, once again lived through the
battle as part of this.
Of course this account
is not without gaps. Decades have passed since the battle for
Stalingrad and of many units there are no more witnesses. Yet all
units that fought in this sector are honoured.
The author has tried
to let still surviving Stalingrad veterans speak or use reports and
accounts from legacies to illustrate the pitiless harshness and
merciless brutality of the battle - as it was usual at the time.
In memory of all those
who remained behind in Stalingrad.
Joachim
Stempel.
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