New book on Stalingrad

[mike jones]

I have brought out a new book on Stalingrad:

Michael K Jones, Stalingrad: How the Red Army Triumphed (Pen and Sword Military, 2007; ISBN: 9781844155439). David M Glantz wrote the Foreword.

For the last five years I have led battlefield tours to Stalingrad, and worked extensively with Red Army veterans of the fighting. The book contains a lot of powerful new veteran testimony, and also draws upon the recently released combat records for the 62nd Army - the Soviet defenders of the city. I believe a very different version of this famous battle emerges as a result.

With my best wishes to everyone on the Forum, Mike.

[Owen]

Mike,
Welcome to the Forum.
Please tell us more of your trips to Stalingrad.
As you have had so much contact with Red Army Veterans care to comment on the Ivan's War thread?
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-m...merridale.html


Book you mention sounds good. Can I have a signed copy? Please.

[mike jones]

Many thanks for your interest!

The tours were organised by UK companies Midas and Holts Battlefield Tours, and an associated Russian one, and we also worked with the Moscow Council of War Veterans.When I got to know the Stalingrad veterans well enough I invited them to join us.

A particular highlight was being joined in Volgograd by Colonel-General Anatoly Mereshko. Mereshko was a Red Army staff officer during the battle, reporting directly to Stalingrad's commander Vasily Chuikov. He subsequently rose to become Deputy Commander of the Warsaw Pact. His astonishing testimony forms the narrative spine of my book - and most of it is entirely new!

Yes, I know Catherine Merridale's book well. It is undoubtedly very good, but it paints a larely negative picture of the Red Army. As a result, we understand the fear its soldiers felt but struggle to comprehend their astonishing courage. And that courage is the key to understanding how they held out at Stalingrad.

I am doing a book signing at the War and Peace Military Fair on 21 July.

Best wishes, Mike.

[von Poop]

Welcome Mike, sounds interesting.
Always good to see the Red Army being given the credit for their fighting ability that they deserve and seem to so rarely get in the West.

Have fun, (and hope you enjoy Beltring).

Cheers,
Adam.

[mike jones]

Thanks! - I really agree. There was a brief window of opportunity to write this book. Many Red Army veterans of Stalingrad are now passing away - and their remarkable stories are going with them. I wanted to pay tribute to their astonishing courage.

[mike jones]

Just a quick update - Casemate are bringing out the USA edition of my book on Stalingrad this month.

Best wishes, Mike.