Enemy at the Gates

Description

A classic work of World War II history that brings to vivid, dramatic life 1 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 3 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 5 months, 1 week, and 3 days. Nearly 2 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. Bestselling author William Craig spent 5 years researching this epic clash of military titans, traveling to 3 continents in order to review documents and interview hundreds of survivors. Enemy at the Gates is the enthralling result: the definitive account of 1 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.