SAfterStalingradBookReview

Reviewed by Steven Douglas Mercatante [1]

The war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union has received an uneven
treatment from most popular historians. Perhaps no better example of this is in typical
accounts of events taking place during the winter of 1942-1943. Most often, this
period of the war in Eastern Europe is described strictly from the perspective of the
German Sixth Army's collapse at Stalingrad. Then, in these accounts and almost as an
afterthought, the Red Army ends up pushing a reconstituted German Army Group South
back into the Ukraine and out of the Caucuses and Donbas regions of Southern Russia.
The Red Army's effort during this period is maximal and concentrated almost exclusively
on Army Group South. These accounts finish by describing Manstein's brilliant counter
strokes in February and March of 1943 and then go into the "build up period" before
Kursk. As revealed by David M. Glantz in After Stalingrad, The Red Army's Winter
Offensive 1942-1943, such accounts are not only misleading, but also do a tremendous
disservice to our understanding of the Second World War.

After Stalingrad sheds new light on not only events in Southern Russia during the
winter of 1942-43, but also the fierce combat that took place across the German
Eastern Front during the same period. Glantz has mined newly revealed primary source
material from the Russian archives to produce a fresh look at this important time in the
war. Most importantly, Glantz helps clear up past myths by showing the reader the
incredibly ambitious strategic intent behind Stavka's 1942-1943 winter campaign.
Contrary to past descriptions, the Red Army did not merely conduct an opportunistic
follow up to Stalingrad focused primarily on Army Group South. Instead, as Glantz
convincingly demonstrates, Stalin and Stavka planned and launched a series of
strategic level campaigns across nearly the entire front - with every major German
army group the target of Soviet goals far more ambitious than previously thought.

The dedicated Eastern Front enthusiast will recognize much in this book - for instance
Glant'z exploration of Operation Mars - Zhukov's highly ambitious late 1942 attempt to
eviscerate German Army Group Center. Nonetheless, there is also quite a bit that may
be new to even the well read. For instance, it is in how Glantz frames the larger
context of his work and explores other lesser-known Soviet campaigns that he
illuminates the how and why behind these important events. Beyond revisiting
Operation Mars, Glantz also not only covers the Soviet thrusts into the Ukraine but
also explores the ambitious February 1943 strategic level offensives Stavka launched
along the Orel-Smolensk Axis and against Army Group North in Operation Polar Star -
offensives frequently ignored by the traditional focus on Manstein's contemporaneous
counterstrokes in the Donbas and at Kharkov. Finally, Glantz concludes with an
interesting reexamination of the importance and impact produced by Manstein's highly
aggressive and brilliant moves in the Ukraine.

After Stalingrad is a must read for the dedicated student of the Second World War.
That said it is not an easy read. This is a book for those with a pre-existing base of
knowledge about German-Soviet war and it is not for the beginner. Although short on
pictures, the book is well organized and includes numerous maps - albeit some of the
maps are incredibly difficult to read. However, if you have any interest at all in the
German Eastern Front during World War II than this book is for you. In addition, you
can trust it's contents.

All too often publishers release books about the German Eastern Front that contain
gross inaccuracies and bias with almost no attribution for where the author's
statements come from. With a David Glantz book, dry as many of these may be, you
are getting the best possible knowledge about the German-Soviet war found today in
the English-speaking world. David Glantz is the foremost specialist on the Red Army in
the Anglo-American world and ranks among the best the world over. He more than
makes up for an academic writing style by putting his name to some of the finest
research and unbiased historical work that can be found about the Second World War.
Beyond After Stalingrad, I whole-heartedly recommend almost all of his other works.
Glantz's output has been truly prodigious over the past two decades; he is the author
of dozens of books and other such publications on the Red Army and the Second World
War. When examining what Glantz has uncovered prepare to have your pre-existing
vision of the Second World War's Eastern Front challenged and be ready to reappraise
what you thought you knew about the war.

Return to Book Review Page