Summary of William Craig's Enemy at the Gates

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The steppe region of Russia is light brown in color, and is desolate except for a few rectangular patches of cultivated farmland. It has been that way for centuries. But on August 5, 1942, a malevolent presence intruded on the timeless scene. From the west, came giant pillars of dust.

#2 The German Sixth Army was far from total mechanization. It still relied on horses to move guns and supplies, as well as soldiers. The troops dug shallow foxholes and waited for the signal to attack.

#3 The German army was near Stalingrad, and the last escape route to the Don River was closing. The German generals were now concerned about the next phase of the offensive: fording the Don River and moving forty miles east to the Volga.

#4 The original plans for Operation Blue did not call for the capture of Stalingrad. In fact, the city was not a primary target for attack. The German army was to capture Stalingrad by force as soon as possible, and Colonel General Friedrich von Paulus was commander of the Sixth Army.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669399452

IRB Media

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Insights on William Craig's Enemy at the Gates

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 14

Insights from Chapter 15

Insights from Chapter 16

Insights from Chapter 17

Insights from Chapter 18

Insights from Chapter 19

Insights from Chapter 20

Insights from Chapter 21

Insights from Chapter 22

Insights from Chapter 23

Insights from Chapter 24

Insights from Chapter 25

Insights from Chapter 26

Insights from Chapter 27

Insights from Chapter 28

Insights from Chapter 29

Insights from Chapter 30

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The steppe region of Russia is light brown in color, and is desolate except for a few rectangular patches of cultivated farmland. It has been that way for centuries. But on August 5, 1942, a malevolent presence intruded on the timeless scene. From the west, came giant pillars of dust.

#2

The German Sixth Army was far from total mechanization. It still relied on horses to move guns and supplies, as well as soldiers. The troops dug shallow foxholes and waited for the signal to attack.

#3

The German army was near Stalingrad, and the last escape route to the Don River was closing. The German generals were now concerned about the next phase of the offensive: fording the Don River and moving forty miles east to the Volga.

#4

The original plans for Operation Blue did not call for the capture of Stalingrad. In fact, the city was not a primary target for attack. The German army was to capture Stalingrad by force as soon as possible, and Colonel General Friedrich von Paulus was commander of the Sixth Army.

#5

In January 1942, Paulus finally got his life's desire: command of an army in the field. The two men could not have been more dissimilar. Reichenau was an ardent Nazi and a ruthless believer in Hitler's thesis of racial supremacy, while Paulus was a master of detail and fascinated with figures.

#6

The German Army under Friedrich von Paulus was instrumental in rallying the Wehrmacht from near disaster and trapping more than two hundred thousand Russians in a giant envelopment.

#7

The Sixth Army was a model of military brilliance, and in his camper, Friedrich von Paulus reflected on the good fortunes of past weeks. However, he neglected to mention several nagging concerns.

#8

The Italian Army was also sent to fight in the Soviet Union. While some soldiers were excited to be there, others were terrified. The Alpini, the elite mountain climbers of the Italian Army, were delighted to be given the task of guiding mules along.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

In June 1942, Hitler launched Operation Blue, a campaign to strangle Russia's oil production and therefore her potential to wage modern war.