The Year of Stalingrad: An Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods and Policies

by Werth, Alexander

• ISBN13: 9781931541763
• ISBN10: 1931541760
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

Sunday Times war-correspondent Werth spent four years in the Soviet Union during WW2. He traveled widely, interviewed Russian officers and enlisted men, civilians and German prisoners. His diary entries and description of why and how the Russians managed to turn back the Nazi invasion make this a fascinating book to read.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	v
Book I LONDON TO MOSCOW
Chapter I-P.Q. 16.	1	(28)
London: The winter of Singapore-Russia "the only bright spot"-British Press and the Battle of Moscow-Difference between Singapore winter and blitz winter-Fleet Street pubs-King's Cross to Middlesbrough-The Empire Baffin-Captain Dykes-Lucky Billie-"The fisherfolk of North Shields"-"The twerps"-Billie and the Germans-Sailing round Scotland-Comrade Pustekov and the Gremlins-Comrade Pustekov and Soviet democracy-His experiences in the 1941 stampede --Leningrad-"No other nation could have stood it"-Evacuees at Cheliabinsk-On to Iceland-Jumbo McGhee and Chattanooga Chu-chu-Chilvers and the International Brigade-The Gold Coast "journalist"-Black pillar of the Comintern-The Aberdonian negro-Alfred Adolphus-Naval review at Reykjavik-More about "twerps"-Cook and the whaling-stations
Chapter II--"NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE!"	29	(16)
The north coast of Iceland-The German observation plane-The first German attack-"The cruisers buzz off"-The R.A.F. boys-Black Wednesday-All-day dive-bomber attack --The end of the Empire Lawrence-The Old Bolshevik on fire-Alfred Adolphus in distress" Oh, the cargo, the cargo!-"Oil and T.N.T.-What Harry with the blackheads would have done to Jerry prisoners-Lifeboats blown off -A game of bridge-" Malta was worse"-Torpedo-bombers-"Dunkirk was child's play"-Evening of gloom-The Second Mate goes "psychic"-" The Arctic Jewboy"-Jumbo still sings-Fog!-The Barents Sea--Russian destroyers-Has the Fokke-Wuif lost us?-Another torpedo attack-The last night at sea- "Damn this midnight sun!"-Geordie gives me a cup of tea-" Here they come again!"-"We are brave people, but we aren't daft!" -Murmansk fjord-Captain Dykes in his Sunday best
Chapter III-MURMANSK IN MAY	45	(9)
Russian naval officers on board-Rum till 4 a.m.-"A good komsomol type"-Murmansk dockers-Hurricanes-The Arctic Hotel-Survivors of the Edinburgh, and others-Air-raids-Reciting King Lear at the Arctic-Men with their legs blown off Train for Moscow-The last of the Empire Baffin-"Thirty per cent loss: you were lucky!"-The P.Q.17-The significance of the Arctic sea route
Chapter IV-FROM MURMANSK To Moscow m A "HARD COACH" (JUNE 1942)	54	(18)
A cross-section of Russian humanity-The Kola River in flood "I am a pedagogue"-Scurvy-"The Volga, the Don and the Caucasus are still in our hands"-Canadian wheat in Northern Russia-The Murmansk front and Katyusha-Conversation piece-"I suppose Churchill disapproves of Communism?-"Soldiers read Schweik-Russian Lapland-Lake Imandra-"The poor bloody Finns!"-Officers playing dominoes-The Georgian and the fat girl-"Oh, the Caucasus!"-Kharkov and Kerch-"One thousand R.A.F. bombers over Cologne!-"The adventures of Tamara-What songs they sang at school on the White Sea-Railwaymen's rations-Station markets-"Peasants are profiteers"-"And so are the soldiers"-Kandalaksha and Kem-Railwaymen's stories-Spring in the Arctic-Millions of buttercups-The old man on Murmansk souvenir shops-"God knows what will happen this year"-Vologda Junction-Refugees and evacuees-The wounded from Leningrad-Comrade Bykov on the Cheka-" I played the trombone solo in Rigoletto"--Naval officers from Leningrad-More black markets-Soap for eggs-Moscow has lean and hungry look-150 roubles a kilo of bread
Book II THE BLACK SUMMER
Chapter I-SOME PECULIARITIES OF 1942	72	(12)
Moscow still near the front-The grim winter of '41-'42-Shortages and privations-Dental clinics without anaesthetics -Half population evacuated-The Battle of Moscow in retrospect-The panic of October 16, 1941-Stalin stayed in the capital-The importance of this-Zoya as a national martyr-Retreat of the Grande Armée-but not quite-The "Winter Fritz"-Yasnaya Polyana-Moods in literature: sentimental and mystical patriotism-Simonov's Wait for Me-Injured national pride-Anxiety in '42-Hate propaganda-" Kill the Germans"-The importance of Ehrenburg-Simonov's tendresse for Russia-Little birch-trees versus the Soviet régime-Russia at bay-Unconventional propaganda lines-The historic tradition of the Russian State-Glorification of Ivan the Terrible-Russia the backbone of the U.S.S.R.-Stalin's tribute to Russian people and admission of errors
Chapter II-JUNE-THE BRITISH ALLIANCE-SEBASTOPOL	84	(34)
The unique phenomenon of the Britansky Soyuznik-All-Slav speakers in Moscow-"Victory in '42"-Journey to Kiln-Destruction around Moscow-" Winter Fritzes" aren't so funny-Life slowly reviving-The children's home-Work among the ruins-Fear of Germans' returning-Tchaikovsky's house-Journey to Gorki and German war prisoners' camp-The leafy banks of the Volga and Oka-Germans in the old monastery-Villages without men-The German prisoners "get all pink and fat, the darlings!"-Anti-Nazi propaganda in the camp-Little support-Goerings thugs" We'll beat Russia this year"-" Man wird sich schon mit England verständigen!"-Cologne raid "impossible"-Rumanian peasants -And a Pole-Bombs on Gorki-Diary: Talk about winter in Moscow-Only plain water in theatre buffet-The Alliance with Britain--Spectacular treatment in Russian Press-Molotov in London-Supreme Soviet meets in Kremlin-Stalin on platform-Alliance eclipsed by "Second Front" communiqué-Reserved attitude of Supreme Sovjet-Molotov's speech-Zhdanov of Leningrad and Scherbakov of Moscow speak-Brief Anglo-Russian honeymoon-Optimism created by Sovinform bureau's "First Anniversary of War" statement-" Germans can now pursue only limited objectives"-Diary: Zhukov's prestige-Word "Russia" enters vocabulary of Soviet Press-" It is desperately hard when you've got eight kids"-Clark Kerr -Anti-Russia verdict in Ankara trial-The circus as form of war propaganda-The "Winter Fritz" again-Foreigners in Moscow-Germans' "signs of asthma"-Pro-Ally posters-Moscow tramcars-The death of Afinogenov-Alliance with Britain: a long-term policy-The Anglo-American Press Association founded-The Scherbakov lunch-Alexei Tolstoy-His views on Gollancz, Trotsky, and the end of Hitler-Ivan the Terrible-Utkiv and Sholokhov-The School of Hate-Sholokhov worried about the Don-and the Caucasus-The summer offensive starts-Patrie en danger-The end of Sebastopol -The winter '41-'42 fighting in the Crimea-Cherry blossom at Sebastopol-Spring-time optimism-All-out German offensive in June-Sebastopol becomes a great symbol-An unpleasant conversation on British and Russian attitude to war prisoners-Why Russians won't have Geneva Convention-The agony of Sebastopol--Stench of corpses-People fight wearing gas-masks-No escape-The last stand on Chersonese Peninsula-Twenty-six thousand wounded fall into German hands-This concealed at the time
Chapter III-THE STORM BREAKS (JULY 1942)	118	(41)
Russians advertise quality of their armaments to foreign Press-"You aren't backing losers"-The artillery ring round Moscow-Candid talk on Russian weakness in '41 by Hero of Soviet Union-The K.V. tank-Cossacks of the Dovator Corps-Horses versus dive-bombers-Diary: Danger in Egypt All-Slavs, not Pan-Slavs-Their activity in Moscow-Death of Eugene Petrov-Sunday afternoon at the Park of Rest-"Ooh! the Japs!"-Smashed German planes versus Russian youngsters -Germans claim Voronezh-Patriotic variety show at Ermitage -"Dodik" on Russian musical taste and activity--The first potatoes-Shostakovich's Seventh-Melodrama?-A frivolous Diary entry-How the Press reported the war--Voronezh Press rises to high pitch of agitation-Ehrenburg-Simonov's "Kill Him"-Germans stopped at Voronezh-But German steam-roller moves east and south-Rostov threatened-"Hold tight!"-Holy Russia-cum-Lenin-Komsomólskaya Pravda's line-Tsaritsyn recalled-Ehrenburg grows desperate-Second Front "prodding" begins in real earnest-Diary: July 13 to 28-Romeo and Juliet and disaster-"If the Russians had India" -Stalingrad becomes a hope-Mr. Oumansky in bad humour -Simonov's Russian People-Partisan's official handbook-On popular literature in 1942-Surkov's biblical prose-Feeling of anguish-Simonov-Gorbatov-Tvardovsky's unbearable Vasili Terkin, the perfect Red Army man-Schweik in the Battle of Moscow-Amateur sketches-Anna Akhmatova's Courage -More Diary: "Fifty million Soviet people now under German occupation"-Working girls dance at Sokolniki-The Moscow Zoo-School for labour reserves-Komsomol officials-"They live on their nerves "-Oumansky's gloomy views-Is Caucasus loyal?-Champenois recalls unpleasant episode during RussoGerman Pact-Petrol shortage-What if Volga is cut?-"The Russians are very hard-boiled about rations"-Envy or resignation by the badly-fed?-After Rostov's fall-Roger Garreau's optimism-" Main thing is Voronezh"-Mme Garreau speaks of Cairo panic-The little girl at the opera-Emotionalism about Russia-Success of B.B.C.'s Russian Commentary
Chapter IV-BETWEEN ROSTOV AND STALINGRAD	159	(34)
General considerations on the fighting-Tightening of army discipline Patrie en danger propaganda at its height-"The officer's honour"-"Country disappointed in the army"-The "great ancestors" invoked-Campaign against sloppy leadership in the army-Korneichuk's Front-Army professionalism and the revival of gold braid-Rostov a turning point-How news of fall of Rostov was handled-Creation of Suvorov, Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Orders for officers-Significance of this-"Officers' order is an iron law"-Traitors must be shot-Purge after Rostov-Officer and Commissar-Second Front drive in Britain, as seen from Moscow-Slower retreat on Don, fast retreat in Caucasus-Increased tone of confidence-Hate propaganda reaches another high pitch-Surkov's "I Hate"-"Not a step back"-Ehrenburg's emotional propaganda-"Imprisonment in Germany is worse than death" -The Russian stand at Kletskaya-Germans now advance in fits and starts-Russian withdrawal across Don-Battle of Stalingrad begins-From the Diary (August 2 to 26): Good British conduct in bombing of Murmansk-Talk with shepherd -Street accidents in Moscow-War-crippled children in Moscow hospital-New air-route by Alaska-Talk of fifth columnists-Cutting timber for Moscow-" Save petrol" campaign-Ehrenburg and Hemingway-Pessimism-Boris Voitekhov's caustic humour-In the Boulevard on a summer evening (Moscow tableau)-" If only Moscow had an Utrillo !" -Untimely exhibition of German rout outside Moscow-" Vic-tory in '42" slogan withdrawn-Casualties-Will Turks or Japs attack?-Talk of German "East Wall"-Cossack loyalty and Moslem disloyalty-Moscow "unstable," unlike Leningrad Army's anger "against the Southern Armies"-What happens to cowards in the Army, and to their families-Kalach lost: big German claims-The Churchill visit-More from the Diary-Saturday evening at great Moscow cotton mill-Poems, speeches, slogans-Pioneers, komsomols and Red Army men on leave-The self-appointed Master of Ceremonies-Confetti, but no liquor-Olga Sapozhnikova, a true descendant of the old Moscow weavers-" Russia is European, but is Germany?"Borodin's instinctive loathing of Meistersinger-What Russian film people were saying-Tributes to Chaplin-Dovzhenko's deep gloom-Eisenstein and Pudovkin--Kapler in partisan country-" Adopt war orphans" propaganda-Olga's remarks on passing the Kremlin by moonlight--Khimki bathing beach
Book III THE DEFENSIVE BATTLE
Chapter I-STALINGRAD, THE NODAL POINT	193	(22)
(a) Some General Considerations.-Defence of Stalingrad was part of bigger plan-Churchill informed-Russians strongly deny "guts" was main explanation of Stalingrad-The six main reasons why Stalingrad was not lost-German summer campaign "risky, but intelligent," Russians now say-Russians tied up at Moscow, Leningrad, Orel-But Germans had to have both Stalingrad and Caucasus--They couldn't choose (b) How the Germans reached Stalingrad.-German tank and air superiority-Some figures-Colonel Zamiatin on German break-through to Stalingrad-Germans reach Volga-General Talensky on fighting around Stalingrad-The importance of wooden and stone buildings-Germans bomb Stalingrad-Why outer ring of fortifications was not used (c) The Battle Inside the City.-Situation critical till September 15-Rodimtsev's men to the rescue-Further losses of territory inside city-The "bridgeheads"-Comparison of Russian and German strength at different moments of Stalingrad battle-Russian and German casualties Börsenzeitung whines-Importance of Russian artillery on both sides of Volga-Stalingrad in danger up to November 1g-Russian superiority during offensive-Importance of Don Front to Stalingrad's defence-Limited role of tanks inside Stalingrad-The "professionally psychological aspect"-Street and house-to-house fighting-Snipers-The "nightmare of positional warfare"-The German October all-out offensive-Stalingrad as a "school"-General Chuikov-The importance of vodka--Why Stalingrad factories were not evacuated
Chapter II-THE FIRST WEEKS OF STALINGRAD	215	(22)
Virtual news blackout during first weeks-Fighting in waterless steppes-Alarming notes in editorials-"The Asiatic fanaticism of the Russians"-"Stalingrad is our Verdun"-"No, it's different"-More threats to cowards-Serious situation-Loss of Novorossisk-Russians call for Caucasus peoples' solidarity-Propaganda blowing hot and cold-Confidence and alarm-"All Germans are bad"-Much made of Getman panic over R.A.F. bombings-Warning to Russian soldiers: "They know at home how you are fighting"-Short History of the Communist Party invoked-Progress of the war industries publicised-"On September 15 German Stalingrad gains ceased to be regular and automatic"-War information guided by danger of Japanese attack?-Even after September 15 news fragmentary and vague-Red Star on street fighting-First descriptive dispatches from Stalingrad-The great legend of Stalingrad is born-Simonou and Grossman-Ehrenburg on the Germans-German extermination policy in Russia-The Soviet State and the Orthodox Church-Short-term and longterm reasons for agreement-Doors of Party widely opened-Identity of Party and nation in '	'42
Chapter III-MOSCOW m SEPTEMBER	237	(29)
Attention focused on Stalingrad-Russian "diversionist" offensive at Rzhev--Costly but necessary-Red Army gives cold reception to Anglo-American visitors-Visit to Pogoreloye-Village boys informative on German occupation methods-Strube's little man-Hanging of the teacher-Russian and German leaflets-"Stalin, like Nicholas II, is slaughtering you for the benefit of the British and the Americans"-"Stalin reinstating the priests"-From the Diary (September 3 to 29): What composers were doing-On religion in Russia-Attempted day raid on Moscow---Shostakovich in the air-raid shelter-New anti-Nazi motif at the circus-The German "hairy ape"Zhukov to be rewarded for Stalingrad?-British Embassy and Second Front--At the New Virgin Monastery-Colonel X on public feeling in England-The story of Olga-Life of a cotton operative's family-Effect of war--Olga recalls October '41 and what the workers did-And what others didn't do-"Touch and go"-"Would have followed Red Army out of Moscow"-Factories mined-Blowing-up order cancelled-Factories reopen four days after panic-Olga's love life-Why she didn't marry Sasha-Pushkov: "There was chaos at Stalingrad at first"Liza returns from a Moscow peat camp-Yasnaya Polyana The road to Tuta-Tuta and its defence in '41-Tolstoy's grand-daughter-Vandalism and the visitors' book-Tolstoy's grave-"Their idiotic hee-hawing got people down"-The wife of the man who was hanged by the Finns-Wendell Willkie in Moscow-New impetus given to Second Front drive, after failure of Dieppe-More about Olga-Olga on Komsomol, Party and the Church-"You can't have divided loyalties"-Olga wants to get married-Scriabin passed for war service
Chapter IV-OCTOBER-PROPAGANDA LINES-MORE ARMY REFORMS-HESS-THE LAST WEEKS OF THE DEFENSIVE BATTLE	266	(48)
October '42: "Never was the danger greater"-Stalingrad territory reduced to almost nothing-Yaroslavsky on The Certainty of Victory-Unsoundness of New Order--"Divided" Germany-Allies' resources-Nevertheless, anger against German working-class-Russian "Vansittartism"-Low's Blimp appears in Soviet cartoon-Stalin's first letter to Cassidy-Question of war criminals raised by Molotov-Hess-Pravda's attack on Britain-"Sanctuary for Gangsters"-The ghosts of Munich-Distrust of Allies deliberately cultivated as long-term policy?-"Heroic Stalingrad"-"Building-up" Rodimtsev-The all-out mid-October offensive-The peak period of the Stalingrad Battle-Grossman's Reportage-Defence of the Red October Works-Gurtiev's Siberians' life-and-death struggle-Signs of German morale declining-Lidov's "snapshots" of Stalingrad--End of October: Russians rejoice because Germans have "lost three most precious months for offensive"-New German push in Caucasus--Nalchik captured on November 2-Officers and uniforms: Creating the type of the smart, victorious Soviet officer,--Korneichuk's Front, an attack on Russian variety of "Blimps"-Political Commissars abolished by ukase of October 9--What this meant--Single command-But not end of political education-Some Commissars become officers --Books, films and plays in October, all typical of 1942-Leonov and Wasilewska-Tolstoy and Saltykov used as "1942" propaganda-The non-Russian nationalities in '42-Their Red Army record--Extravagant encouragement to Uzbeks Pravda in Uzbek--Stalin reads German sadist's diary-Ehrenburg's digest-Mood in Moscow at end of October--"The worst is over"-My B.B.C. Commentary: October 27-The November slogans-Pravda on "national importance of the Revolution"-The "Oath to Stalin" by the defenders of Stalingrad-Conversation with two men from Stalingrad-"Russians shave, Germans have stopped shaving"-Alexei Tolstoy's buffoonery about the Germans-Hate propaganda still insufficiently based on tangible facts-These to be revealed in '43 and '44-"November"-'42-Stalin's broadcast-Pleasant to Allies-Confident, but letting no cats out of any bags-Effect in Russia of North Africa landings-Stalin's second letter to Cassidy--Stalingrad hears distant gunfire-The last days of the defensive battle
Chapter V-MOSCOW IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER	314	(28)
From the Diary: Hitler's "Stalingrad will fall"-Reflections on Russian artistic and literary standards before the Revolution and now-A set of Apollon-Ambassador Standley on the inadequacy of American supplies to Russia-Also on the paternity of the "Second Front" communiqué-Did Lenin love Russia?-More about Hess-Frau Hess and Myra Hess-Meeting with a neurotic and amorous Russian airman-Or merely a phony?-Hindus and Winterton on German extermination policy in Russia-The great wartime racket at the Composers Union-Three outstanding wartime songs-Yudin's significant lecture on international affairs-The Marxist interpretation of British war policy-"The reason for the delay in Second Front is entirely political"-"Class interests govern decisions of British Government"-Questions and answers-"The Happy Raiders"-Front theatrical company--Volodya Poliakov-Their adventures in the Caucasus-A survivor of Kerch and his story-Views at British and American Military Missions-Moscow reactions to Stalin speech and North Africa landings-Moscow under the snow-Gloves, fur caps and overcoats at piano recital-" Four Hundred Years of Anglo-Russian Friendship"-Which makes Dodik laugh-What Russians know about English literature-Soviet wartime paintings--Freezing houses-November 22: The first purple patch on the map-Fat Tanya and the great racket of translating Burial-Mongol poetry-Russians begin to think of post-war problems-"The S.S. are ipso facto war criminals"-Colonel Exham: "Right on to Kharkov"-Americans still debunking Red Army-Inside a munitions plant in Moscow-Grannie also does her bit-Boris in an outrageous mood-" What do you know about revolutionary tactics, anyway?"-Japs looking subdued-Toulon--An evening with Chekhov's widow-Chess in Moscow-Fantastic price differences throughout Soviet Union-A soldier looks back on eighteen months of war-His candid reflections-End of the Diary
Book IV THE GERMAN ROUT
Chapter I-THE RED ARMY HITS BACK	342	(38)
Colonel Zamiatin's analysis of the Russian counter-offensive --Russian superiority in leadership, effectives and armaments --Russian Command insures against German counterblows-Von Mannstein's failure to break through to Stalingrad-Dayby-day reports of the offensive-Germans unwilling to admit anything-Everything hinged on encirclement of German Sixth Army-Throughout December offensive gains in momentum-Grossman on advancing troops' morale-Henry Shapiro's report on Stalingrad Front trip-Vatutin's great confidence"There can be no 'Socialist Competition' in the Red Army!"-Special training for offensive warfare-The importance of good food and elementary comforts in the Army-Gold braid a collective reward for Stalingrad-Ceremonial of the Banner --Introduction of epaulettes and its significance-Rules of officers' smartness-Offensive creates all-pervading feeling of great turning-point-Alexei Tolstoy's almost "racial" pride-Lenin and patriotism-Scherbakov on front and rear-" Red Army carrying the entire weight of the war"-The question of trucks and other Allied supplies-Professor Manuilsky's prophetic cursing of Germans-German atrocities become more tangible as Red Army advances--But super-horrors still ahead -Vertiachi Camp--Oleg Koshevoy, hero of Russian youth, 1942-" Gratitude for Stalingrad" campaign: Collective Farmer Ferapont Golovaty's gift to Stalin-Eleven milliards donated to defence fund-Sovinformbureau's January 1, 1943, report on offensive-The three stages-The leaders-Their subsequent career-Hitler virtually loses all his allies-The Caucasus Campaign-The immediate consequences of the Stalingrad victory-Russian offensive continues till end of February-Radical change along whole front
Chapter II-TRAVELS BETWEEN VOLGA AND DON AT THE TIME OF THE GERMAN ENCIRCLEMENT	380	(48)
(a) Into Asia and Back Again-Moscow to Saratov-Through the arid steppes beyond the Volga-Stalingrad's lifeline-Elton and Baskunchak-" The most bombed railway in the world"-Leninsk, railway terminus of the supply line to Stalingrad-Officers and nurses-Across the Volga Delta-Driver who was in great Stalingrad bombing-"Richmond Park"-Stalingrad guns in the distance-Crossing the Volga--Raigorod
(b) Through the Kalmuk Steppes to Kotelnikovo-Blizzard--The old ambulance and the old man from Murom-The Axai River-Rumanian helmets in the snow-In the footsteps of the Red Army-Abganerovo-On the Stalingrad-Caucasus railway line-Signs of Mannstein's recent retreat-Arrival at Kotelnikovo
(c) Kotelnikovo-Gai, his mother and grandmother-The German tank crew in the little cottage-" Matka, waschen!" -The Rumanians-General Kotelkov-German transport planes for Stalingrad-Captured airmen and others-Conditions inside the Stalingrad "ring"-Dead Germans in the steppe-" Verschneete Gräber"-Memories of the Taverne in Berlin-Putti Hanfstaengl-Babushka talks of old times-More about Gai and Mamma-Following the Germans to the south--Zimovniki-Back in Kotelnikovo-The peculiarities of the German occupation in Cossack country
(d) Visit to General Malinovsky-Malinovsky in the Cossack schoolhouse-An important statement-The waters of the Don-German reconnaissance plane shot down-Its crew Russian and Tartar soldiers on knifing Germans-Comedy in the blizzard
(e) Saratov
(f) The Colonel's Unsentimental Education-Revolution-Civil War-Hand-grenades as part of nursery-Ukrainian atrocities in 1919-Between the wars-And now-Return to Moscow
Chapter III STALINGRAD: THB AGONY	428	(10)
New Year inside Stalingrad-German hunger and lack of munitions-January 8: Ultimatum to Von Paulus-Rumanian cavalry eaten-"Liquidation" of German Sixth Army begins-How it was done-Why did Germans reject ultimatum?-Stages of the liquidation battle-Capitulation--Red Star on Von Paulus
Chapter IV-VISIT TO STALINGRAD	438
Germans' days of mourning--The steppes again--Conversations at an airfield--Reflections of a tipsy Colonel-The German generals-Sixt von Arnim--Von Paulus-General Malinin on "Cannae"-Night drive to Stalingrad-Bonfires, lorries, horses, soldiers, camels, searchlights; and dead men in the snow-Armies marching west-In a Stalingrad dugout-Ruins of the workers' settlement-The Volga!-Dugouts in the cliffs-General Chuikov-Red October and Mamaiev Hill-In the centre of Stalingrad-The youth to whom Von Paulus surrendered--Dying Germans in Red Army house-"If only the whole of Germany could behold this!"-German letters-Rodimtsev-A German soldiers' prayer-book-Hitherto war was Russia's full-time job-Battle of survival won-A new period opens