To Save An Army: The Stalingrad Airlift

During World War II, the Luftwaffe conducted a crucial airlift operation to supply the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, despite adverse weather conditions and Soviet opposition. This book explores the human, strategic, tactical, and technical aspects of the operation through previously unpublished diaries, photographs, and other sources.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Using the diaries of Luftwaffe commanders, rare contemporary photographs, and other previously unpublished sources, Robert Forsyth analyzes the human, strategic, tactical, and technical elements of one of the most dramatic operations arranged by the Luftwaffe. Stalingrad ranks as one of the most infamous, savage, and emotive battles of the 20th century. It has consumed military historians since the 1950s and has inspired many books and much debate. This book tells the story of the operation mounted by the Luftwaffe to supply, by airlift, the trapped and exhausted German Sixth Army at Stalingrad in the winter of 1942/43. The weather conditions faced by the flying crews, mechanics, and soldiers on the ground were appalling, but against all odds, and a resurgent and active Soviet air force, the transports maintained a determined presence over the ravaged city on the Volga, even when the last airfields in the Stalingrad pocket had been lost. Yet, even the daily figure of 300 tons of supplies, needed by Sixth Army just to subsist, proved over-ambitious for the Luftwaffe, which battled against a lack of transport capacity, worsening serviceability, and increasing losses in badly needed aircraft.

Using previously unpublished diaries, original Luftwaffe reports, and specially commissioned artwork, this gripping battle is told in detail through the eyes of the Luftwaffe commanders and pilots who fought to keep the Sixth Army alive and supplied. The diaries of Luftwaffe commanders provide a unique insight into the human side of the operation, revealing the bravery and determination of the pilots who flew into the most dangerous conditions imaginable. Original Luftwaffe reports provide a detailed account of the technical challenges faced by the Luftwaffe, including the lack of suitable aircraft and the difficulty of maintaining them in the harsh Russian winter. Specially commissioned artwork brings the battle to life, providing a visual representation of the aircraft and the ground crews who fought to keep the Sixth Army alive.

The operation at Stalingrad was a turning point in the Second World War, marking the first time that the Luftwaffe had been defeated on a large scale. It also had a significant impact on the course of the war, as it led to the collapse of the German Sixth Army and the eventual defeat of **** Germany. Despite the challenges faced by the Luftwaffe, the operation was a testament to the bravery and skill of the German air force, and it remains one of the most iconic battles of the 20th century.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the operation mounted by the Luftwaffe to supply the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad in the winter of 1942/43. It is a must-read for anyone interested in military history, and it sheds light on the human, strategic, tactical, and technical elements of one of the most significant battles of the 20th century.

Weight: 730g
Dimension: 165 x 247 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472845412