Stalingrad [2005] [DVD]

Few people in the west are aware that during the last world war at no time after June 1941 did the Western allies face more than 30% of Hitler's war machine. The outcome of the war was largely decided in the East, on the Russian front between Nazi Germany its allies and Russia. It was also a titanic clash of ideologies and two iron fisted dictators wielding immense power, both inflexible and iron hard, neither willing to give an inch of ground. At the city that was known as Stalingrad on the Volga river where Europe meets Asia, they met like two irresistibly destructive juggernauts in a cataclysmic collision that would change the course of history. Stalin wanted to hold the city named after him at all costs, whilst Hitler decreed that it was taken at all costs. Something and someone had to give. In this once beautiful city, scenes of almost apocalyptic carnage were played out on a vast canvas, in an area reduced to crumbling ruins where men fought the most primitive kind of warfare. The German 6th army and its battle hardened troops had known nothing but momentum and victory, but at Stalingrad the Russian bear was unleashed upon them and it was a frightful thing to behold. The Blitzkrieg was ended and the German soldier had to learn the harsh realities of street fighting. Even the spade was still a useful weapon in this inferno.

This wonderful documentary covers this epic battle in three parts, all of about 55 minutes. In part one, we have the initial approach and assault on the city. The German soldiers are shown in a happy and triumphant mood. Some of the colour film is remarkably good. In part two we follow the disaster that befell the 6th army when they were encircled by the Russian army. In part three the final destruction of this army is described in all its gruesome detail. In all three parts we are shown the personal testimonies of the men who fought at Stalingrad. These are mainly German although there are some interesting Russians, particularly an Asiatic sniper. Their testimonies make riveting viewing and even sixty years later these men are still moved to tears. One man describes how something inside him broke at Stalingrad that could never ever be repaired. Many of these old veterans are erudite in their speech and paint a vivid picture of the scenes they bore witness to. They must also have been iron hard individuals to have come through such trauma both physically and mentally intact, although the scars are still evident. These voices are destined to become those of the distant past echoing through history, and their historical importance will only grow over the years.

To give a balanced overview I must point out that these documentaries may not please the strategic experts or the nuts and bolts military historian, as they do rely so heavily on personal testimony. Although it should also be said that there is some eye opening new footage obtained from Russian archives only recently accessed. I was also surprised that no mention was made of Mamayev Kurgan and the Tractor Works. These are legendary place names in the annals of Stalingrad, due to the ferocity of the fighting around them. I was also a little disappointed at the quality of the rather dodgy looking basic maps. They were very crude representations of the front that would only please someone with a less enquiring mind. But these are minor blemishes given the overall power of these films.

These are perhaps the most salient facts of all. After the capture of the remnants of the 6th army only 10% survived the first winter. The survivors were used as slave labour in the Siberian mines and forests. Only a tiny fraction ever returned home. But if this sounds appalling enough then consider the sacrifice it took of the Russian people to achieve this victory. 700,000 Soviet soldiers and civilians perished for this victory, if one can call it such given these staggering losses. One plain truth comes through crystalline clear, war truly is hell. This is mesmeric viewing from beginning to end. It is also well worth reading Antony Beevor's excellent and informative book "Stalingrad" as an accompaniment to this DVD. This DVD has excellent picture quality and is professionally presented.

"Don't rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world stood up and stopped the Bastard, the Bitch that bore him is in heat again." Bertolt Brecht

The depths to which mankind sinks to fight war know no limits as this chilling account of the battle for Stalingrad illustrates. The 2nd World War was lost by the Germans here and we learn how.

This is a documentary that doesn't just dwell on the military aspects but delves underneath to the human impact. It was good to hear the first hand accounts of this awful battle. Not only from survivors of both sides, but also the relatives of soldiers who were caught up in the debacle. One mother's account is of her son being called up and conscripted into the 6th Army and her reluctance to let him go. As it turns out of course her reservations are well founded and she never sees him again!

The programme has the capacity to generate anger at how this could happen in the 20th century especially after the lessons from the slaughter of the first world war. The concept of 300,000 trapped in the Stalingrad pocket and refused permission to surrender is hard to contemplate. The programme slowly goes step by step on how the situation unfolded, to its conclusion and right up to the return of a paltry 6000 POWs that finally made it back to Germany; but not until 1955.

It explains how the egos of the two dictatorial lunatics were obsessed with a city merely because of its name. For, after the pounding it took, it had no more strategic significance. It was not just a disaster for Germany but the number of Russian, both military and civilian, losses were horrific. The grinding cold and appalling conditions faced by the Wermacht is captured in no small detail. There are some excellent insights into the battle. Such as the view of Von Paulus as to why he wouldn't surrender. And how his HQ was comparitively well fed whilst troops were starving to death and being driven to madness by the cold. In fact, it is a miracle that any survived in view of the atrocities commited by certain elements of the German Armed forces. This was war at its most brutal.

The documentary is put together well and holds your attention. Some of the maps are a little basic but serve their purpose. Compulsive viewing.