- Mass Market Paperback: 474 pages
- Publisher: Bantam USA; Bantam mass market e. edition (6 Jun 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 055358135X
- ISBN-13: 978-0553581355
- Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 2.5 x 17.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 440,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The War Of The Rats
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Product Description
Product Description
For six months in 1942, Stalingrad is the center of a titanic struggle between the Russian and German armies—the bloodiest campaign in mankind's long history of warfare. The outcome is pivotal. If Hitler's forces are not stopped, Russia will fall. And with it, the world....
German soldiers call the battle Rattenkrieg, War of the Rats. The combat is horrific, as soldiers die in the smoking cellars and trenches of a ruined city. Through this twisted carnage stalk two men—one Russian, one German—each the top sniper in his respective army. These two marksmen are equally matched in both skill and tenacity. Each man has his own mission: to find his counterpart—and kill him.
But an American woman trapped in Russia complicates this extraordinary duel. Joining the Russian sniper's cadre, she soon becomes one of his most talented assassins—and perhaps his greatest weakness. Based on a true story, this is the harrowing tale of two adversaries enmeshed in their own private war—and whose fortunes will help decide the fate of the world.
German soldiers call the battle Rattenkrieg, War of the Rats. The combat is horrific, as soldiers die in the smoking cellars and trenches of a ruined city. Through this twisted carnage stalk two men—one Russian, one German—each the top sniper in his respective army. These two marksmen are equally matched in both skill and tenacity. Each man has his own mission: to find his counterpart—and kill him.
But an American woman trapped in Russia complicates this extraordinary duel. Joining the Russian sniper's cadre, she soon becomes one of his most talented assassins—and perhaps his greatest weakness. Based on a true story, this is the harrowing tale of two adversaries enmeshed in their own private war—and whose fortunes will help decide the fate of the world.
About the Author
David L. Robbins is the author of two previous novels. A former attorney, he now writes full-time. Visit his website at www.davidlrobbins.com.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
NIKKI MOND LOOKED OUT OF THE TRENCH INTO a smeared gray dawn. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
NIKKI MOND LOOKED OUT OF THE TRENCH INTO a smeared gray dawn. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
WAR OF THE RATS is a superb novel of combat. Combat in a theater of World War II that most Americans, dismally familiar only with the fighting role of the US in the Pacific and Europe, know little about - the Russian Front. Specifically, in this book, the Battle of Stalingrad at the end of 1942.
Chief Master Sergeant Vasily Zaitsev ("The Hare") is an expert sniper in the 62nd Army, that force of the Red Army desperately maintaining a toehold in Stalingrad, under siege by the German 6th Army. Zaitsev is so good at his job that he is ordered to establish a sniper school. One of his students is Tania Chernova, an American woman of Russian descent fighting to avenge the execution of her grandparents at the hands of the Nazis. The graduates of The Hare's training become so proficient at killing Germans that the morale of the 6th Army's front-line troops is seriously threatened. Zaitsev becomes a Red Army hero and a winner of the Order of Lenin. As a counter, the Reich's most expert sniper, SS Colonel Heinz Thorvald ("The Headmaster"), is flown from Germany into the Stalingrad battle. His orders - to find and kill The Hare.
There is no superlative too extravagant to describe this book. At 470 pages in paperback, I absorbed it at one sitting on a flight from Washington, DC to Los Angeles. Zaitsev, Chernova and Thorvald were all actual combatants in Stalingrad. Their roles, as well as the movements of both the German and Russian forces in the battle as a whole, are facts lifted from historical sources researched by the author, David Robbins. The insight Robbins gives the reader into the skills and training of the military sniper is absolutely riveting. The action is gritty and realistic. The characters are finely drawn.
One measure of a novel's excellence is its ability to inspire the reader to delve further into the subject. I've just added to my Wish List a history of the Stalingrad siege.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A real and authentic page turner. Any one interested in reading about two 'supersnipers' trying to outwit one another against a back drop of an annihilated city with a murderous war raging through it should pick this up. The characters come to life staright away and the writing is concise and punchy and at times can be quite something other than you'd expect to find in your average day to day thriller. The tiny details of the sniper war are just superb, every little nuance is here and that, coupled with the writers aforementioned writing style, puts you right behind the rifle, staring through the telescopic sights (and lowering your heart rate to an absolute minimum; you'll see!). Towards the end there is a harrowing scene of injury sustain3d by one of the main characters. Its at this point you kind of 'begin' to understand ( or form an idea ) of how horrific the war was. It kind of acts as reminder as the sniper battle is to be honest good entertainment, but then this scene pops up and reminds you that it was a very real time and an incredibley horrible one! Superb.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is a great World War Two book. If you want to learn about Stalingrad, it gives you a good feel for it. The duel between the two snipers is interresting. Another good sniper book about World War Two is Grandfather's Tale: the Tale of a German Sniper (It spans the entire war, not just Stalingrad).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
war of the rats gripping read
great book, was recommended from another book I read. Couldnt put it down. This is the book that inspired enemy at the gates with Jude Law. The film doesnt even compare. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2009 by Odin
Vasily Zaitsev
Whilst the brave exploits of Vasily Zaitsev have been well documented, there is no evidence whatsoever of the existence of his alleged rival, a Heinze Thorwald. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by H. Roberts
Superb - buy it!
Not much to add to what the other reviewers have said about this brilliant page-turner of a book. Snipers in Stalingrad... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2004
Genuinely suspenseful read
I thoroughly enjoyed the book although I agree with many of the qualifying comments below. The characterisation of the protagonists - the rival German and Russian snipers is good... Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2001
Well researched and gripping
The novel tells the story of two crack snipers from either side hunting each other in the ruins of Stalingrad. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2000 by Simon C McCrum
Cheesy but enjoyable war story
I do enjoy a tale of historical events given some artistic licence and this book did deliver this. It was definately a page turner but I did find myself cringing at some of the... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2000
Roller-Coster Ride
An excellent book with believable characters, exciting from start to finish, accompanied by accurate historic detail. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2000
Brilliant and engaging read
This book is absolutely brilliant. The author tells his story very well, his style of writing is brilliant, expertly jumping to and from the perspectives of the different... Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2000
A good thriller.
The book is undoubtedly a good read with the duel between the main characters building to a climax that's outcome can not be predicted. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2000
Brilliant and absorbing
There is something about a book that combines solid historical facts with imagination and creative writing - I am about to read Holding the Zero (Gerald Seymour) but cannot help... Read more
Published on 19 May 2000
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