Stalingrad

Most helpful review Stalingrad

• No Hollywood heroics in this brutal depiction of war.

   

  By Gareth from Stockport , 21 Jan 2005

  [Highly rated reviewer]

  I agree with most of the other reviewers, this should have been subtitled instead of dubbed. However I don't agree that this is a poor film. As an Eastern Front WWII enthusiast I am delighted that we have version of events from the other side. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted from the end of August 1942 until January 1943(it wasn't a Siege as the Germans did not surround it and try to starve it out; they tried to take it by force - think some reviewers got mixed up with Siege of Leningrad). The film is actually very clear about events; although having a background knowledge of events helps. Stalingrad is the high watermark of German conquest in the USSR. They have reached the River Volga which was their original objective and well East of Moscow. The Germans are triumphant however they must take the city of Stalingrad, a city which runs for 40 miles along the Volga's West Bank. A major industrial city the Germans change their tact and instead of surrounding the city ie cross the river and cut off Russian reinforcements they opt to fight for it. In doing so they condemn the average soldier to fight street by street, building by building not what their army was best at. This is made worse by the huge bombardment prior to battle that turned the city into rubble; ideal for defenders. This film begins with an elite German unit under a new and inexperienced Lieutenant being transferred from North Africa fighting the 'Tommies' to Stalingrad. They are immediately thrown into the fray of street fighting, fighting for individual buildings as well as in the sewers. Shortly afterwards the Russians launch their counterattack and surround the Germans trapped in the city and on the Steppe West of the city. As the Russians move in the unit are ordered to help stop the Russian advance out on the snow filled Steppe, however they are vastly outnumbered and outgunned. Despite attempts to desert and to be evacuated out of the pocket they are trapped and with no hope of escape, with Russian captivity out of the question they each attempt to deal with their horrific situation. This is a truly brutal depiction of war in a particularly brutal battle of the most bloodiest war the world has seen. I thought this film was a triumph and I recommend anyone interested in looking at the other side of the war especially on a front that we in the West know compartively little about to watch this film

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