Review: An Artilleryman in Stalingrad

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Title: Review:An Artilleryman in Stalingrad
Authour: Dr. Wigand Wuster
Publisher: Leaping Horseman Books
ISBN: 978-0-9751076-5-2
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)
Picked this book up right from the publisher with the pre-order. Received an autographed book too. As I had known this book was in the works I greatly anticipated its arrival and was not disappointed.
This book covers the authours battlefield "tour" in Russia and ultimate fate in Stalingrad. It would of been nice to of read a bit more of his experiences in Poland and France too as it is his memoir.
There are 7 chapters in 253 pages covering his advance to Stalingrad and then ultimately the battle for the city itself. There are no chapters covering his training etc. This book is just as the title states.
I enjoyed the frank honest about the petty differences between the officers and some of the men as well as what happened to most of the them during the war.
The battle descriptions are once again, great, well written so that you can feel yourself facing off against the Soviet forces and what was going through the authours mind. I really enjoyed the part about the authour trying to get back into the encirclement even though EVERYONE told him not to.
The photographs are from the authour private collection or collections of personal that worked with him. I have never seen any of them. There are also a few eyewitness accounts, from other soldiers in his unit, at the end of the book that add to what the authour has written.
As stated, I would of liked to of read more on his experiences in Western Europe too and even his time as a POW but this in no way detracts from his story in Stalingrad. Well worth the money and highly recommended.

[Tim Curley]

I read this book last year. I have found most German autobiographies to be written in a somewhat stilted manner; perhaps that style is typical of the WWII generation. An Artilleryman in Stalingrad is written in a much more flowing style. The author relates his continuing problems with his battalion commander, problems familiar to soldiers in every army.

As a collector of WWII period photos, I can attest that most soldiers were not good photographers, poorly framing scenes, standing too far back from their subjects, focusing badly, etc. The author on the other hand was a fine photographer who clearly captured his subjects on film plus recording some very interesting scenes of artillery pieces which failed under fire - scenes that were not supposed to be photographed as "Geman equipment did not fail."

Not only is this book a fine read, but it is highly informative about much of Stalingrad as well.