Military Model Scene

Title: Stalingrad Airlift 1942-43
Author: William E. Hiestand
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4728-5431-5

Number 34 in the Air Campaign series from Osprey, detailing the efforts of the Luftwaffe to supply all the needs of the German 6th Army when it was surrounded in the city of Stalingrad. A 96-page soft-cover book in the usual Osprey style, packed with archive images, maps and first class artwork from Adam Tooby.
The book opens with an introduction that sets the scene of how the German army found itself surrounded within the city of Stalingrad. That is followed by a Chronology, listing the key events on the Russian Front from June 1941 through to February/March 1943, including January 31, 1943, when Von Paulus surrendered the final pocket in Stalingrad itself. Then we have 2 chapters looking at the capabilities of both the Attackers (the Luftwaffe) and the Defenders (the Soviet VVS). These include details of their commanders, organisation, equipment and tactics amongst other details. The balanced account then sets out the Objectives of the campaign for both sides, German and Soviet. That is followed by the largest single chapter in the book, detailing the course of the campaign itself, and taking up 43 pages of the book. There is a lot to the overall story, not just the sequence of events but how the various factors all had an impact on what happened. Weather played a part in the ability of the Luftwaffe to actually operate on a daily basis, how many tons of supplies the 6th Army needed every day and just what the Luftwaffe was able to deliver. With just two main airfields where the transports could operate from where they had hangers and support facilities that helped enable aircraft to be serviced they suffered when they became the targets for Soviet armoured forces. So much in here, including some helpful map artwork as well as some first class illustrations that all add to the many archive photos. To round things off is a final chapter which considers the Aftermath & Assessment.
This is a well balanced account of what happened covering both sides of the battle, and including context of how these events fitted into what was happening elsewhere in the war, from Pearl Harbour to the need for Luftwaffe support for the fighting in North Africa all at the same time. It fits the events of Stalingrad into the wider context of the war. Neatly done, and a good value read.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin