Stahlgewitter at the Gates of Moscow Waffen SS in Combat a German View of Ww2: Operation Barbarossa 1941 Through German Eyes, Paperback

Stahlgewitter at the gates of Moscow - a German view of WW2

The German Army Group Center achieved an overwhelming tactical victory during the twin battles of Bryansk and Vyazma during the first half of October 1941. It remained to be seen during the following weeks if it could be expanded operatively and bring forth the crowning result of Moscow's capture. The impact it left upon the Russians was great at any rate. The city's inhabitants who had remained and were able to perform manual labor began to construct defensives in the city's suburbs.

Then suddenly, and especially early during this year, the winter came and along with it terrible cold temperatures. German operations ended abruptly. The engines and even automatic weapons froze-up. In no way were their uniforms sufficient in these biting cold temperatures, which went as far down as minus forty-five degrees Celsius. Appropriate clothing, which were field-tested and found to be sufficient for the Russian winter, were not yet available. Only the Luftwaffe and the Waffen-SS were to some extent better prepared. The soviet leaders seemed to have waited just for this most favorable event, were the German attacking strength would be exhausted and were the climatic conditions would allow them to play- out their trumps.

How was this war in the east through german eyes? What was it like to be a German soldier at the frontline, facing the soviets and the russian winter?

This book is based on diary notes from a soldier of a Waffen-SS regiment, parts of the story are fabricated. Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals as long they are no historic persons.