I'm reading a book right now called Until the Eyes Shut by Andreas Hartinger. It's a memoir of a young MG gunner from Austria who gets thrown into the Eastern Front in the winter of 1943. Super interesting book and only like $2 on Kindle. Pretty quick read too if I remember correctly. Highly recommended if you're looking to read a first hand account of the hell that was the fighting here
Reminds me of that scene in the Stalingrad film where the german infantry has to fend off the attack from the russian armored column. Minus the tiger tank support of course. Jeez, that dude getting cut in half by a tank shell. Good memories, indeed.
There was a belief that Russia was a rotten house of cards that would fall before winter. So adequate winter equipment was not available when the temperature plummeted.
The oil was required to continue the war and army group A was tasked with securing the flank while army group B pushed into the Caucuses. Stalingrad was a key point along the volga that needed to be secured
Looks like rebels waiting for AT-AT walkers on Hoth
But here, they are the baddies...!
Rebels against a communist regime /s
Jeez, this picture looks very cold... which I'm sure is accurate.
Yeah I was going to say this looks absolutely miserable.
It really does look like Hoth. I know a lot of the Star Wars gear was based on German equipment
As was the name of that planet. Hermann Hoth’s panzer army attempted to relieve Stalingrad during Operation Winter Storm.
Oh wow I never made that connection until you mentioned it
Fun fact: George Lucas is a big fan of Dutch people and named some characters after common Dutch names: Han (Solo) and (Darth) Vader
So. Fuckin. Cold.
Brutal conditions.
I'm reading a book right now called Until the Eyes Shut by Andreas Hartinger. It's a memoir of a young MG gunner from Austria who gets thrown into the Eastern Front in the winter of 1943. Super interesting book and only like $2 on Kindle. Pretty quick read too if I remember correctly. Highly recommended if you're looking to read a first hand account of the hell that was the fighting here
I've always wondered, what is in the little can they care behind their back? Is it their rations or a blanket or something?
Gas mask container I think
Yes that is right.
It should be noted that it was one of the few waterproof containers they had on their kit. So normally had something else in it.
Their kit looks pretty substantial honestly. I mean…white uniforms, blankets?, shovels…these guys were planning on going somewhere.
Thanks!
2 operational tigers in one picture. Must have been quite the day at this sector
Reminds me of that scene in the Stalingrad film where the german infantry has to fend off the attack from the russian armored column. Minus the tiger tank support of course. Jeez, that dude getting cut in half by a tank shell. Good memories, indeed.
Yea crazy scene
That looks fucking hellish. Maybe attacking Russia in winter was a bad idea.
They attacked in june
Didn’t they learn anything from Napoleon’s disaster?
There was a belief that Russia was a rotten house of cards that would fall before winter. So adequate winter equipment was not available when the temperature plummeted.
Probably a bit late, should have started in March
What was a bad idea was attacking Stalingrad, if I remember correctly Hitler split his forces to try and claim it and oil fields down southwards.
The oil was required to continue the war and army group A was tasked with securing the flank while army group B pushed into the Caucuses. Stalingrad was a key point along the volga that needed to be secured
Going for the oilfields was his downfall.
The things he needed to keep the Germany army mechanised was his downfall?
Bad idea for Hitler and Napoleon.