Am well over half way through the Island of Fire, what a cracking book that is, so detailed and really pulls you into the battle with all the first hand accounts and diary entries. I dont think any other nation would have had as much stubborn stoicism as the soviets showed, to resist so much pressure and firepower, and the willingness to suffer so many casualties!
I do think its quite telling that some of the units integrated throughout Lyudnikov's positions on 'the island' were NKVD Blocking detachments
ie the ones tasked to shoot any retreating/surrendering/weak willed red infantry! Also apparently a high number of political officers were spread amongst the men.
But the reds were tough buggers, especially those Pacific marines they fed in piecemeal. Looking at the terrain and the shear amount of steelwork & masonry detrius covering the battlefield, you can see why it was an utter mincing machine of men and equipment.
I just dont know how they held out so long before the tables were eventually turned on the Germans. Mind you, first time i've read that any German armour trying to move about was also engaged by AA, AT and arty from the east bank of the Volga, over open sights. I assumed AFV losses were mostly from up close with ATR's and molotovs in the ruins.
Great book.
I do think its quite telling that some of the units integrated throughout Lyudnikov's positions on 'the island' were NKVD Blocking detachments
ie the ones tasked to shoot any retreating/surrendering/weak willed red infantry! Also apparently a high number of political officers were spread amongst the men.But the reds were tough buggers, especially those Pacific marines they fed in piecemeal. Looking at the terrain and the shear amount of steelwork & masonry detrius covering the battlefield, you can see why it was an utter mincing machine of men and equipment.
I just dont know how they held out so long before the tables were eventually turned on the Germans. Mind you, first time i've read that any German armour trying to move about was also engaged by AA, AT and arty from the east bank of the Volga, over open sights. I assumed AFV losses were mostly from up close with ATR's and molotovs in the ruins.
Great book.
