Book Review: Enemy at the Gates by William Craig

I picked up this book to augment my ever growing collection of World War books. The book carries the same cover as the movie by the same name starring Jude Law and Rachel Weisz- scenes from which have remained embedded in my head ever since I saw it. Remember the scene where Vasily Zaytsev, a shephard from the Urals, becomes Vasily Zaytsev, the super-sniper? Surrounded by the corpses of his comrades, he shoots dead seven or eight Nazis with a political officer beside him- a political officer who goes on to propagate the myth and legend of Vasily Zaytsev.

However, 'Enemy at the Gates' (thankfully) is not the story of Vasily Zaytsev, not just his story anyway. It is the story of how Stalin made Stalingrad a sort of a last stand; after all, the city had the Boss’ name in it. It is the story of how the Russians and Germans fought- hand to hand at times. It was incredible for the boy in me, so fascinated by war, when the two sides wrestled for control of factories or houses or incredulously, for rooms of houses. Battles were fought literally to take control of houses or rooms at strategic locations. The blood and gore in the story almost seeps off the page and into one’s room.

Vasily Zaytsev’s story remains my favorite part of the book but the book is essential reading to understand how our world came to be the world it is. The incredible story of how the Russian soldier- so often outgunned, outfed and outmaneuvered by the shrewd, well fed and up to date Nazi- took the city back, fighting and sacrificing his life for gains of a few yards of earth at times. The plight is later chronicled by a book called Ivan’s War but I felt Enemy at the Gates was the best in-situ description of the plight of 'Ivan'- the generic Russian soldier- who seemed to be propelled by morale and a fear of slaughter by Stalin’s political officers alone.

Must read.