It’s a pleasure to join the community. I am a (very) amateur historian that is looking to take things to the next level. I am planning on beginning an undertaking of my own to examine Operation Barbarossa for a YouTube project I am in the preliminary stages of. My knowledge on World War 2 could be considered better than average with some elective college courses thrown into the mix but I am admittedly a bit of a newbie when it comes to the deeper picture of the war and the intricacies of specific operations and details. My plan is to look at the German and Soviet battle preparations, the timeline running from the buildup of hostilities (looking at political, ideological, and economical realities) to most likely the final weeks of December 1941 with some details covering the aftermath. I’d also like to consider alternate battle plans and how key events shaped the unfolding of the war on the Eastern Front. While I feel the “alternate history” angle is somewhat overplayed and often poorly presented in the case of World War 2, I may try to postulate how events and the war may have changed had certain things been done differently. Looking at such things critically should help build an overall understanding and also leave room for debate as to the exact significance of certain events. I haven’t spent much time checking out these forums yet but it seems as if there is quite a bit of knowledge spread out over the forums. I’d like to ask for some suggestions on literature and/or documentaries on the subject. I’d really like to learn more about the life of the typical Soviet soldier as well as
Well as a look at the German armies and the command structure. I’d also like to learn more about the German and Soviet economic situations. Of course there are quite a bit of other areas to look at but it seems like a good place to start as I start getting into the more advanced stages of my research. Anyways, it’s a pleasure to be a member here. I hope to find good discussion and knowledge here. BTW, sorry for the cutoff post, I was having trouble editing the post on my phone.
Welcome aboard. For prewar info if you haven't looked at it already Tooze's Wages of Destruction is worth a look. The various works by Glantz are also worth a look from what I've heard.
Thanks for the welcome everyone. lwd, thank you for the suggestions, I will certainly look into their works.
Welcome. You have a big task ahead of you. Here are a few books, some of which are first person accounts: Stalingrad by Michael Jones Blood Red Snow by Gunter Koschorrek (First person) Eastern Inferno by Christine Alexander (diary entries, first person)
Thank you for the suggestions and indeed I do. I’m starting to write some notes and coming up with a plan on how to move forward. I’m beginning to think of making a sort of mini-series out of it and if it’s succesful (or I actually finish it), I suppose I could consider moving onto other topics. I would likely split it up into different parts looking at the various factors that influenced the outcome. Economics, politics, outside global factors, military life and training, battle plans and operations, etc. My biggest concern is biting off more than I can chew and trying to cover too much. I may consider limiting the scope but we shall see.
Welcome Matt, good to have you drop in. Set a spell, take your shoes off. Glantz's works would be a great start concerning the Eastern Front/Stalingrad/Great Patriotic War. One that come immediately to mind is When Titans Clashed, but there are others by him. If you want to understand the organization of the German Army, consider looking at The German Army, 1933-1945, Its Political and Military Failure by Matthew Cooper, 1978. It is a long read, but quite detailed and informative.
Welcome, Matt. Half my family is from the Philly area (my uncle's kids knew Tug McGraw's kids) and I know it fairly well. I wish you all good luck with your project and interests, just be careful not to bite off more than you can chew comfortably. (I speak from experience!) I'd also like to second what has been said before, David Glantz is definitely the Man for the Ostfront. He's kind of a dry read, but more than worth it.
Welcome Matt. Great to see another Philly guy. Grew up in North Philly and am now on the other side of the river. Looking forward to see how your project develops.
