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Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943

by Joel Hayward

(University Press of Kansas, 1998 ed., 2001 ed.)

ISBNs: 0-7006-0876-1;   0-7006-1146-0

"... an original and formidably researched study ... Stopped at Stalingrad is an absolutely indispensable work not only for its revelations about Stalingrad, but equally for a more complete understanding of the nature of Soviet-German operations in a critical year."

— Professor John Erickson, RUSI Journal, June 1998, p. 80.

"Hayward, in a magnificently researched study, provides us with what is probably the best look at how the Luftwaffe operated in the context of the 1942-1943 Stalingrad campaign. ... He also provides the best available account of the disastrous Stalingrad airlift."

— Richard Muller, in C. Messenger, ed., Reader's Guide to Military History (Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001), p. 740.

"An excellent new source on this [tactical support and air logistics] is Hayward's [book]. Providing a detailed history of these operations, Hayward refutes or supports many of the older sources. ... It is an advanced and exhaustive work that will become a standard in the field". 

— James F. Gentsch, in Reader's Guide to Military History, p. 766

"This is a superb piece of work. It is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in the war on the eastern front, and on the Stalingrad campaign in particular. ... The book is splendidly researched and well written. Hayward has the knack of being able to explain even very technical matters in easily understood prose."

— Professor Richard L. DiNardo

New York Military Affairs Symposium Newsletter,

Fall 1998, pp. 4-5.

"Stopped at Stalingrad is a first-class publication. It is authoritative ... and an example of how 'new military history' should be written. It should firmly cement Joel Hayward's reputation as a talented writer and a fine historian."

— New Zealand Army Journal, 19 (July 1998), p. 65.

"Joel Hayward's outstanding new study deals with German air operations in the southern reaches of the Soviet Union. [No other books] have charted the aerial component of that operation in the kind of meticulous detail presented here. And certainly none have shown such a command of the facts. ...

Stopped at Stalingrad proves itself a thorough, scholarly treatment of the under-reported subject of German air operations on the road to Stalingrad. Recommended! ...One of the best of the year?"

— Stone and Stone Reviews, 21 July 1998.

"Stopped at Stalingrad is admirably suited for reading in your favourite chair next to a nice fire, thanking God for the comfort and warmth. ... [It offers] wonderful and illuminating new dimensions to the battle which previously was written from the perspective of the German ground force's side. ... Hayward's book is a great one for anyone interested in the proper and improper use of airpower."

— Ian Thompson, Military Bookshelf, 6 December 1998. 

"... an important new contribution. ... [Stopped at Stalingrad] not only provides an interesting way of looking at one of the most studied battles of the war but also makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the war on the eastern front. Too often historians of World War II have ignored the importance of air power in the Russo-German conflict. Hayward's Stopped at Stalingrad goes a long way toward filling that historiographical gap."

— Professor Russell Lemmons, History, Fall 1998, p. 27.

"Stopped at Stalingrad is an illuminating companion piece to these works [Murray's and Muller's classics]. It is painstakingly researched ... [Hayward] has produced a fundamentally sound and eminently readable contribution to the war literature."

— Earl F. Ziemke, The International History Review, Vol. XXI, No. 1 (March 1999), p. 220.

"This is a very important account of a key aspect of the battle that is arguably the turning point of the war. Highly recommended."

— Charles Winchester, Osprey Military Journal, Vol. 3, 2000. 

"Hayward's research is impeccable . ... His tri-dimensional [ie, joint service] treatments of the Crimean campaign, the siege and capture of Sevastopol, and the air-ground actions during the Battle of Stalingrad are perhaps the best available anywhere. ... His examination of the Stalingrad airlift is also first rate, and provides an unparalleled view of the operation from the air fleet headquarters' perspective.... Hayward's rendering is an important contribution to the airpower history of World War II."

— Professor Richard Muller, The Journal of Military History, October 1998, pp. 951-952.

"The great merit of this excellent account is to remind historians that this was not just a ground struggle, but an air war as well. ... Hayward has used a remarkably wide range of sources, which he handles with exceptional deftness and critical detachment. He writes clearly and interestingly. ...This is a model of its kind, which ought to set an agenda for the reconstruction of the air narrative in this and other theatres in the greatest of air wars."

— Professor Richard Overy,

War in History, Vol. 8 No. 1 (2001), pp. 123-125.

“Drawing upon the unpublished papers of Richthofen and his subordinates as well as more familiar memoir literature, Hayward succeeds in casting new light on one of the most-analyzed campaigns in military history. … At every step we see the familiar catalog of Hitler's strategic mistakes through the acerbic lens of Richthofen's diary. … The most original contribution of the book… is the detailed analysis of the Luftwaffe's failure to supply the surrounded Sixth Army from the air. … This book is both useful to specialists and appealing to general readers. By uncovering new sources and incorporating previously ignored documentary evidence into a new synthesis, Joel Hayward has made a real contribution to the historiography of the battle of Stalingrad.”

— Larry L. Ping, German Studies Review, Vol. 23 No. 2 (May 2000), pp. 372-373. 

"This campaign history is a well-written study of great victories and incredible defeats. As Hayward relates these events, he shows his mastery of the subject, starting with incisive background information that explains Germany's desire for Soviet oil. As the battles unfold, he aptly describes events at many different areas of the front without confusing the reader. Hayward writes of weapons, strategies, and leaders in a clear and understandable way. History buffs, strategy lovers, and warriors learning about their profession will all enjoy Stopped at Stalingrad. It will also encourage Americans who are much more familiar with the combat history of their own forces to learn more about the Soviet experience in World War II."

— Herman Reinhold

[US Air Force] Aerospace Power Journal, 

Volume XVI, No. 1 (Spring 2002), pp. 122-123. 

"This highly acclaimed work analyzes role of air power in the Axis 1942 Blau Offensive and the Battle of Stalingrad. ... Hayward draws on diaries of many German and Russian key commanders and regular airmen to recreate crucial battles and to convey the drama of Hitler's frustrations and reckless leadership. The book is a major contribution to understanding of the Stalingrad Battle."

— CollectRussia.com Reviews