Though not the longest battle in history - that was Verdun - Stalingrad was certainly the most pitiless, an adjective that reappears regularly in Mr. Beevor's classic work.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The biggest battles in human history can only ever be seen through the eyes of the bloke on the front line, and that's by definition a very focused view and one that will vary from individual to individual.
Battle is an orgy of disorder.
The only thing that makes battle psychologically tolerable is the brotherhood among soldiers. You need each other to get by.
I have always preferred conflict of individuals over the battle of extreme ideologies.
The histories which we have of the great tragedy give no idea of the general wretchedness, the squalid misery, which entered into every individual life in the region given up to the war. Where the armies camped the destruction was absolute.
The enemy fought with savage fury, and met death with all its horrors, without shrinking or complaining: not one asked to be spared, but fought as long as they could stand or sit.
You read 'Stalingrad' by Antony Beevor because you're interested in the Second World War or Russia or whatever.
The big guys choose who they want to fight and they think about history: 'how many times I defended my title.' They try to break a record: 'how long I was there.' But if you look at the pedigree, who they fought, ain't nobody gonna give them credit for it because they fought a lot of people with no experience.
Only the man who disciplines himself strictly can stand for long the terrific pace of modern war.
Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.