On a Knife’s Edge

The Ukraine, November 1942-March 1943

By: Prit Buttar

Narrated by: Roger Clark

The battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of World War II. The German capture of the city, their encirclement by Soviet forces shortly afterwards, and the hard-fought but futile attempts to relieve them, saw bitter attritional fighting and extremes of human misery inflicted on both sides.

The surrender of General Friedrich von Paulus's army left Germany's eastern armies severely weakened, but the Red Army had suffered enormous losses as it overreached itself in trying to exploit its great victory. The war was not over. Germany would continue the fight, and the battles that took place in the winter of 1942/43 would show the tactical and operational skill of Erich von Manstein and the Wehrmacht as they attempted to avert total disaster.

In this title, a renowned expert on warfare on the Eastern Front reveals the often-overlooked German counteroffensive post-Stalingrad, and how it prevented the whole Axis front line from collapsing.

Drawing on firsthand accounts, On a Knife's Edge is a story of brilliant generalship, lost opportunities, and survival in the harshest theater of war.

©2018 Prit Buttar (P)2019 Tantor

interesting book

It's a comprehensive treatment of the Eastern Front during this period. It would be easy to just talk about Stalingrad, but thankfully the book avoids that trap.

The only real downside to this book is the subject matter - it covers large military operations, with frequent geographical references. This is not an audio friendly topic.

Five critical months that left a delicate balance

Germany was not finished militarily after the Stalingrad debacle. Buttar examines that battle and Germany’s subsequent recovery on the southeastern front, and details how its forces stopped and countered the Soviet Army’s post-Stalingrad momentum. Illustrates the Soviet Army’s quick learning curve from lessons learned in 1941 and 1942 to become Germany’s equal in tactical operations. Demonstrates the connection between Hitler’s political goals and operational micro-managing, and the German forces’ failure to exploit opportunities to the fullest, which set the stage for the Battle of Kursk. Interspersed with first-person accounts on both sides which describe this front’s brutality on the soldiers, civilians, land, and resources of the Ukraine.

very good overview of the 42/43 time period

good weaving of strategic overview of Manstine and STAVKA with personal "on the ground" accounts. well done

For the most part a very good blow by blow account of the eastern front late 1942 to early 1943.

I liked this telling of the combat on the Eastern Front, but with a few exceptions. The story harped about so called “German atrocities” on the Eastern Front way too much. He never mentions the fact that over 100,000 Ukrainians served along side German soldiers of the Wehrmacht including the tens of thousands that fought with the Germans at Stalingrad. He never mentions the tens of thousands of Ukrainians who volunteered to fight with the Waffen SS and including as concentration camp guards. He never explains that most of the so called “atrocities” were really reprisals against the partisans who were basically bands of mass murderers without uniforms. He never mentions that many of the pogroms against the Jews were committed by the Poles, Latvians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians. In a sentence, this would have been perfect without the anti-German bias and the lying communist accounts of the battles.

Factual and gripping

Roger Clark keeps you interested and informed , very well done . The appalling losses on both sides as two evil empires slug it out to the death.

Research paper quality

I’ve listened to dozens of WWI & II historical audiobooks and this is definitely one of the most detailed and precise. It seems to be written by and for military historians, and almost seems like a strategic level after-action-report.

What it is NOT is a soldier’s tale of the Eastern front. The first hand accounts are from Field Marshall’s biography’s and journals, there’s nothing I can remember from the enlisted point or view.

I’m from West Virginia and it’s RREAY GREAT!

I think this is a great book and a great lol at both sides of not just a great battle of WW2 but parts of the battle they really don’t talk about and the 3 allies of Nazi germany you don’t hear much about! I love it and listened to it to three times and it never gets old and the narrator is really good at keeping you in to the book and it is very detailed about the subject about the surrounding of Stalingrad and the 6th army !

Great pick for better understanding at this front

Very interesting and detailed to learn more of the different moments of the Eastern Front

Gold Standard History of the WW2 Eastern Front

The Eastern Front trilogy by Prit Buttar is history at its finest. Well researched, well written, well performed. But, it may not be for every reader.

If you are a hard core reader of history, you will cherish the many minutes you spent listening to this trilogy, but this is not history-lite. The extraordinary detail in these books will challenge your powers of concentration. I found myself frequently jumping back to re-listen. So, a caution for the faint of heart: this trilogy is a deep dive.

If you inclined to jump into this history, I strongly recommend that you get detailed maps before starting. You will probably find no better collection than this extraordinary set of detailed maps: https://inflab.medium.com/eastern-front-maps-of-world-war-ii-17f4a26545e9

The Best of Prit Buttar

Prit Buttar is in the highest class of military historians. His detailed knowledge of the all things Eastern front is unparalleled. Needless to say a lot of rewinding and resisting is required to catch every detail! This is the story of the dogfight between Germany and Russia from Stalingrad into the recesses of the Ukraine. It's not about the battle of Stalingrad, but the withdrawal from and encirclement of by the Russians, and then the Germans need to hold on to territory while being past the point of overextended. This is two amazing armies fighting under two of the most notorious fascist dictators of all time, and the pushing each other forward and then back, day after day, month after month. One cannot understate the raw toughness of these men who fought in the most extreme of circumstances on the Eastern Front. It's a wonder anyone survived. Roger Clark is at his best. This is a must for any history buff.