Notes of a Russian Sniper: Vassili Zaitsev and the Battle of Stalingrad

This book not only gives the life and times of a Russian sniper on the Eastern Front it gives a remarkable story of the conditions and struggles of the Russians and Germans fighting the Battle of Stalingrad. Vassili Zaitsev begins the book describing his youth about being brought up by hisGrandfather in Yeleninskoye Russian. He learned the arts of rifle shooting and hunting where stealth and patience were taught for a successful hunter. In the late 1930's Zaitsev joins the Navy and serves for the USSR in the Pacific until the Great Patriotic War begins in 1941 where he finds himself along with his sailor companions thrown into the maelstrom of the Eastern Front specifically in the gigantic struggle in the Battle of Stalingrad. He and his sailor companions were issued infantry uniforms and weapons and were thrown into the fray as common infantrymen. During Zaitsev's initial battles he learns the ways of survival as an infantryman as he also learns the habits of the German Wehrmacht. As time goes on his superiors find out that Zaitsev is quite the marksman who knows the uses of camouflage. In time Zaitsev becomes a sniper where he learns to kill desired targets as designated by his superiors. In doing so he also becomes the hunted as the Germans counter Russian snipers with their own snipers. As the battle of Stalingrad continues building to building where artillery and the use of airpower is prevalent, Zaitsev begins to make his mark as the most feared of all Russian snipers. In fact Zaitsev is so respected he becomes the leader of Russian snipers on his section of the Stalingrad front. It had become apparent that the Germans were being negatively impacted by Zaitsev that the Germans had to bring in there hotshot expert sniper by the name of Major Konings. This kill or be killed scenario is truly the meat of the book. Quite a fox and hound session is described where two experts meet in a deadly shootout not at the OK Corral but in the ruins of Stalingrad. These notes of Zaitsev which were made available in the 1970s shows an extraordinary soldier who was truly the best at a very deadly and demanding craft where it was kill or be killed. Quite a well told story which anyone interested in the studies of the Eastern Front should read.

No issues with shipping and the condition was, I would say, better than listed. Very happy to get a good as new book.

Considering I have waited years to get this account it was a bit disappointing and it took quite a bit of determination to actually finish it. But I told myself it was probably heavily influenced by what was and what was not permissable to write and publish in the Soviet Union in 1956, and again in 1971 when it was republished in the USSR.It certainly is not a 'Sniper's Handbook'.One could get the impression that Zaitsev made a few spectacular 'kills' and was then content to be an instructor to new recruits.Those who know the story better realise this was not the case and that he continued on as an active and very successful sniper during much of the battle and indeed in subsequent battles.But such was Zaitsev's attachment to Stalingrad that he asked to be interred, on his death, on the slopes of Mamaeyev Hill -- and this wish was granted. I can assure you that it is quite a moving experience to be photographed beside Zaitsev's final resting place in the shadow of 'Mother Russia'.Rather this book is a rambling and somewhat dis-jointed account of Zaitsev's overall experiences from 1937, when he joined the navy and was posted to Vladivostok as a simple administration clerk, to life under constant artillery, mortar and sniper fire in Stalingrad in 1942.But of course the reader must keep in mind that Zaitsev was a peasant boy, with rudimentary schooling, raised in the Ural regions of the Soviet Union. He wrote it as he saw it. This book is not embelished with great literary passages or prose.!!Perhaps if it had been 'Ghost Witten' it would be a much more readable volume.If you are interested in the Battle for Stalingrad then YOU MUST READ IT, but be prepared for disappointment, especially with the frequent mention of the Germans' use of explosive bullets in everyday sniping and general fighting.So far as I know explosive bullets were not used by the Germans until 1944, (despite the fact that Soviet snipers were already using them as a matter of course) long after the Battle was over. Personally I think that Zaitsev may have confused the tremendous destructive power of a German sniper rifle round slamming into already crumblimg masonry with an explosive round.I have read that the SS anti-partisan units used explosive rounds quite early in the war -- on Himmler's authorisation -- but in terms of general usage they were not authorised by Hitler until late 1944.Perhaps that is the Soviet publishers' propaganda licence coming through ???

Zaitsev (or his ghost writer) has a very engaging and easy to follow writing style. He reveals himself to be a pleasant, social and popular guy with a sense of humor. He's not the brooding loner you might think a sniper would be. I really enjoyed his discussions of tactics, especially of sniper groups working as a unit. The famous duel with Maj Koenig, featured in the book "War of the Rats" and the movie "Enemy at the Gates", is well covered, but it's only one of many. Taking out enemy snipers was one of his, and his group's, main tasks, along with taking out machine gun nests and artillery spotters.For a book written in 1956, there is surprisingly little rah rah communistic prose, through there is quite a bit of patriotic Mother Russia verbiage. That seemed totally appropriate to me, though.I was surprised he didn't write one bit about equipment. He never even mentions who manufactured his rifle, for example. In the pre Google days this would have been a major frustration, but now, of course, you can just type in "Zaitsev's rifle" etc. and learn all you want. He also doesn't reveal anything at all about breathing and other technical aspects of actually taking a shot. Also on the negative side, the book is way too short and some the flashbacks in the first one third of the book confused me as what happened when. Therefore, I'm not quite going for five stars. Four though, and a must read for fans of the what was probably the most important battle of the 20th Century.

An exraordinary first-person account form the war. You just realise how horrible it is and wonder how people could survive, even without the bombs. Zaitsev is the most celebrated Russian sniper. He appears to have learned the skills himself, a stark contrast to other snipers' stories.

Great read by a very brave man, who created the modern basis for snipers. Captures the horrors of Stalingrad.

Awesome story

I've read this book in a day. Absolutely fascinating, written by one of the world's most celebrated WWII snipers:Vassili Zaitsev.Zaitsev had received very basic education in his early life, yet his writting is simple and to the point, depicting cinematographically the dire developments, mortal combats and tragic reality of life in the Stallingrad ruins.Do not expect to read the script of "Enemy at the gates" here and perhaps one should ignore some Soviet propagandistic features that are obvious in parts of the book. If you are interested in getting a good description of what war was for a Red Army soldier and particularly a sniper, I recommend you read this book with an open mind.

I own many books about WW2; the personal accounts are always the best. I found this book an insightful account of the mind of s sniper and the battle for Stalingrad. The Nazi's loss at Stalingrad was the turning point in the war and Zaitsev played a key role in demoralising the Germans which lead to their ultimate defeat. The tactics, mind games, patience, intelligence and bravery really stands out. What impressed me the most was just how humble he was and didn't seek glory for himself but trained other snipers and fought for the greater cause.The one observation was how much Zaitsev loved his country. This is an honourable thing and he hated the fact that the Germans (who he classed all as Nazis) had attacked his country. However, he never mentioned the fact that Russia invaded Poland and were in league with the Nazis beforehand. I want to give Zaitsev the benefit of the doubt that he might have not known too much about it since he grew up in the Urals and was posted to the east before volunteering for the front. It poses the question, he if was Polish, what would he think of the Russians? If he did know, the way he talks he would have naively agreed with any Soviet policy. This takes nothing away from him as a man, a soldier, a patriot and someone who wanted to stop evil at any cost. A very honest and passionate read from start the finish.