The obsession with secrecy meant that men not directly involved in Operation Uranus had not been told about it until up to five days after the start. At first sight, the most surprising aspect of this time of triumph is the number of deserters from the Red Army who continued to cross the lines to […]
Entries from February 29th, 2012
Obsessive Secrecy – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 29th, 2012 · Comments Off on Obsessive Secrecy – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor · Communism, Extremism, War, WW2
The Cost of Stalingrad – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 29th, 2012 · Comments Off on The Cost of Stalingrad – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor · Communism, Extremism, War, WW2
The Soviet authorities executed around 13,500 of their own soldiers at Stalingrad – equivalent to more than a whole division of troops. That the Soviet regime was almost as unforgiving towards its own soldiers as towards the enemy is demonstrated by the total figure of 13,500 executions, both summary and judicial, during the battle of […]
Pavlov’s House – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 29th, 2012 · Comments Off on Pavlov’s House – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor · Criticism, Humour, War, WW2
During the huge battles for the northern industrial sector of the city, house-fighting, with local attacks and counter-attacks, had continued in the central districts. One of the most famous episodes fo the Stalingrad battle was the defence of ‘Pavlov’s House’, which lasted for fifty-eight days. At the end of September, a platoon from the 42nd […]
Amazonians of the Volga? – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 28th, 2012 · Comments Off on Amazonians of the Volga? – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor · War, WW2
The panzer troops were horrified when they found that they had been firing at women. Few members of the Sixth Army seem to have heard about the Sarmatae of the lower Volga – an interbreed of Scythians and Amazons, according to Herodotus – who allowed their women to take part in war.
Mine Dogs – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 28th, 2012 · Comments Off on Mine Dogs – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor · War, WW2
Several German Panzer divisions also encountered a new form of unconventional weapon during this fighting. They found Russian dogs running towards them with a curious-looking saddle holding a load on top with a short upright stick. At first the panzer troops thought they must be first-aid dogs, but then they realised that the animals had […]
“Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 28th, 2012 · Comments Off on “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · Uncategorized
But Lulu saw it differently. “I have no friends. No one likes me,” she announced one day. “Lulu, why do you say that?” I asked anxiously. “Everyone likes you.You’re so funny and pretty.” “I’m ugly,” Lulu retorted. “And you don’t know anything. How can I have any friends? You won’t let me do anything. I […]
Conquering Juliet – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on Conquering Juliet – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Music, Parenting
As promised, here’s the ending of Sophia’s essay on “Conquering Juliet”: I didn’t quite understand what was happening until I found myself backstage, petrified, quaking. My hands were cold. I couldn’t remember how my piece started. An old mirror betrayed the contrast between my chalk-white face and my dark gown, and I wondered how many […]
Tags:China·Essay·Music·parenting·Performance
Revising Dreams for Coco – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on Revising Dreams for Coco – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China
It didn’t upset me that I had revised my dreams for Coco—I just wanted her to be happy. I had finally come to see that Coco was an animal, with intrinsically far less potential than Sophia and Lulu. Although it is true that some dogs are on bomb squads or drug-sniffing teams, it is perfectly […]
I Reject This Birthday Card – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on I Reject This Birthday Card – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
I grabbed the (home made birthday) card again and flipped it over. I pulled out a pen from my purse and scrawled “Happy Birthday Lulu Whoopee!” I added a big sour face. “What if I gave you this for your birthday, Lulu—would you like that? But I would never do that, Lulu. No—I get you […]
Foreign Accents – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 26th, 2012 · Comments Off on Foreign Accents – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · Ethnicity, Multi-culturalism
“Never ever make fun of foreign accents,” I’ve exhorted them on many occasions. “Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery. Those are people who crossed an ocean to come to this country.