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Last Citadel A Novel of the Battle of Kursk David L Robbins Books

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Last Citadel A Novel of the Battle of Kursk David L Robbins Books

I found the novel actually quite good. The characters were well-rounded and complex, their stories on the battlefield interesting in their interactions and against the background of the battle of Kursk. Complaints that the novel doesn't tell the story of the battle don't really get historical fiction: at its best, it is the story of people at a time in history, not a fictionalized version of the history itself.

But two significant flaws made the novel fall way short in the end. The first was the relentless comma splices. What, did the editor fall asleep on the job? Literally one or more every page. Just not acceptable.

Second, the technical accuracy was horrendous. Detail after detail were just plain wrong. HEAT rounds in WW2 T-34's (they didn't use them) that were more effective at close range (and if they had, range isn't a factor in armor penetration of HEAT rounds). A sergeant leading a formation of tanks at referred to at various points as a squad (doesn't exist in tank units), a platoon (correct), and a squadron (a battalion-sized unit). The partisans used C-3 explosive (a US-manufactured compound). The hull machine gunner firing at aircraft (no, he really didn't). A sergeant in the Russian army--the most highly prescriptive/least initiative army in the ETO allowed to choose his own ammunition loadout. Sirens on Stukas in 1943. On and on. In the end, I had to just grit my teeth and ignore it to be able to finish the book. Curiously, I didn't notice this problem with War of the Rats at all.


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Last Citadel A Novel of the Battle of Kursk David L Robbins Books Reviews

David Robbins has me reeled in hook, line and sinker with this book as well as several others I've read so far. I love his mix of fact with fiction and I won't stop until I've read everything he has written.
As with all of Robbins's works the action is realistic and the characters believable. Robbins places the reader in the minds of the tank commander, the loader and the driver. The reader experiences the battle as it unfolds. The side plots add much to the story and keeps the reader turning pages. I've read all of Robbins' works and I place this one near the top of the list.
As a WWII buff, I was looking for novels about tanks and tank crews. Most WWII novels and biographies are from infantry soldiers. The few novels or biographies about tankers were either from a commander or general perspective and very little about life in a tank or actual tank combat. Although this novel is historically based fiction, I enjoyed the details about the inner workings of the tanks, how the crew members had to interact and how brutal tank combat was. The fact that the T-34 was so simple and robust contrasts well with the elaborate and complicated monster that was the Pzkw VI, Tiger. It was great how the author blended indivdual crew experiences with the battle tactics and strategies of the different forces. Germany stressed superior skill and technological advanced equipment over Russia's masses and simple designs. The back story about the 'night witches' and the 'lucy' network of spies was a good way to tie in the overall situation facing Germany and Russia at the time. The disctraction of Hitler with the looming American landings in Italy and the Russian partisans impact on the war show just how complex the situation was at the time. In the end, the Kursk battle of small groups of Tiger tanks facing hordes of Russian T-34s that charged suicide like into the line of the 88mm guns so fast that the turrets couldn't traverse fast enough was a real page turner for me.
Like others of this author's historical novels I have read, "Last Citadel" is extremely well researched and one can truly say that the only "fiction" part is the detail of individual characters' movements and conversations.

My husband is a truly serious history buff, and has at least 5 non-fiction books about this battle, yet I was able to surprise him with a couple of details from this book that he had not been aware of, yet they turned out to be accurate.

As with all of Mr. Robbins' books, the reader is drawn into the history by the appealing fictional (and some non-fictional) characters, the taut writing, and the wonderful sense of place. It is so painless to absorb the actual historical facts.

With what is going on between Russia and Ukraine today, this is a timely book to read, about an area not so far from the scene of conflict.
This is a docu-drama which is ok, but I would have preferred an historical account of the battle. It was informative to me as I did not realize what a great impact this battle had on the outcome of the war.
I would have given the book a full five stars but for some nagging little details with a few of the characters that left me wondering why the author failed to finish their stories also. All in all a good read especially for anyone wanting a better understanding of Hitler's invasion of Russia and the price paid for his folly. But it wanders and I found myself willing to put it down for awhile, regroup, pour another lemonade, sit back and follow along again till the end.

Details concerning tank battles and the people who fought them was fascinating and I did find myself cheering for father and son. Poor Spanish matador, however, a real disappointment.

Give it a read; you'll enjoy it.
Most knowledgeable people count three turning point battles in WWII--Stalingrad, Midway, and Kursk. Kursk was the greatest tank battle in human history. I have seen documentaries about it, some fictional films, read some books. This one hits it out of the part. Amazing, unusual characters, all well developed. On all sides. Subtle plot interweavings. Great battle scenes. NO editing errors I saw, which is pretty incredible for a book.

Probably one of the best novels I have read about WWII, and I have read at least dozens. I wish it would become a movie, though filming it would be a challenge even with CGI. Thanks to the author for a moving, evocative, marvelous novel. My highest possible recommendation.
I found the novel actually quite good. The characters were well-rounded and complex, their stories on the battlefield interesting in their interactions and against the background of the battle of Kursk. Complaints that the novel doesn't tell the story of the battle don't really get historical fiction at its best, it is the story of people at a time in history, not a fictionalized version of the history itself.

But two significant flaws made the novel fall way short in the end. The first was the relentless comma splices. What, did the editor fall asleep on the job? Literally one or more every page. Just not acceptable.

Second, the technical accuracy was horrendous. Detail after detail were just plain wrong. HEAT rounds in WW2 T-34's (they didn't use them) that were more effective at close range (and if they had, range isn't a factor in armor penetration of HEAT rounds). A sergeant leading a formation of tanks at referred to at various points as a squad (doesn't exist in tank units), a platoon (correct), and a squadron (a battalion-sized unit). The partisans used C-3 explosive (a US-manufactured compound). The hull machine gunner firing at aircraft (no, he really didn't). A sergeant in the Russian army--the most highly prescriptive/least initiative army in the ETO allowed to choose his own ammunition loadout. Sirens on Stukas in 1943. On and on. In the end, I had to just grit my teeth and ignore it to be able to finish the book. Curiously, I didn't notice this problem with War of the Rats at all.