Buddhism has been influential in the mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas since the 7th century AD; most notably in the kingdom of Tibet where it permeated all aspects and levels of society until the 20th century. From the 9th-century AD onwards; the secular rulers of Tibet sought to extend their influence; and that of Buddhism; throughout the region. To this end; huge stone and mud-brick fortifications; known as dzongs; were constructed to dominate the secular landscape; while massive Buddhist monasteries dominated the religious - both following a very specific style of Tibetan architecture. It has been estimated that as many as 3;000 monasteries were built along with 200 dzongs. Mongol invasions from the 12th century onwards provided another influence; while internecine fighting in the 17th century led to increased fortification of the monasteries and the rise of the Dalai Lama as the head of a theocracy in Tibet; centred on the Potala Palace in Lhasa - a true fusion between secular dzong and religious monastery.Elsewhere in the Tibetan-influenced Himlayas the Buddhist Indian Kashmiri kingdom of Ladakh withstood assaults by both Muslims and Sikhs and developed a style of fortress monastery located on rocky peaks for defence; these often became combined with the fortified palaces of the rulers of Ladakh. With the foundation of Bhutan in the 17th century; further fortified monasteries were created in an effort to protect the new state's independence form the Dalai Lama.These fortifications have survived largely intact through today; as Chinese control over the Tibetan Autonomous Region has led to the destruction of the vast majority of the fortified monasteries and dzongs of that particular area.This title recreates the dramatic and colorful fortifications created in these mountain kingdoms; and recounts their operational history through the foreign incursions; religious conflicts and civil wars that litter their history; right through to the Tibetan uprising and flight of the Dalai Lama form the Potala Palace in 1959
#103209 in Books imusti 2014 2016-02-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x 1.30 x 6.30l; .84 #File Name: 1848327668256 pagesFrontline Books
Review
100 of 102 people found the following review helpful. Escaping the Death Trap …By DACHokieI’ve been waiting for a book that compiled individual accounts of the German experience in Stalingrad and finally; with SURVIVORS OF STALINGRAD; there is one. Editor; Reinhold Busch; has compiled 39 individual and diverse accounts of German soldiers and airmen who either escaped the Stalingrad “Kesselâ€/pocket or became prisoners and lived to tell about it.Busch; who has previously published his research of German surgeons in the battle of Stalingrad; provides an interesting and unique visage of the depravity experienced by an entire army left to fend for themselves after being surrounded by a motivated and vindictive Red Army. With temperatures falling to sub-zero levels and still wearing uniforms suited for spring and summer; each soldier/airman’s account echoes a recurring theme of futility and misery. The stories provide a broad perspective of the epic battle’s final days; giving readers a better understanding of the chaos and downright fear that blanketed those trapped inside the pocket … from the frontline infantryman lacking ammunition and support to airmen dealing with the flood of terrified and wounded soldiers swarming their planes in a desperate attempt to flee captivity and certain death.Each chapter represents an individual’s account and while they are all different; most all manage to touch on the same points: personal filth; extreme hunger; the unbearable cold; unburied dead; the soon-to-be-dead wounded and the Red Army bearing down. With the exception of a few; the stories range from two to six pages in length. Some of the accounts are more interesting than others; but they all combine to provide a better overall picture of the entire situation facing Germans before von Paulus’ surrender (one account even included that moment). Unlike most books involving personal recollections of war; I found it hard to view these men (in the circumstances they were in) as instruments of the once-vaunted; steamrolling Nazi war machine; but a string of forgotten left-overs whose fate depended mostly on good-fortune. There are a few “fighting to the end†scenarios presented; but most stories reflect a desperate effort to escape certain death from hunger; freezing to death or at the hands of vengeful Russian captors. The images presented are quite bleak and I found the book less war-like and more of a collection of human interest/survival stories. The accounts are retrieved either through interviews (present and past) and/or public record … they are told from a first-person perspective (we’re seeing what they saw). A collection of glossy photos in the middle of the book allows readers to put faces to some of the stories being told.I appreciated the way Busch provided details of almost every individual named throughout the book; not just those providing the narratives. Footnotes detail the dates; places of birth and death (if applicable); as well as the dates of promotions and stages of any decorations awarded. I found this meticulous approach to detail quite impressive. The ranks and duties of all the individual stories are varied as well; adding a ground-up perspective to the whole picture. Additionally; we are provided the post-war status of the storytellers; including steps in their careers and where they are today (if living). Several of the men actually survived being a POW of the Soviet Union … a subject I wish Busch would consider for a future project.SURVIVORS OF STALINGRAD is a unique book in that I haven’t been able to find anything comparable to it … most books about Stalingrad are overviews told by an individual (usually a historian). Considering the scant number of Germans who survived Stalingrad are still living; I feel this book serves as an important missing-link to the battle’s entire story.52 of 53 people found the following review helpful. Eyewitness accounts from survivors of Stalingrad 1942-1943By TigVIThis is a book for those who are familiar with the Stalingrad battle. Well known events such as the battles in the factory districts and the evacuations of wounded from the city are described by men who were there. First hand accounts always provide new perspectives to familiar events. There are about 40 stories from survivors in the book. Also; Busch provides a pretty good sampling from different service branches and ranks: NCO's; officers and enlisted men. I'd usually read 4 or 5 a night and then take a breather.There are often similarities to the stories but that doesn't soften their impact. Stalingrad devoured soldiers from both sides with relentless ferocity. I don't think even Dante' could envision this frozen hell. The recollections were related years after the battle and were checked for accuracy by the author. One thing that struck me was the matter-of-fact way in which men who escaped the cauldron and those who survived Soviet captivity recalled their ordeals. But I guess it would take a talented writer to adequately describe the suffering of these men.I highly recommend this book. Stalingrad occupies a unique place in the annals of military history. Anyone familiar with the battle is certainly going to be interested in these accounts.36 of 38 people found the following review helpful. Not for the faint of heartBy Steve S.If you want to know what war is really like; this is the book. It is not for the faint of heart. The soldiers speak of the true brutality of the fight at Stalingrad. Poor food; poor living conditions; lack of medical car and poor leadership at the top. Many soldiers held their faith in the leadership right to the very end.The book also describes instances of kindness on both sides; which I found amazing given the hate on both sides. There were amazing strokes of luck that enabled individual soldiers to escape the encirclement; while the strength of the comradeship between the soldiers caused several soldiers to violate orders not to enter the pocket.I highly recommend this book if you want to get a true soldiers view of this horrible battle.
