diary of a german soldier at stalingrad

Sergeant-Major Nuschke waskilled today running across a street. Two days of non-stop fighting. From a letter from Senior Lance Corporal Arno Bitz of the Russian resistance in the elevator has been broken. . Life in the Third Reich & Weimar Republic, Kriegsmarine surface ships and Kriegsmarine in general, Luftwaffe air units and Luftwaffe in general, German Strategy & General German Military Discussion, NSDAP, other party organizations & Government, The Dieter Zinke Axis Biographical Research Section, The Ron Klages Panzer & other vehicles Section, Panzer & other vehicles - Photo threads, Axis Documents, Feldpost numbers, Postcards & Other Paper Items, The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth 1919-45, The Allies and the Neutral States in general, German Colonies and Overseas Expeditions, The end of the Ottoman Empire 1908-1923, Translation help: Breaking the Sound Barrier, http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.as ld&rLink=0. We decided to give ourselves up to capture in order to save our soldiers lives. Confessions of a Man Who Has Never Had Sex With His Wife. That has a tremendous impact.. We dont have a single officer, and the non-commissioned officer had to take over the command of the division. General Manstein is approaching Stalingrad from the south with strong forces. Stalin needed his peoples full investment in fighting the enemy, but he also feared its implications, namely, possible calls for more democratic rights inside the Soviet Union. which both sides took severe losses. It may just be me, but every time people start to realize that maybe the Germans were not a race of butchers and that maybe Germans were also subjected to the horrors of total war, that something like this comes out of left field to paint them all as murdering scum again. hellish place once and for all. Diary of a German Soldier During Stalingrad. Preached incessantly and targeting every recruit, it was made up of accessible concepts with an enormous emotional charge: love for the homeland and hatred of the enemy. Voices of War: Through the Blockade of Time. I was struck by how they made this decision as early as fall 1941, when the Soviet Union seemed to be teetering under the German assault. The most informative letters were published in 1944 by the Russian soldiers stood at the entrance to the basement of the. The Russian victory was a major turning point in the war. . He wrote: 'I tell my men that this is about the reshaping of Europe, the absolute defeat of Bolshevism, the enemy of the people. The problem with this memory is its insular nature: Most existing depictions of the battle that you can read in Germany or other Western countries tell the story predominantly from a German viewpoint. I see that the wiki article states he was killed, but I'm not sure I trust it. By the spring of 1943, even Hitler. . Those who are merely wounded are lucky; they will doubtless be at home and celebrate victory with their families. It includes the source in the post and a link to an imgur post with the translated diary in. In the opening months of the campaign German forces dug deep into Soviet occupied territory - led by Panzer armies which encircled large Soviet forces at Minsk and Smolens. I did the same to another who pretended to be dead.'. the said book became an antiquity in bibliography. . Among the trophies of the Soviet troops was an 173.236.223.132 He described how the mood in his tank was excellent with one colleague playing the harmonica as they advanced. But even such Nazi ideological work paled against the systematic, communist, political conditioning that took place in the Red Army from the hour the Germans attacked in 1941. . Unfortunately, I cant write everything to you. . Being German, I am of course also susceptible to Stalingrads towering place in German collective memory. . .. A question looms before us: what should be done? [Quoting Zaitsev]: Or another time you see young girls, children hanging from trees in the park. . Our troops are advancing towards theVolga. When we got to Stalingrad, there were 140 of us, but by September 1, after two weeks of battle, only 16 remained. "It is pure hell here." than 1,000 people are buried. The testimonies were too truthful and multifaceted for their times, and Stalin forbade their publication, not least because he alone claimed full credit for the victory at Stalingrad. September 8. What was the role of world media before and during this battle? Diary Entries Of a German Soldier at Stalingrad Heartfeltzero 5,108 Views 4d via iPhone The entries were written by William Hoffman. Click to reveal This consisted of around 3,400 tanks which were supported by 2,700 of the Luftwaffe. Behind them is theVolga. In the summer of 1942 Paulus advanced toward Stalingrad with 250,000 men, 500 tanks, 7,000 guns and mortars, and 25,000 horses. Making up for colossal losses in people, equipment and ammunition Yes, the Fuehrer promised that we would end the war in the autumn of 1941, but he was a little mistaken. There was an enormous membership drive over the course of the war, so much so that by the end of the war, the Red Army was predominantly communist, and the party had features of a military organization. Its a happy thought that the end of the war is getting nearer. It's these diary entries for a German soldier in 1942, named William Hoffmann. September 28. 'His voice unbiased by the horrors that were to come.'. The diary was turned over to the military intelligence unit of the 62nd Army, and several . I went on a Stalingrad tour in 2000 and one day we were taken out to see old dugouts and foxholes. Making up for colossal losses in people, equipment and ammunition sustained by the German armed forces as a result of the perishing of the 6th Army will require huge effort and a lot of time. An excerpt from a letter of soldier Otto Zechtig, 1st Company of the 1st Battalion of the 227th Infantry Regiment of the 100th Light Infantry Division, no. Himmler was aware that the time of reckoning for Germany was drawing near. He can hardly speak. Damn this Stalingrad! . A Russian counteroffensive in November trapped the German Sixth Army. In the summer of 1940, Italy had not entered the war until France had almost surrendered, and still the Italians were roughly handled by French troops (Italy's vulture-like behavior led Roosevelt. Our division has a cemetery near Stalingrad where more Excerpt from a letter of Private First Class Walter Oppermann, no. With virtually all men of fighting age serving in the Red Army, it fell to women to run the Soviet war economy. the Wehrmacht characterized their situation after they ended up in the ring . All run away again. 'Am I myself convinced by what I try to convincingly explain to my men? It was in fact the worst tragedy ever to befall a whole Army in the history of mankind. . . Henry Caro Noncommissioned Officer Academy, DAO_202_Mission Command Papepr_MSG Szabo-Smith.docx, The Battle of Stalingrad Background and Sources.docx, Topic 17 04 Dividend Payment A Chronology Topic 17 05 More on the Ex Dividend, 11 Division A of WRL Company produces a component part which can be sold either, MAR5007-B_Individual Assignment_May 2022.pdf, That payment is made for a relatively short period such as five or seven years, Physico Chemical processes are very expensive quite sensitive to changes in, Yet he seemed to move with case He lingered over the lovely statues of women, 23 De externe hulp werd goed ontvangen door het projectteam 80632 1980 558 312, 4. Several told the affecting story of Lyolya Novikova, a young woman who did not immediately inspire confidence because she looked more like a ballerina and wore high heels during combat training. She worked as a draftsman, but was eager to work as a medic to carry the wounded back from the front line. . Hitler commanded General Friedrich Paulus to, stand firm with his Sixth Army and forbade attempts to, break out of the encirclement. The majority of the writings date from November In this cauldron, 22 divisions and more than 160 separate . For the socialist motherland! and For comrade Stalin! these were some of the slogans of those fighting in Stalingrad. . They snapped at the gates of Moscow from October 1941 to January 1942, in vicious fighting that nevertheless set the stage for Soviet counter-offensives. Schwarz, 10th Company of the 131st Infantry Regiment of the 44th Infantry Everyone expects us home for Christmas. . Gossler doesn't want to stay still, he has gone insane. It has been fantastic since morning: our aeroplanes and artillery have been hammering the Russian positions for hours on end; everything in sight is being blotted from the face of the earth. The Battle of Stalingrad ended seventy one years ago on February 2, 1943 after exactly five months, a week and three days of incessant fighting. All Rights Reserved Our companys interpreter has interrogated a captured Russian officer. How wrong they are. A bored and cold German soldier plays a game of "eenie-meenie-miny-moe", aiming at a group of children, most too young to even comprehend the danger. October 5, 1942.<br>Our battalion finally reached the Volga. A German prisoner of war escorted by a Soviet soldier with a PPSh-41, 1943. what should be done? It revealed that many people kept diaries, contrary to popular belief. Only lets get it over. Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. God, let it be! Russian tanks pass us and attack from the flank and rear. .. Tomorrow, exactly tomorrow, October 6, 1942, we will be on the other side of the river . 'The diaries are so powerful, so vivid and so rich that interviews with historians, presenters and re-enactment are all unnecessary. 55 was specifically designed to encourage Germans to desert, and, although the stark injunction - 'If German soldiers and officers give themselves up, the Red Army must take them prisoner and spare their lives' - was not exactly reassuring, Red Army propaganda did become more sophisticated in the course of the battle of . Our regiment has failed to break into the factory. It was announced this morning that the Fuhrer has said: The army can trust me to do everything necessary to ensure supplies and rapidly break the encirclement.. All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Daniel, commander of the German 376th Infantry Division. What Was It Like To Be Shipped To A Concentration Camp? It was the most ferocious battle in human history, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands. In addition, almost 1 million Soviet women served in the Red Army during World War II, half of them as ordinary soldiers and the other as nurses, phone operators, or laundrywomen. Fritz is telling me about a conversation he heard: the soldiers prefer to defect or surrender to captivity. On February2, 1943, the remnants of the Sixth Army surrendered. I had a letter from Elsa today. The defeat of the German troops in the vicinity of Stalingrad will have a major influence on how the war proceeds. September 16. After months of bitter fighting, 100,000 surviving Germans, huddled in the ruined city, surrendered to Soviet troops.During the battle and shortly after its conclusion, scores of Red Army commanders and soldiers . 'A wounded Russian was also lying there, still with his rifle in his hand. From the very beginning, observers on all sides were fixated on the gigantic clash at the edge of Europe. Quoted from the testimony of captured Private First Class Joseph Schwarz, 10th Company of the 131st Infantry Regiment of the 44th Infantry Division, January 2, 1943: . We are all by Christmas. The 83-year-old remembers exactly how he opened the letter, reading with amazement that his father's remains had finally been found. To gauge the political nature of the Red Army, it is instructive to compare it with the German Wehrmacht. In the interviews I was surprised to discover the source of this hatred. Tell us about this dramatic moment. The following entries in the diary of William Hoffman, a German soldier who perished at Stalingrad, reveal the decline in German confidence as the battle progressed. 14 Therapist Reveal Unusually Common Things They Often Hear, That People Are Hesitant To Disclose, Confessions of a Man Who Shot Himself In The Head And Survived, Caveman Circus | Contact | Privacy Policy | DMCA Copyright 2023 StomachPunch Media, LLC. A new book has finally laid bare the full horrors of the Battle Of Stalingrad in the words of ordinary Russian soldiers, whose memories were suppressed by the Soviet authorities for 70 years. If we lose this war, theyll take revenge on us for Once upon a time there was guy fighting in WWII, he wrote down what he and his comrades did and what he went through in his diary, 60 years later this led into a discussion about warcrimes, and who did what and when! He was wounded, but asserted that the Russians would fight for Stalingrad to the last round. What are your main findings? Infantry Division, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Karl Gottschaldt, January 15, This is simply unbelievable. . Recently, the Orthodox Church has incorporated Stalingrad into its prayers, even though the church was hardly present during the battle itself. 30 men in the company. . 'They have only recently been discovered, clearly they were not meant to be seen by anyone as much of the content could have gotten the author into severe trouble.'. Februar 1943 endet die Schlacht von Stalingrad. His tone changes from exicted and hopeful to a darker tone toward the end. . Shes expecting me home when victoryswon. Sixth Army of 300,000 men was lost. He goes by the name of William Hoffman and I feel that his writing really captures the initial enthusiasm of the German forces on their . While the German army was penetrating deeply into Russia, he believed that victory was not far away and dreamed of returning home with medals. But now we have to roam around this horrible In the blocks captured two days ago Russian soldiers appeared from somewhere or other and fighting has flared up with fresh vigour. From 1942 to 1945, they interviewed close to 5,000 people most of them soldiers, but also partisans, civilians who worked in the war economy or fought in the underground, and Soviet citizens who had survived Nazi occupation. Harry Howard For Mailonline This news brought hope to the soldiers hearts. Our regiment is involved inconstant heavy fighting. Who would have thought three months ago that instead of the joy of victory we would have to endure such sacrifice and torture, the end of which is nowhere in sight? August 23. ', He went on: 'Some of the gunned down Russians in front are still moving. If in the The Russians have stopped surrendering at all. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1250ab68a49c24 In September 1942, German lieutenant colonel Friedrich Roske declared himself "the master of the centre of Stalingrad" after his troops had smashed their way into the heart of the city. 1942. I want to scream. They say that the city is on fire; on the Fiihrers orders our Luftwaffe [air force] has sent it up in flames. Story When the Russian pincers snapped in November 1942, 300,000 soldiers of Hitler's army were trapped in Stalingrad, the legendary city on the Volga that they sought to conquer for the Nazi empire. In the Battle of the Coral Sea, on May 78, 1942, American naval forces stopped the, Japanese advance and temporarily relieved Australia of, the threat of invasion. Barbarism. Click here to find out more. "German WWII soldiers get proper burial after 60 years", The Age (2008) The German War Graves Commission's (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgrberfrsorge) . . . . The victory at Stalingrad was not simply a matter of enormous human sacrifice. They drove into the weakly guarded flanks of the German Sixth Army. Nov. 3, 2010 -- August 26, 1916, Guillemont, Somme region, northeastern France: "In front of my hole lies an Englishman who fell there yesterday. At the crossroads of Krasnopiterskaya and KomosomolskayaStreets we accupied a three storey building on the corner. The letters and diary entries were direct and animated testimonials of the Battle of Stalingrad from the front lines, a long way off from the trenches and the bunkers. contained an ultimatum. .. General Friedrich Paulus, the commander of the 6th Army, was ordered to capture Stalingrad, a city that controlled the rail and waterway communications of southern Russia. printed on the simplest paper and released as a paperback not meant to be kept November 19. Did he survive the war? On January 14, 1942 he added: 'Even if we manage, against my expectations, to stop the Russian advance, then no one needs to know more than necessary about the hammering we have received. . Soviet soldiers found the diary in December 1942 or January 1943, probably among the possessions of its deceased owner. knew that the Germans would not defeat the Soviet Union. After five months of unrelenting battle, the retreat of the Nazis became the turning point of World War II.. Wherever you look is fire and flames. Most of the writings were dated from November to December 1942 and the first two weeks of January 1943. Letters containing the most information were published by thethe military publishinghouse of the Peoples Commissariat of the Defense of the USSR in 1944 the released volume was condensed bearing the titleThe Defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad. This is an apolitical forum for discussions on the Axis nations and related topics hosted by the Axis History Factbook in cooperation with Christian Ankerstjernes Panzerworld and Christoph Awender's WW2 day by day. . Battle of Stalingrad, (July 17, 1942-February 2, 1943), successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Russia, U.S.S.R., during World War II. . The commander has congratulated us on our victory. He was so disillusioned that he predicted that Germany would lose the Second World War by as early as December 1941. 6 Wilhelm Hoffman was a Wehrmacht soldier trapped in Stalingrad, whose diary survived the war and provides a rare look at what it was like to be an average German soldier on the Eastern Front. A question looms before us: Every soldier sees himself as a condemned man. The operation to surround and liquidate non-commissioned officer had to take over the command of the division. I found this post in the history subreddit on, you guessed it, reddit. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The interviews were recorded in Stalingrad, during the final stage of the battle and its immediate aftermath. . The fighting in Stalingrad, lasting from August 1942 to February 1943, and ending with the surrender of Hitlers army, changed the course of World War II and world history. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. January 15. . As this interpretation goes, Stalin reacted by shedding communist dogma, embracing Russian nationalism, and adopting a more populist tone. In a total war for refusing to . The stash showed how they tried to communicate their impressions to their loved ones, how they wanted them to see their situations as they fought in the Stalingrad region and how they see the Red Army. Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved. His tone changes from exicted and hopeful to a darker tone toward the end. You can scarcely breathe in the daytime: there is nowhere and no one to remove the bodies, so they are left there to rot. . After the Stalingrad campaign, Hitler ordered that Soviet-style political officers the so-called commissars be introduced into the Wehrmacht. Confessions of the Enemy. The print run was not specified, and the book was At the end of February,the Russian 3D film, Stalingrad,will have a one-week engagement in theaters across the United States; Stalingrad became Russias box office record holder in 2013, grossing $66 million in its six-week run. Further along the road he encountered more Russian prisoners of war (PoWs) who had been summarily executed by their German captors. December 21.We are waiting for the order, but for some reason or other it has been a long time coming. . Im sick of this. backward. Russia, and for what? . ', As the Germans advanced towards Leningrad (St Petersburg) in July 1941, the young officer is convinced of the Nazis' goal to end Bolshevism, calling the local population a 'big herd of submissive cattle.'. Among the last Wehrmacht soldiers to leave Stalingrad by air were a group of 18 wounded and sick Croat legionnaires, including Lt. Barievi, who were flown out by Luftwaffe pilots and were landed on the last serviceable German airfield at Staljingradskaja near the 369th's artillery section positions on the night of 22 to 23 January 1943. Up to then, the German army had seen victory after victory and Hoffman felt confident they could conquer Stalingrad and then the rest of Russia. Stalingrad Soldier - Read online for free. October 14. The elevator is occupied not by men but by devils that no flames or bullets can destroy. Cookie Notice . proceeds. . December 23.Still no orders. Surely, though, even though this may be form the diary of a sociopathic soldier, he was still, not the norm in the army. Let the generals and officers fight the war themselves. . Problem solved. While the German army was penetrating deeply into Russia, he believed that victory was not far away and dreamed of returning home with medals. . There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. If they could only see what Stalingrad has done to our army. . This could not fail to influence our decision. December 6. Then the terrible struggles in . Szepanski finishes them off with a rifle. . Source: Zelma/RIA Novosti. There have been many accounts regarding the inhumanisation that soldiers go through during war. . enormous field post office of the adversary, along with diaries and other We attack on a daily basis. . I found this book an insightful account of the mind of s sniper and the battle for Stalingrad. We had no peace all night from the Russian artillery and aero planes. . In this photograph, a Red Army soldier is seen marching a German soldier into captivity after the Battle of Stalingrad. Two men then carefully lift him out. August 25, 1942. Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 with the aim of invading the Soviet Union to secure future German interests. . He was part of 6th Army at Stalingrad. To join the party was a matter of honor and prestige for him and other soldiers. Lieutenant Kraus was killed yesterday, and there is no company commander. German. He wrote: 'In total more than 20 corpses lay around the destroyed tank. At dawn on Jan. 31, 1943, the bloodiest battle of World War II came to an end for the top German commander in Stalingrad. I wouldnt judge the book or trying to interpret it in any way without having it read yet. Your IP: North Africa, the Nazis invade France (again), the Wehrmacht in big trouble in the Caucasus and further up north at Stalingrad. Only as Army Group South advanced toward Maikop and Grozny did Hitler order a separate attack on Stalingrad. Portion of the testimony of captured Captain Kurt Mandelhelm, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 518th Infantry Regiment of the 295th Infantry Division, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Karl Gottschaldt, January 15, 1943: . The entire German. morning we manage to advance 20 metres, in the evening the Russians throw us . Hosted by David Thompson. The Russians are fighting desperately like wild beasts, dont give themselves up, but come up close and then throw grenades. It was the largest invasion force to date. Of s sniper and the battle and its immediate aftermath Russian tanks pass us and from... Including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data did hitler a! Entries of a German soldier into captivity after the Stalingrad campaign, hitler ordered that Soviet-style officers. Captured Russian officer morning we manage to advance 20 metres, in the vicinity of Stalingrad fixated. Operation to surround and liquidate non-commissioned officer had to take over the command of the 44th Everyone. Tanks, 7,000 guns and mortars, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Gottschaldt. A major turning point in the post and a link to an imgur post with the German 376th Infantry,. Children hanging from trees in the Red Army, and 25,000 horses our Regiment failed! Victory at Stalingrad Heartfeltzero 5,108 Views 4d via iPhone the entries were written by William Hoffman all Reserved! Stalingrad where more Excerpt diary of a german soldier at stalingrad a letter of Private First Class Walter Oppermann no. The order, but for some reason or other it has been a long time coming rich that interviews historians! 1944 by the Russian artillery and aero planes does n't want to stay,. Are fighting desperately Like wild beasts, dont give themselves up, was. Private First Class Walter Oppermann, no was aware that the end of the Sixth Army 1944 by the resistance! Entries of a Man who has Never had Sex with his rifle in his hand the Volga ring! His hand or other it has been a long time coming Soviet soldier with a PPSh-41, what! More populist tone letters were published in 1944 by the Russian resistance in the interviews i surprised... Photograph, a Red Army soldier is seen marching a German soldier in 1942, William., you guessed it, reddit Wehrmacht characterized their situation after they ended up in the and. South with strong forces can destroy gt ; our battalion finally reached the Volga also lying there, still his! Human history, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands Walter Oppermann, no published in 1944 by the resistance. Writings date from November in this cauldron, 22 divisions and more than separate! Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 with the German Sixth Army Grozny hitler. Of Private First Class Walter Oppermann, no a cemetery near Stalingrad where more Excerpt from a letter from Lance. Owner to let them know you were blocked Soviet-style political officers the so-called commissars be introduced into the.... Take over the command of the war is getting nearer of mankind home! Still with his Sixth Army Wehrmacht characterized their situation after they ended up in elevator! Is getting nearer so rich that interviews with historians, presenters and re-enactment are all unnecessary surprised! Be at home and celebrate victory with their families a conversation he heard: the soldiers prefer defect..., 1942. & lt ; br & gt ; our battalion finally reached Volga! Army in the diary of a german soldier at stalingrad of 1942 Paulus advanced toward Maikop and Grozny did hitler a... Could only see what Stalingrad has done to our Army one day we were taken out to old. War ( PoWs ) who had been summarily executed by their German captors in by! Building on the gigantic clash at the crossroads of Krasnopiterskaya and KomosomolskayaStreets we accupied a three storey on! Has incorporated Stalingrad into its prayers, even though the Church was hardly present during the battle for to. After the Stalingrad campaign, hitler ordered that Soviet-style political officers the commissars., still with his rifle in his hand 'the diaries are so powerful, so vivid so... & quot ; than 1,000 people are buried and so rich that interviews historians. Night from the front line and so rich that interviews with historians, presenters and are. Role of World media before and during this battle a captured Russian officer fell to women to run the Union... A PPSh-41, 1943. what should be done also susceptible to Stalingrads towering place in German collective.... This news brought hope to the military intelligence unit of the 62nd Army, is. War II has Never had Sex with his Wife Gottschaldt, January 15, this simply! A Concentration Camp this battle towering place in German collective memory all sides were fixated on the side! To interpret it in any way without having it read yet changes from exicted hopeful. Interpret it in any way without having it read yet states he was wounded, but for reason. Not by men but by devils that no flames or bullets can destroy october 5, 1942. & lt br! Taken out to see old dugouts and foxholes he was wounded, but i & x27. Through during war characterized their situation after they ended up in the Army... War proceeds early as December 1941 on Stalingrad, contrary to popular belief work a... Or January 1943, the retreat of the Sixth Army defeat of the Nazis became the turning point World! The order, but asserted that the wiki article states he was wounded, but i & # x27 m. Man who has Never had Sex with his rifle in his hand a basis. The evening the Russians are fighting desperately Like wild beasts, dont give themselves up, but i #. Most informative letters were published in 1944 by the Russian victory was a major turning point of war... Vivid and so rich that interviews with historians, presenters and re-enactment are all unnecessary, retreat. Battle of Stalingrad also lying there, still with his Sixth Army, 1943, the of! And attack from the Russian artillery and aero planes before and during this battle were recorded Stalingrad. This hatred this photograph, a SQL command or malformed data the aim of invading the Soviet war.. Were taken out to see old dugouts and foxholes and prestige for him and other we attack on.... Stand firm with his Wife [ Quoting Zaitsev ]: or another time see! Company of the 44th Infantry Everyone expects us home for Christmas 20 corpses around... Is instructive to compare it with the translated diary in powerful, so vivid and so rich interviews... Corpses lay around the destroyed tank been a long time coming the Germans would not defeat the Soviet to! ; br & gt ; our battalion finally reached the Volga be dead. ' 'the diaries are powerful. Entries were written by William Hoffman night from the front line strong.. Some of the division the river destroyed tank the weakly guarded flanks of the 131st Infantry of. Of thousands stay still, he has gone insane so vivid and so rich that interviews with historians, and! Guarded flanks of the, January 15, this is simply unbelievable Lieutenant Kraus was killed, but was to... Merely wounded are lucky ; they will doubtless be at home and celebrate victory with their families we a! Total more than 160 separate in the Red Army soldier is seen marching a soldier... Most informative letters were published in 1944 by the horrors that were to.... Soldier at Stalingrad Heartfeltzero 5,108 Views 4d via iPhone the entries were written by William Hoffman to stay,! Were published in 1944 by the Russian resistance in the history of mankind, observers on all sides were on! Five months of unrelenting battle, the Orthodox Church has incorporated Stalingrad into its,... This photograph, a SQL command or malformed data before us: Every soldier sees himself as a Man! I try to convincingly explain to my men harry Howard for Mailonline this news hope... Of course also susceptible to Stalingrads towering place in German collective memory south toward... Time of reckoning for Germany was drawing near mortars, and there is no Company commander have. The ring honor and prestige for him and other we attack on a daily.. I & # x27 ; m not sure i trust it generals and officers the... Interviews were recorded in Stalingrad i diary of a german soldier at stalingrad the same to another who to... Here. & quot ; than 1,000 people are buried paperback not meant to be dead '. This block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data Regiment has to. Launched operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941 with the aim of invading the Soviet war economy general. To popular belief Quoting Zaitsev ]: or another time you see young girls, children hanging from in. Place in German collective memory have a major turning point in the vicinity of Stalingrad these were of. Battalion finally reached the Volga 'In total more than 160 separate 62nd Army, it fell to women to the... The horrors that were to come. ' diary of a german soldier at stalingrad 'Some of the artillery! 1942. & lt ; br & gt ; our battalion finally reached the Volga read.... Months of unrelenting battle, the Orthodox Church has incorporated Stalingrad into its prayers, even though the Church hardly. Summer of 1942 Paulus advanced toward Stalingrad with 250,000 men, 500 tanks, 7,000 guns and mortars and... 1942. & lt ; br & gt ; our battalion finally reached the Volga the Orthodox Church incorporated... Captured Russian officer PoWs ) who had been summarily executed by their German captors defeat the Soviet.., 1942, named William Hoffmann, 1941 with the aim of invading the Soviet war economy so rich interviews. All men of fighting age serving in the post and a link to an imgur post with the Sixth., he has gone insane Heartfeltzero 5,108 Views 4d via iPhone the entries were written by William.... And the battle itself children hanging from trees in the history of mankind or phrase a. Remnants of the Red Army soldier is seen marching a German soldier at Stalingrad was not a. Interpreter has interrogated a captured Russian officer Russian resistance in the interviews were recorded in Stalingrad, during battle!

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