SURRENDER AT STALINGRAD
The bloodiest battle in history ended on 2 February 1943 when the surrounded German 6th Army surrendered to Soviet forces at Stalingrad. The Germans had been pushed into a defensive pocket and were starving and short of ammunition. Adolf Hitler refused 6th Army’s commander, Friedrich Paulus, permission to surrender and even promoted him to field marshal.
Paulus nevertheless surrendered to the Soviets on 31 January, with his subordinate General Karl Strecker holding out for two more days. When Strecker finally surrendered he sent the last signal from Stalingrad saying “Long live Germany!” rather than “Heil Hitler!”
Approximately 91,000 German soldiers were captured, including 22 generals. The Battle of Stalingrad’s casualties were apocalyptic and included losses of c.1,100,000 Soviet and c.800,000 Axis soldiers along with c.40,000 civilians.
SPORTPALAST SPEECH
On 18 February 1943, Joseph Goebbels delivered an infamous speech at the Berlin Sportpalast to a large, carefully selected audience. Occurring soon after the German capitulation at Stalingrad, he declared total war against the Allies underneath a banner that said: “TOTAL WAR – SHORTEST WAR.”
This story is from the Issue 116 edition of History of War.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 116 edition of History of War.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE IRA'S WAR IN COUNTY TYRONE
The IRA's East Tyrone Brigade was one of its deadliest units. This is the inside story of how one of its attacks triggered a retaliatory ambush by the SAS
'HATRED IS NOT THE WAY'
Speaking to mark the publication of his new memoir, Ivor Perl describes how he survived both Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps during the Holocaust
JOHNSON BEHARRY
Two acts of valour from this young private saved the lives of his comrades in the narrow streets of Al Amarah, Iraq
SUPER SPREADERS IN THE TRENCHES
During the latter period of WWI, infection and disease were a universal enemy on both sides of no man’s land. Vaccination and prevention methods became essential for survival, never mind victory, on the frontline
PROKHOROVKA AND THE FIGHT FOR HILL 252.2
The Battle of Prokhorovka, on 12 July 1943, was the culmination point of the southern pincer of Operation Citadel. The Soviets ultimately emerged victorious, despite suffering extremely heavy losses to their armour. Here, Dr Ben Wheatley recounts the struggle for one critical position during the battle: Hill 252.2
AIR BATTLE FOR KURSK
On the eve of Operation Citadel, the Red Air Force sought to pre-empt the attack by smashing the Luftwaffe. The risky spoiling operation failed spectacularly
ITALIANS IN THE EAST
Reeling from his setbacks in North Africa, and eager to prove his forces’ worth against the communist foe, Il Duce sent a large expeditionary force to join the Nazi invasion of the USSR
SHOWDOWN IN THE DESERT
The Italian campaigns in Africa sought to end British rule over Egypt and control of the Suez Canal, strengthening Mussolini’s dominance over the Mediterranean
CORPO TRUPPE VOLONTARIE
During the Spanish Civil War, tens of thousands of Italian soldiers fought in Spain to support the fascist Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco
STRIKE AT AFRICA
Mussolini envisaged building an empire to rival Ancient Rome. Once he’d established his grip on Italy, he set his sights on Abyssinia as the place to begin