THE FINAL OUTCOME

On 24 January, Paulus sent a personal message to Hitler, requesting permission to surrender: ‘Troops without ammunition or food. Effective command no longer possible. 18,000 wounded without any supplies or dressings or drugs. Further defence senseless. Collapse inevitable. Army requests immediate permission to surrender in order to save lives of remaining troops.’

Hitler stubbornly refused to retreat, responding: “Surrender is forbidden. Sixth Army will hold their position to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contribution toward the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of the Western World.” He wanted Paulus to die fighting or suicide.

By 26 January 1943, however, the Sixth Army were trapped by the Soviet counteroffensive. Hitler refused to surrender. On the 30th, hitler promoted Paulus to the rank of field marshal in hopes it would him. On 31 January, however, Paulus did surrender, and was taken captive, later stating, he has 'no intention of shooting myself for this Bohemian corporal’. Two days later, the rest of the German army surrendered. The Battle of Stalingrad was lost.

Over a million lives had been lost. February 2, 1943, the last German resistance ended. Hitler was furious, his generals instead of himself. The Germans had lost almost 150,000 soldiers, and 91,000 more were captured by the Russians, including 22 generals. Only 6,000 of them returned home after years in Soviet prison camps. The combined losses of Romanian and Italian allies with the German side totalled 300,000 soldiers. The Russians also lost 500,000 soldiers and civilians.

“He ordered us to stand fast and save Stalingrad. So we knew then that it was 'do or die.' We could not retreat.”

―Vasily Chuikov

6

A German soldier being taken prisoner after surrender.