Hans! Russians beats our half-frozen, hungry soldiers. We would be unable to hold.

📝 In this video we discuss the memoirs of Friedrich Paulus’ adjutant, Adam Wilhelm. Who fought with Paulus on the Eastern Front.

https://youtu.be/QnAVUwirEFg – Chapter 1
https://youtu.be/ohNzDwop7pQ – Chapter 2
https://youtu.be/ykTGkHN8dT4 – Chapter 3
https://youtu.be/Brc08OJZQGU – Chapter 4
https://youtu.be/rJNYdSaXka0 – Chapter 5

In the summer of 1942, the battle on the approaches to the Don and Volga, unprecedented in its significance, scope and intensity, began. For 200 days and nights, the Red Army was grinding selected formations of Germany and its allies. The Battle of Stalingrad, which changed history and turned the tide of the entire Second World War, lasted from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943 and ended with a complete victory of the Soviet troops. The defensive phase of the operation lasted until November 18, 1942, and the offensive phase began on November 19.

The battle of Moscow put an end to the German blitzkrieg plan, but the Wehrmacht was still strong. A. Hitler planned to conduct a large‑scale offensive on the southern flank of the Soviet‑German front in the summer of 1942, capture Stalingrad — the most important industrial and transport hub on the Volga, occupy the rich grain areas of Kuban and Stavropol and break through to the Caucasian oil.

The German forces on the southern flank were divided into Army Group “A”, advancing directly to the Caucasus Ridge, and army group “B”, aimed at Stalingrad. The basis of the power of group “B” was the most combat‑ready 6th Army of the Wehrmacht under the command of General F. Paulus. It was supported by tank and motorized divisions.

The enemy offensive directly on Stalingrad began on July 17, 1942. This day was the beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad. The loss of Stalingrad would put the entire southern flank of the Soviet troops in a critical position.

The enemy threw all new forces under Stalingrad, bringing the number of its divisions in this direction from 38 to 80. The 4th Tank Group was deployed from the south to strike the city. Gradually, the capture of Stalingrad turned from a secondary to the main goal of the entire Wehrmacht campaign. A. Hitler and his generals were determined to take one of the most important cities of the Soviet state, bearing the name of its leader. On August 23, German aviation launched a massive bombing attack on city blocks. More than 40 thousand Stalingraders died in the conflagrations. The oil spilled into the Volga and caught fire. What was happening resembled a real hell.

Mamayev Kurgan became the center of the confrontation in Stalingrad, from which it was possible to view and shell a significant part of the city. This height changed hands several times. Many German units had only 150-200 meters to go to the Volga bank, but they could not do it. On the night of September 15, the 13th Guards Division of General A. Rodimtsev was ferried across the Volga to the rescue of the defenders, who immediately joined the battle and recaptured Mamayev Kurgan from the enemy.

Sergeant Ya. Pavlov, along with his few comrades, captured from the Germans and defended a house near the embankment for almost two months. The house where hundreds of Wehrmacht soldiers found the grave was later named “Pavlov’s House”.

Enjoy watching!

#ww2heroes #stalingrad #paulus

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