Promotion (February 1943)

Zhukov
Marshal of the Soviet Union
February 1943


Being promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union is simply surreal. The Germans picked the wrong country to invade in the Eastern Front. Our resilience prolonged the overall suffering of the Nazis and their pursuit of dominance in Europe. We have survived with minimal help from our allies. Up to the decision to launch a counteroffensive in Stalingrad, Hitler seemed like he would have taken over the Soviet Union. Our generals couldn't let the Nazis get away with their cowardice and barbaric nature.

We made the Nazis lose 250,000 men in the Battle Of Stalingrad alone. They had lost the backbone of their Eastern Front war effort simply by engaging the Soviet Union into this World War. I'm sure these uncalculated losses will have unprecedented effects on the Nazi forces. Hitler had miscalculated badly in his gamble of Barbarossa. I'm just honored I got to lead the Soviets into showing what we stand for as a communist state and nation. The war isn't over, but the Soviets may have just dealt what may have been a truly unexpected blow into the war efforts of the cunning and ruthless Nazis. The Allies will thank us for this.

Zhukov
Marshal of the Soviet Union

Beginning of the End for the Nazis In This World War (February 1943)

Stalin, Stalingrad

February 3 1943

The Nazis refused to accept the ultimatum despite losing the Gumrak airstrip. We have pushed the Germans to the outskirts of Stalingrad. This supposed resilience was short lived as various German units began to surrender and after our final push on Jan 31, we had regained central Stalingrad.

Zhukov is already on his way to end the blockade on Leningrad. This is a proud day for Soviets. The Germans have been driven out of the Soviet Union, by the Soviet Union. What the Germans planned to end in eight weeks dragged on for two years. We have caused them inconsolable and definite irreversible damage to their overall war effort to reconstruct Europe. Their concept of Operation Barbarossa had failed miserably! With this loss at Stalingrad, Hitler has lost their war effort of the Eastern Front and we are solely responsible for that!

Hail Mother Russia!

Stalin, Stalingrad.

Decision (January 1943)

FieldMarshal Friedrich Paulus
30 January 1943

Through leaflets dropped from the air, the Russians issued us an ultimatum. The higher command has ordered us to not surrender and fight to the last man. I told the commanders that there is no question of capitulation, and never to mention it again.

Supplies can no longer be delivered and the only possible mean was by air drop. This system is an utter failure and complete nonsense! The supplies dropped is far too little and a large number of these supplies fell into enemy hads. The rations are running low and medical supplies scarce.

Those empty promises from Hitler! Promises of supplies and reinforcements that never came! My men are now on the brink of collapse.

*** German Vulgarities*** He even gave the lot of us promotions. Of what use is rank now?

The choice is clear. We will have to capitulate.

Friedrich Paulus

Stalingrad Won? (January 1943)

Zhukov, Stalingrad

January 1 1943

The Counteroffensive worked well. We managed to impose a stranglehold on the German forces, forcing them either to retreat or be annihilated. Axis forces have already been trapped at Stalingrad. We showed them exactly what that meant via Operation Koltso. Meanwhile, the plan has been reworked. There shall be two phases in the counteroffensive now. The first phase will be aimed at destroying the Germans' western and southern groups. The second would be a general assault by the two fronts by all armies of the Soviet Union. The first phase was to be completed by 23 December.

The Germans are suffering from the lack of supplies and ammunition, Operation Koltso was a good decisive blow into the entrapped Sixth Army of the Nazis. We have the forces to deal the Nazis another blow. For the Don Front alone, we stand at 212,000 men, 6500 guns and motars, more than 250 tanks in good condition and apporximately 300 combat aircraft. Things are looking up for the Red Army.

Zhukov, Stalingrad

Corporal Gunter's Diary (December 1942)

15 December 1942

Our outpost was destoryed two days ago. God be with Meinhard, Swina and the rest. Only a few of us remained. Yesterday, we managed to regroup with some other German combat units moving in on the counter. Our morale hit rock bottom.  Some of the men bailed out, shooting themselves in the arms or legs.
Today, while in my snow hole, we heard a firefight going on in our flanks. I wanted to stand up but I could not. My legs were stiffed like wood. My kneecap was stiff and swollen from a wound –which I covered with a plaster – which I suffered while running yesterday.

It was Haemorrhage, due to the little hole I covered with the plaster. The blood cound not escape and was clogged up inside the leg. The leg has to be placed in cast  and immobilised. I was transported to the medical assembly to wait for the ambulance. Surprisingly, im a little happy to be leaving.

Heimatschuss. As least I will be leaving the battlefield with a little honor and with my life.

Corporal Gunter

Move of Soviet Factories (November 1942)

Alexander Yakovlev, Soviet aircraft designer

30th November 1942

We are near the 25000 mark for overall airplane production! Our workers have done their best, and delivered forth an endless stream of Yak-9 aircraft for the war effort. I heard that on the radio for Marshal Zhukov’s offensive alone in Stalingrad, we managed to field 1500 aircraft that included a majority of my Yak-9 fighter aircraft against the Luftwaffe’s 1200. Now as we encircle the German dogs who are “stuck in their shit”, hold up in Stalingrad, we have shot down many repeated attempts by their planes to resupply their beleaguered forces. May our glorious pilots continue to make life miserable for these rats who treated us with contempt, but now must endure the suffering of the same kind of bombing that they have inflicted upon us for the past years.

A tank producing factory

Corporal Gunter's Diary (November 1942)

26 November 1942

The weather is freezing with temperatures in the negatives region. The fighting in the fields are crazy. We are holed up in these ruins like cowering rats fighting for our lives. Few days ago, we heard in the news that the Fuhrar declared Stalingrad to be a fortress. The lads are incensed. The real situation is really gave here. We are being encircled right as I am righting this…

Corporal Gunter