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

Trouble in Stalingrad (November 1942)

General Friedrich Paulus

November 1942

From the middle of October, we observed major enemy troop movements to the north of Kletskaya, and we sensed a major offensive about to be launched. Nonetheless we decided that the attacks on Stalingrad should be continued. I notified the Supreme Headquarters of the situation – the weakness of the Stalingrad front and the exposure of the flank. 

Finally, on November 19, the Russians launched the offensive they had been preparing for. For the next few days, we were pressed back by the Russians’ attacks. The situation is grave and to make things worse, our supplies were running low. On the 21st of November, we proposed to the Army Group Headquarters for the permission to withdraw to the Don. The proposal was accepted, but on the very same day, we received a direct order from the Army Headquarters that the Sixth Army will hold the Stalingrad-Volga front whatever happens. 

Friedrich Paulus

Time Has Come To FIght BACK. (November 1942)

Zhukov, Stalingrad

November 18 1942

Everything should be in place for our counteroffensive by tomorrow. Stalin has assured his expediency in this culminating operation. Our plan would unfold along a 250-mile front. As the Axis defenses were penetrated, the Soviets will cut the Germans off from most of their reserves and sever their lines of communications. We will mainly attack the more vulnerable Rumanians. The main plan is to weigh in when their offensives have failed and prevent them from even getting over to their defenses. The Stalingrad operation is in all respects already prepared. We are about to make the Nazis pay.

Zhukov, Stalingrad

Corporal Gunter's Diary (November 1942)

6 November 1942

Surprisingly, we were not deployed to the front immediately. We were shipped to a so-called “winter position” where the trains are situated. We hear that the trains could no longer travel into Stalingrad and supplies had to be brought into the city in smaller batches. Our reginment is now understrength and fighting in small units.

Whatever happened to the news we had been hearing? The successes of the German Army’s advances? 

Corporal Gunter

Red Army Spirit (November 1942)

Stalin , Stalingrad

November 4 1942

How desperate we were in our efforts to slow the German advance into Stalingrad, especially around the Don Bend. Nazi forces have already broke through to the south of Stalingrad and moved deeper into the city as days passed. Installing Zhukov as my direct deputy was imperative if we were to save Stalingrad. Sending him to Kamyshin on Aug 29 was the only way. We have to strike an offensive immediately but Zhukov wanted to hold it off till the 5th of September only to report that our forces were not able to penetrate the Nazi defenses. Nonetheless the wait was worth it as our training of the forces and strategic reserves were close to completion by November.

Our Counteroffensive plans were only known by me, Zhukov and Vasilevsky. The Stalingrad Front would be renamed the Don Front, and the Southeastern Front renamed, the Stalingrad Front, both were effective on 28 September. Despite the German onslaught, my focus remains on the counteroffensive, to drive the bloody Germans out once and for all. 9th November and 10th November for this counteroffensive to begin at the Don and Stalingrad Front respectively. The Germans had better be ready.

Stalin , Stalingrad