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