Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus

Stalingrad Situation Map for August 16, 1942

Situation Map for August 16, 1942

The book uses many daily situation maps to show where the German divisions and corps were located.  This is one of the Lage Ost maps from the National Archives, where they are in photo format – the originals having been returned to Germany.  The maps were initially prepared by the German Army High Command (Oberkommando des Heeres [OKH]).  They were first printed by the Mapping and Survey Branch; the OKH Operations Branch then annotated then to indicate specific headquarters and unit locations.  New maps were prepared daily.

The good news is that for many of these maps, you do not have to go to Washington DC and the Archives.  Researcher John Calvin (WWII Aerial Photos and Maps) has put many on his own web site, as well as thousands of photos and other maps.

Stalingrad Situation Map for August 16, 19422015-09-08T15:36:35-05:00

German “X” Squad at Stalingrad

German “X” Squad

The base photo is that of an infantry squad just west of Stalingrad in October 1942.  Their unit is preparing to move into the city, probably for the first time.  I have added the red Xs to the photo, indicating that in the aggregate, nine of every ten men going into Stalingrad would become casualties of one sort or another.

German “X” Squad at Stalingrad2015-09-08T15:40:09-05:00

German Squad Leader Whistle found at Stalingrad

German Squad Leader Whistle found at Stalingrad

In the din of battle, signals could be heard much easier from a whistle than by voice.  Two blasts from a whistle for a combat engineer squad might signal to get up and quickly move forward ten meters.  Today, many militaries think of command and control as sophisticated computers, but for the infantryman on the ground, life and death can be determined by understanding quickly what your squad leader wants you to do.

German Squad Leader Whistle found at Stalingrad2015-09-08T15:42:09-05:00

German Infantry Assault Badge from Stalingrad

German Infantry Assault Badge

German Infantry Assault Badge in Silver found after the war in a former German position at Stalingrad.  Anecdotal evidence indicates that some German soldiers at Stalingrad intentionally broke the wreath surrounding the badge to show their private opposition to the campaign.  While this badge is missing part of the wreath at that described location, it is not possible to determine the cause of the damage.

German Infantry Assault Badge from Stalingrad2015-09-08T15:42:45-05:00

Remembrance Card of Soldier Who Died at Stalingrad

Remembrance Card

Jäger Josef Steinbacher was born on December 21, 1923 at Schildorn, near Eberschwang, in Austria.  He was killed in the fighting for Hill 102 at Stalingrad on September 28, 1942, while a member of the 8th Company in the 227th Infantry Regiment of the 100th Jäger Division.  Josef Steinbacher, whose remains were never found for proper burial, is listed in the remembrance book at the German Military Cemetery at Rossoschka.  By showing a remembrance card (Sterbebild) for as many days as possible, we hope to show that while for Germany, perhaps 250 soldiers died on a particular day, for this particular family it was a tragedy beyond compare.  These cards are one type of German World War II relic that are not outrageous in price.

Remembrance Card of Soldier Who Died at Stalingrad2015-09-08T16:00:23-05:00
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