Simviation Forum - Operation Uranus: The Soviet Union strikes back

Nov 19^th, 2011 at 2:30am

Webb Offline
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When did Germany lose the war? June 22, 1941, when it attacked the Soviet Union.

Operation Uranus: The Soviet Union strikes back

Quote:

Operation Uranus was the codename of the Soviet strategic operation in World War II which led to the encirclement of the German Sixth Army, the Third and Fourth Romanian armies, and portions of the German Fourth Panzer Army. The operation formed part of the ongoing Battle of Stalingrad, and was aimed at destroying German forces in and around Stalingrad ...

At 07:20 (Moscow time) on 19 November (1942) Soviet forces on the northern flank of the Axis forces at Stalingrad began their offensive; forces in the south began on 20 November. Although Romanian units were able to repel the first attacks, by the end of 20 November the Third and Fourth Romanian armies were in headlong retreat, as the Red Army bypassed several German infantry divisions. German mobile reserves were not strong enough to parry the Soviet mechanized spearheads, while the Sixth Army did not react quickly enough to disengage German armored forces in Stalingrad and reorient them to defeat the impending threat. By late 22 November Soviet forces linked up at the town of Kalach, encircling some 290,000 men east of the Don River. Instead of attempting a breakout operation, German dictator Adolf Hitler decided to keep Axis forces in Stalingrad and resupply them by air. In the meantime, Soviet and German commanders began to plan their next movements ...

The Battle of Stalingrad slogged along through the Russian winter until February 1943 and claimed over one million lives.

Quote:

"I have no intention of shooting myself for this Bohemian private"

- Field Marshall Friedrich Paulus, 6th Army commander

Germany would never attempt another Eastern offensive.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Jim

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Reply #1 - Dec 20^th, 2011 at 3:06am

Webb Offline
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December 20, 1942.

The 6th Army now was beyond all hope of German reinforcement. The German troops in Stalingrad were not told this, however, and continued to believe that reinforcements were on their way. Some German officers requested that Paulus defy Hitler’s orders to stand fast and instead attempt to break out of the Stalingrad pocket. Paulus refused, as he abhorred the thought of disobeying orders. Also, while a motorised breakout might have been possible in the first few weeks, the 6th Army now had insufficient fuel and the German soldiers would have faced great difficulty breaking through the Soviet lines on foot in harsh winter conditions.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Jim

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Reply #2 - Dec 20^th, 2011 at 11:23am

wahubna Offline
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There was Panzer commander with a plan ready to go to save the encircled army (I always mix up whether it was Manstien or Guderian, I am leaning towards Guderian). Part of the problem was that Goering promised Hitler that his transport aircraft squadrons could keep the embattled army alive by flying in supplies like they did in Demyesk when German forces surrounded there were resupplied and reinforced via aircraft and beat off their attackers. However, by Stalingrad, there were simply to few transport planes put bluntly and the cargo planes had to land under fire. I have seen pictures and video of Ju-52s being hit by artillery while taxing past dozens of other shot up Ju-52s.
Remember though that there was another great offense by the Germans AFTER Stalingrad, in fact it was the greatest tank battle in history: The Battle of Kursk, Operation Zitadel. As usual, there is always a lot behind the defeat of an army. Factors ranging from politics to weather are vitally important as well as obviously strengths and attack routes.

‎"At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation."- Igor Sikorsky

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Reply #3 - Dec 24^th, 2011 at 9:39pm

Webb Offline
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German families on Christmas 1942 were linked to a radio broadcast from Stalingrad, so that they could join the soldiers in singing "Silent Night." Those families did not know that the link-up was a fake.

1,280 soldiers died in Stalingrad on Christmas Day alone.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Jim

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Reply #4 - Dec 24^th, 2011 at 10:18pm

wahubna Offline
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Webb wrote on Dec 24^th, 2011 at 9:39pm:

German families on Christmas 1942 were linked to a radio broadcast from Stalingrad, so that they could join the soldiers in singing "Silent Night." Those families did not know that the link-up was a fake.

1,280 soldiers died in Stalingrad on Christmas Day alone.

All in all the Battle of Stalingrad was just a God awful fight. If I remember correctly it is the bloodiest battle in history with a couple million fatalities from both sides combined. Just boggles the mind to think how nasty the fighting must have been.

‎"At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation."- Igor Sikorsky

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Reply #5 - Jan 22^nd, 2012 at 10:57am

Webb Offline
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On 22 January, 1942, Paulus requested that he be granted permission to surrender. Hitler rejected it on a point of honour. He telegraphed the 6th Army later that day, claiming that it had made an historic contribution to the greatest struggle in German history and that it should stand fast "to the last soldier and the last bullet".

The third and last serviceable runway was at the Stalingradskaja flight school, which reportedly had the last landings and takeoffs on the night of 22–23 January. After daybreak on 23 January, there were no more reported landings except for intermittent air drops of ammunition and food until the end.

The Germans were now not only starving, but running out of ammunition. Nevertheless, they continued to resist, in part because they believed the Soviets would execute any who surrendered.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Jim

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Reply #6 - Jan 29^th, 2012 at 9:39pm

Webb Offline
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On January 30, 1943, Hitler promoted Paulus to field marshal. In deciding to promote Paulus, Hitler noted that there was no known record of a Prussian or German field marshal ever having surrendered. The implication was clear: Paulus was to commit suicide. If Paulus surrendered, he would shame Germany's military history.

Despite this, and to the disgust of Hitler, Paulus and his staff surrendered the next day, 31 January. On February 2 the remainder of the Sixth Army capitulated.

Paulus said of Hitler's expectation: "I have no intention of shooting myself for this Bohemian corporal". Paulus also forbade his soldiers from standing on top of their trenches in order to be shot by the enemy.

Of the 91,000 German prisoners taken at Stalingrad, half died on the march to Siberian prison camps. Nearly as many died in captivity. Only about 6,000 returned home.

Paulus died in Dresden on 1 February 1957, exactly 14 years after he surrendered at Stalingrad. His body was brought for burial in Baden next to that of his wife, who had died in 1949 having not seen her husband since his surrender.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

Jim

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