Hitler's 1941 Invasion of Russia | Part 5: Christmas In The Cauldron

"Capitulation is impossible! The 6th Army will do its historic duty." - Adolf Hitler. In the conclusion of our series, we unravel the final months of the Battle of Stalingrad, exploring the consequences of Adolf Hitler's decision to forbid the the Sixth Army to retreat. We witness the long-awaited breakthrough for The Red Army, as Joseph Stalin and Georgy Zhukov launch Operation Uranus. We delve into the emotional impact on German soldiers confronting their mortality. Through their personal letters, we glimpse into their thoughts and feelings about Nazi leadership and Adolf Hitler. After the dust settles, we examine the aftermath of the Battle of Stalingrad and its enduring legacy in Russian history. Tune in for an exploration of this pivotal moment, where the human toll and historical significance intertwine in a tale of sacrifice, resilience, and grit. NOTE: When discussing The Nuremberg trials, I make an error when I refer to Joseph Goebbels who was no longer alive. This should instead be Hermann Göring. Thanks to Albert, Antonik and others for pointing this out. ⚡Help support the show on Patreon check out our supporting reels on Instagram, and receive email updates whenever a new episode drops by joining our mailing list.⚡ CHAPTERS: 00:00-Introduction and Recap 01:58-Episode start 07:27-Fortress Stalingrad begins 16:49-Christmas in Stalingrad 21:05-Last chance at surrender with Winrich Behr 31:36-Paulus loses hope 40:56-Fate of the main characters 45:57-Red Army finds last letters from Stalingrad 📓SOURCES: Barbarossa Through Soviet Eyes: The First Twenty-Four Hours by Artem Drabkin, Alexei Isaev, Christopher Summerville  Stalingrad by Antony Beevor Russia at War, 1941–1945: A History by Alexander Werth  Blood red snow by by Günter K. Koschorrek Through the Maelstrom: A Red Army Soldier's War on the Eastern Front by Boris Gorbachevsky The forgotten soldiers by Guy Sajer  Until the Eyes Shut: Memories of a machine gunner on the Eastern Front by Andreas Hartinger Stalin: Triumph and Tragedy by Dmitri Volkogonov Marshall of Victory: Memoirs of Giorgy Zhukov Blitzed: Drugs In The Third Reich by Norman Ohler The Diary of Wehrmacht Soldier William Hoffman Various accounts: IREMEMBER.RU German Propaganda Archive: Joseph Goebbels: 1933-1945 (calvin.edu)   Barbarossa : the Russian-German conflict, 1941-45 by Alan Clarke  Kiev 1941: Hitler's Battle for Supremacy in the East by David Stahel Reminiscences and Reflections. Volume 1 by Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evans  Moscow Strikes Back - 1942 USSR Propaganda Film Molotovs Radio Broadcast:  Transcript: https://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/great-patriotic-war/pdf/22-06-1941-molotov-radiospeech.pdf Audio: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1000646   🎉PATRONS Tom G 👑 Angus S👑 Seth M👑 Claudia K👑 Phil B Lisa K Malcolm G Alex G Caleb I Alan R Jim G Luke G Tom   ✍🏻ATTRIBUTIONS All images are public domain unless stated otherwise. Paid Artlist.io license for 'Anthology Of Heroes Podcast' utilised for numerous sounds/music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices