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Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus (23 September 1890 – 1 February 1957) was a German Generalfeldmarschall (Field Marshal) during World War II who is best known for his surrender of the German 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad (July 1942 to February 1943).
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German casualties were 147,200 killed and wounded and over 91,000 captured, the latter including Field Marshal Paulus, 24 generals and 2,500 officers of lesser rank. [21] Only 5,000 would survive Soviet internment and return to Germany after the war.
Friedrich Paulus, an aristocratic veteran, played a key role in the German rearmament. He led the 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad, but was declared a "traitor" after surrendering, and was held in Russian captivity until 1954. He died in East Germany a few years later in 1957.
Paulus refused to participate directly. In Soviet captivity, Paulus denied having surrendered, claiming to have been taken by surprise. He refused to issue an order to the remaining Germans in the southern pocket to surrender. He also denied having the authority to issue an order for the northern pocket to surrender. [14]
The surrender of Sixth Army was a huge blow to German morale and it came as a great shock to Hitler. Despite the destruction of Sixth Army, the Soviets were able to only force the German Army back from the Caucasus, delaying the final decision on the Eastern Front.
January 31, 1943: Germany's Field Marshal Paulus surrenders to Soviets at Stalingrad January 24, 1943: At Casablanca, Roosevelt and Churchill declare they will accept nothing less than the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers January 30, 1943: Admiral Erich Raeder resigns as Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine and is succeeded by Karl Dönitz due to growing dissatisfaction with Adolf ...