Friedrich paulus biography
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In a radio message sent by Hitler to Paulus, it was subtly suggested that he should commit suicide. Her research focused on military, environmental, and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War. As a student, she worked in a variety of research positions, including as an archivist. On July 4, 1912, he married Elena-Konstantina Rosetti-Solescu.
Military Career
At the start of World War I, Paulus' regiment was stationed in France.
In fact, he went so far as to work on propaganda campaigns for his captors. The first was on August 8, 1944 on Free Germany Radio, declaring, “For Germany, the war is lost. On February 2, 1943, the 6th Army ceased to exist, and Paulus, along with the remnants of his army, surrendered to the Soviet forces. He was renowned for his ability to minutely study every situation before issuing orders down to the smallest detail.
Hitler after initially nurturing his career was to eventually dismiss him as too intellectual with insufficient character.
Paulus was 52 years old at the battle of Stalingrad. With nothing ventured, little could be gained. During his captivity, according to General Max Pfeffer, Paulus said of Hitler’s expectation: “I have no intention of shooting myself for this Bohemian corporal.” Another general told the NKVD (the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union) that Paulus had told him about his promotion to field marshal and said: “It looks like an invitation to commit suicide, but I will not do this favour for him.” Paulus also forbade his soldiers from standing on top of their trenches in order to be shot by the enemy.
Paulus (left), and his aides Col.
Wilhelm Adam (right) and Lt.-Gen. Taken as a prisoner of war (POW) by the Soviet Red Army, he eventually began publicly criticizing the regime he once fought for. He surrendered his staff the same day at the Univermag departmental store in the centre of Stalingrad. He was essentially rewarded for his staff expertise when he was appointed Commander Sixth Army in January 1942, taking over from his feisty former superior von Reichenau.
Without realising it, Paulus had been promoted way beyond his practical experience and capabilities.
He later served as a staff officer in mountain infantry units in France, Serbia, and Macedonia.
As one of the youngest of the army commanders he had never commanded a division or corps, or any combat unit in action. The Stalingrad pocket was pinning down 90 major Soviet units, which would otherwise wreak havoc with the Army Group South withdrawal. She received both her bachelor of arts degree in history, and her master of arts degree in history from Western University.
The plan was frustrated at every turn by stubbornly held strong-points, which fought on despite being surrounded, and by Chuikov’s creative and aggressive low-level tactics.
Paulus exercised command from well back, in a village 30 miles to the west of Stalingrad. He even lightened the mood by joking, “And anyway, my new uniform will hardly be of any use to me now.”
Not only did he refuse to end his own life, he also forbade his men from doing so.
He joined the League of German Officers in Captivity, participating in radio surrender appeals, for which Hitler imprisoned his family. While in Sovietcaptivityduring the war, Paulusbecame a vocalcritic of the Nazi regime and joined the Soviet-sponsored NationalCommittee for a Free Germany. Paulus was born in Breitnau into a family of an accountant who served in the Kassel prison.
It was during this time that he worked on the development of the plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union.