What happened to Paulus after the Battle of Stalingrad? Friedrich Paulus, the German Field Marshal in charge of the German 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), surrendered to the Soviet Union on February 2, 1943, after being encircled and besieged by the Soviet forces. His surrender marked a significant turning point in World War II, as it was the first time a German field marshal had surrendered in battle.

Paulus was taken into Soviet captivity, and he became a prisoner of war. Initially, the Soviets treated him well in an attempt to use him for propaganda purposes. However, Paulus refused to cooperate with the Soviet Union in broadcasting anti-German messages. Over time, his treatment deteriorated, and he was subjected to interrogation and psychological pressure.

In 1953, during a wave of releases of German prisoners of war, Paulus was among those released by the Soviet Union. He returned to West Germany, where he faced criticism for surrendering at Stalingrad. Paulus died by suicide in 1957, leading to ongoing debates about the circumstances surrounding his surrender and the treatment he received during captivity.