What happed to Paulus after the Battle of Stalingrad?
What happed to Paulus after the Battle of Stalingrad? After the Battle of Stalingrad, German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus was captured by Soviet forces on January 31, 1943. His prisoner marked a significant turning point in World War II, as it ended the fierce and prolonged battle for Stalingrad, where his 6th Army had been encircled by the Red Army.
crucial events after his prisoner
Surrender and Imprisonment
Paulus was taken internee by the Soviets. Despite Hitler’s orders to fight to the last man, Paulus chose to surrender, which led to review from Nazi leadership, particularly because Hitler had promoted him to address marshal just before the rendition, awaiting him to either break out of sequestration or commit self-murder, since no German field marshal had ever been captured alive.
Collaboration with the Soviets
During his prison, Paulus began cooperating with the Soviets. He joined the anti-Nazi National Committee for a Free Germany, a group of German officers who opposed the Nazi governance and worked to encourage German dogfaces to surrender.
Post-War Life
After the war, Paulus witnessed at the Nuremberg Trials against other Nazi leaders, particularly in matters related to Nazi war crimes. He remained in Soviet guardianship until 1953, when he was allowed to settle in East Germany.
Life in East Germany
Paulus lived out his remaining times in the German Democratic Republic( East Germany), where he worked as a annalist and military counsel. He failed on February 1, 1957, in Dresden.
Paulus’s decision to surrender and cooperate with the Soviets made him a controversial figure in Germany, with some viewing him as a snake to the Nazi cause and others seeing him as a realistic leader who made the only feasible decision given the circumstances.
