Hell of the 1943 Battle of Stalingrad revealed in German soldiers' letters sent as Russian troops closed in amid failure of Hitler's invasion By Harry Howard, History Editor Published: 20:38 EST, 3 November 2024 | Updated: 20:38 EST, 3 November 2024 e-mail View comments 'Now it really seems the end is near'. Those were the words of just one desperate German soldier in a letter to his family amidst impending defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad in early 1943. His letter is one of dozens that have been translated by German historian Robin Schaefer for a documentary that reveals the full extent of the horrors during the Nazis' failed invasion of the Soviet Union.
Stalingrad: The Last Letters was released recently on Youtube by popular streaming platform History Hit. The letters provide unprecedented insight into the thoughts and emotions of German soldiers during the horrifying battle in the face of inevitable defeat. More than 100,000 German and Axis troops ended up encircled by Soviet soldiers in the frozen city of Stalingrad in early 1943.
Aware that their time was short, many soldiers penned their final goodbyes to loved ones - but they remained defiantly loyal to Hitler's Nazi Germany and their cause. More than 100,000 German and Axis troops ended up encircled by Soviet soldiers in the frozen city of Stalingrad in early 1943 Dozens of letters have been translated by German historian Robin Schaefer. They feature in a new documentary about the horrors of the Battle of Stalingra.
