The German 6th Army - Historum

rehabnonono · May 8th, 2011, 02:18 AM

While researching the history of the Sixth Army - the largest army in the whole of the Wehrmacht and famous for being virtually eliminated at Stalingrad (and the subsequent treatment as POWs), I was somewhat surprised that it had been surrounded and destroyed to a "combat ineffective" status a total of three times during the Second World War. Hitler promoted Paulus to General Fieldmarshal ostensibly to have him commit suicide, lest become the first captured Fieldmarshal in German history. Paulus is claimed to have said "I refuse to commit suicide for this Bohemian corporal".
ANTONY BEEVOR Lateline - 20/05/2005: Historian reflects on Eastern Front battles

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During the last days of the Stalingrad encirclement, Hitler, in denial of events, had one man from every division in the 6th Army flown out in order to 'reconstitute' a new 6th Army (A.O.K. 6). This new formation became active on 5 March 1943... The army was again largely destroyed in a large encirclement during the Iassy-Kishinev Operation, but this time the army HQ survived. The 6th Army was the only German army to be encircled and destroyed thrice (including the final capitulation).

**irishcrusader95** · May 8th, 2011, 04:20 AM

were was is it surrounded a third time

rehabnonono · May 8th, 2011, 05:53 AM

After facing four Soviet Armies attacking Vienna during March of 1945, the shattered remnants, finding themselves between a rock and a hard place, slipped out the back door and for the third time surrendered (this time to US troops on VE Day 9th of May 1945) Anyone know if any of the original Stalingrad soldiers survived?

Fire_Raven · May 8th, 2011, 06:53 AM

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Originally Posted by rehabnonono

After facing four Soviet Armies attacking Vienna during March of 1945, the shattered remnants, finding themselves between a rock and a hard place, slipped out the back door and for the third time surrendered (this time to US troops on VE Day 9th of May 1945) Anyone know if any of the original Stalingrad soldiers survived?

Perspectives: Stalingrad Foes Meet Again – November '97 World War II Feature » History Net

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Some years after the end of the war, a small group of German survivors of the Battle of Stalingrad (now called Volgograd) encountered a throng of Red Army veterans revisiting the scene for the first time since the end of the battle in 1943. The two parties met by chance near the city center, the site of some of the most bitter fighting of the long siege.

Inflames · May 8th, 2011, 10:36 AM

The 6th army has a very tragic story, although they were often inhumane one must feel bad for the sheer level of death that had to endure in a time of war. Stalingrad was the graveyard of the 6th Army and for very good reason.

**beorna** · May 8th, 2011, 11:41 AM

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Originally Posted by rehabnonono

While researching the history of the Sixth Army - the largest army in the whole of the Wehrmacht and famous for being virtually eliminated at Stalingrad (and the subsequent treatment as POWs), I was somewhat surprised that it had been surrounded and destroyed to a "combat ineffective" status a total of three times during the Second World War.

The 6th army was destroyed on february 2nd 1943 at stalingrad and rebuild till it was destroyed again at the end of august 1944 in the southern ukraine. After it it was rebuild as army group Fretter-Pico and since decmbre 1944 as army group Balck. So if we are correct, then the 6th army was rebuild just a single time.

rehabnonono · May 9th, 2011, 09:04 AM

beorna wrote:

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The 6th army was destroyed on february 2nd 1943 at stalingrad and rebuild till it was destroyed again at the end of august 1944 in the southern ukraine. After it it was rebuild as army group Fretter-Pico and since decmbre 1944 as army group Balck. So if we are correct, then the 6th army was rebuild just a single time.

I read that too but... the Battle of Romania

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During the second offensive, Romania switched sides, thus allegedly shortening the war by six months.[3] The German Sixth Army was encircled and destroyed for the second time, while the severely weakened Eighth Army retreated to Hungary. Soviet losses were minimal.

Second Jassy-Kishinev Offensive

The big difference between this one and Stalingrad is the General Staff were ready for capitulation this time and all packed up and ready to go. Later they claimed a Romainian betrayal, but there is not sufficient proof of this.

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At the end of the second day, the 3rd Ukrainian Front stood deep in the rear of the German 6th Army. No more organised re-supply of forces would be forthcoming, and the 6th Army was doomed to be encircled and destroyed again. Franz-Josef Strauss, who was to become a very important German politician after the war, served with the Panzerregiment of the 13th Panzerdivision. He comments that the division had ceased to exist as a tactical unit on the third day of the Soviet Offensive: 'The enemy was everywhere.'

Name changes aside (both names Fretter-Pico and Balck refer to the leaders of the group, Hitler's little motivational ploy no doubt) the final capitulation was to the US troops VE Day 1945 in Austria.

**bartieboy** · May 9th, 2011, 12:39 PM

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Originally Posted by Fire_Raven

Perspectives: Stalingrad Foes Meet Again – November '97 World War II Feature » History Net

Amazing story... thanks,

but were there no small outbreaks by the German army like in the siege of Budapest?

**A7X** · May 9th, 2011, 01:44 PM

I don't understand how flying out 20 or so men would help with rebuilding a new 6th army. If anything, he should have just flown out as many men as possible.

**beorna** · May 9th, 2011, 02:38 PM

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Originally Posted by Wastedgrunt36

I don't understand how flying out 20 or so men would help with rebuilding a new 6th army. If anything, he should have just flown out as many men as possible.

If you have a school class in a dangerous situation and you can only rescue a few, then it is the best idea to rescue first the teachers. If the pupils die, there is a new age class next year. But if the teachers die, you need years untill you can educate somebody as teacher again. And for so long you cannot educate you pupils as well.