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Gert C. Lübbers
The 6th German army and the civilian population of Stalingrad
Keywords: Stalingrad, 6. Armee, Flüchtlinge, Arbeitskräfterekrutierung, Eduard Wagner
In the run-up to the battle of Stalingrad Hitler intended to exterminate the civilians in the city. This essay investigates whether and to what extent these plans were realized. It also looks at supposed schemes by the supreme command of the army, especially by the quartermaster general, General Eduard Wagner, to first select those able to work and to leave the rest of the population to starvation. In fact Hitler′s intentions to exterminate the population collided with the need the German war economy had for workers. Numerous new sources allow to show in detail where and when the leading German authorities worked out how the civilian population was to be dealt with. In this respect the two months before the German troops were encircled by the Red Army are of special interest. During this time, thousands of civilians fled from the battle that was raging within the city into the rear of the 6th army. This article attempts to shed some light on their fate.
Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag
Print ISSN: 0042-5702
Volume: 54, 01/2006
Pages: 87 - 123