The Suffering of the 6th German Army: The Worst Atrocity During WWII

In the vast array of atrocities and unimaginable suffering experienced during World War II, the plight of the 6th German Army, along with their Romanian and Italian allies, stands out as one of the darkest chapters of the conflict. This group of soldiers, who fought in the harsh conditions of the Battle of Stalingrad, faced horrors that are difficult to comprehend. This account details the remarkable suffering endured by this group of soldiers and the broader context of the war's cruelty.

The Battle of Stalingrad: An Ounce of Horror

The Battle of Stalingrad, one of the largest and bloodiest battles in human history, took place from August 1942 to February 1943. During this prolonged engagement, the German forces and their allies, including the Romanian, Italian, and Hungarian armies, fought in some of the most brutal conditions imaginable. These conditions included temperatures as low as -45°C, little to no food, and an almost complete lack of winter clothing. Additionally, there was a desperate shortage of drinkable water, exacerbating the suffering.

The Widespread Suffering

Of the approximately 500,000 men who initially entered the Stalingrad pocket, fewer than 20,000 survived to return home. For the German forces, this translated to a survival rate of just 2 percent. The battle was marked by extreme privation and widespread cannibalism. Soldiers often had to survive on rations so meager that they would resort to consuming their own limbs that had been amputated without anesthesia.

The privation and hunger were so severe that cannibalism became a stark reality. Bunkers were constructed from the frozen corpses of the dead, with some walls reaching over ten feet in height. Shell craters were filled with bodies to facilitate the movement of vehicles over damaged roads. The conditions in the unheated hospitals were equally dire, with lice infestations so severe that when a soldier died, lice would blanket the floor moving from one warm soldier to another.

The Unforgivable Tragedy

The suffering did not end with the surrender of the German forces. After their capitulation, these soldiers were marched over 100 miles to prisoner of war camps while building their own facilities in freezing temperatures. They spent up to ten years in equally horrific conditions. Tragically, over half of the 90,000 who surrendered were dead within a month.

Contrast with Other Groups

While other combatants, such as Australian troops on the Kokoda Track, experienced their own terrifying and horrific suffering, the scale and duration of the 6th German Army's suffering make it stand out. Australian soldiers were indeed subjected to inhumane treatment, including murder and cannibalism by the Imperial Japanese Army. However, the sheer number of soldiers involved and the relentless nature of the suffering at Stalingrad set it apart.

A Final Note: Human Suffering and Representation

While this account does not excuse the actions of any army during World War II, it is crucial to recognize the unimaginable suffering endured by the 6th German Army and other groups of soldiers. The enduring scars of this conflict reflect not just military defeats but the darkest aspects of human nature.

As we remember and study this war, we must also ensure that the cries for help and the suffering of these soldiers are not forgotten. Their stories highlight the need for ongoing education and awareness to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future.