General Strecker's Last Stand

Martin Bull · #1 (**permalink**) August 28th, 2003, 05:11 PM

The front cover of 'Die Wehrmacht' magazine, 3 March 1943, shows a dramatic artists' impression of this event, with the greatcoat-clad General being handed a ( presumably last ) loaded MP40 magazine by one of his men.

I noticed Friedrich referring to General Strecker in the 'quiz' thread. I'm not such an expert about the Eastern front, so can someone give a little more details about this General and the circumstances of his 'last stand'. Is it covered in any books ?

Friedrich · #2 (**permalink**) August 28th, 2003, 11:19 PM

Colonel general Karl Strecker was the commander of the XI Army Corps during the whole battle at Stalingrad. He was born in Radmannsdorf, Germany on September 20th 1884 and he died on April 10th 1973 in Riezlern, Austria. Assigned as II lieutenant on May 14th 1905. He worked in the German Federal Police during the 1920s until he retired with the rank of police general in April 20th 1934. He re-joined the Army which he had left as captain in 1915 as major general on July 1st 1935. he reached the rank of infantry general in April 1st 1942 and that of colonel general by radio message on February 2nd 1943 a few hours before he finally was captured with his men inside the tractor factory. Awarded the Knight's Cross on October 26th 1941 as commander of 79th infantry division. On June 1st 1942 he was appointed commander of XI Army Corps belonging to the German VI Army on its way to the Volga river.

Here's his biography at Karl Strecker.

Also, there are significant mentions of him in the following books:

"Stalingrad" by Anthony Beevor.

"Stalingrad, the hellish sorrounding" by Stephen Walsh.

"Enemy at the Gates" by William Craig.

"Great Battles of WWII" (Stalingrad) by John McDonald (which includes a detailed study of the last battle on February 1st and 2nd inside the tractor factory).

I can get you more information if you want, Martin. About the battle. Just tell me what would yopu like me to say about it. I also e-mailed you a photograph of colonel general Strecker.

Martin Bull · #3 (**permalink**) August 30th, 2003, 09:10 AM

Many thanks fot the info, Friedrich - and the private mail with Strecker's photo which looks very much like the 'artists impression'.

I've looked in my Stalingrad books and found the references.

He is also mentioned in Carell's ' Hitler's War On Russia ' , the last page of which contains the following sentence which I always find horrifying. Writing of the end of Stalingrad, Carell says ; -

' About 6,000 men out of 107,800 have returned to their homeland to date ' ( 1963 ).

Friedrich · #4 (**permalink**) August 30th, 2003, 03:38 PM

I found the last account of the battle here:

"After the remains of the VI Army had subsequentely surrendered since January 8th until February 1st, general Karl Strecker organised the last defence of the tractor factory Dhzreshinsky with his XI Corps - almost only a few thousand men - which held the apawling Russian forces for two days. The Germans were absolutely outnumbered, starving and had no ammunitions nor water - except for melted snow. Defending themselves with handguns, grenades and bayonets - and in some cases pieces of broken metal from the factory instead of bayonets - they could resist several attacks from the Red Army causing them severe losses. However, the German garrison was completely surrounded and the life conditions just weren't there. The dead remained where they failed and the wounded died of cold and starvation. Fierce man-to-man combat took place, while the starving Germans fought with metal and rocks the attackers. Strecker had a radio left, from which he knew about his promotion and Hitler's exhortations to carry out their historical duty - which they were doing!. The Russians attacked with tanks, artillery and mortars. At 0840 hours they transmited their last message and by 9 o'clock all resistance had been crushed. Only a few men were taken prissoners".

Kai-Petri · #5 (**permalink**) August 30th, 2003, 04:32 PM

To keep the Stalingrad discussion going again...

IN Alexander Kluge´s "Schlachtbeschreibung"
( interviws of Stalingrad veterans ) from 1964, of which I have a Finnish version, it is mentioned:

Since January 20th 1943 120,000 of the 150,000 German soldiers in Stalingrad did NOT take part in the battles (?)

I know soldiers were dying of hunger and the cold was awful and ammunition was missing, but could the number of German fighters be around 20-25% that still took part in the fight for the two last weeks. Maybe? This doesn´t mean that the Germans could have kept Stalingrad with better supply but probably could have held on for a longer time? But it seems that the situation really was critical and the German soldiers gave resistance during unbearable circumstances.

Friedrich · #6 (**permalink**) August 31st, 2003, 05:34 PM

Well, Kai. I think I will agree and disagree with that fact of 25% of the Germans inside the pocket fighting.

I'll agree because many men were too weak for fighting and not plenty of ammunition was available. And I'll disagree because the fight was everywhere and everyone had to fight. Rokossovski's guns were all the time shelling the Germans; in airfields, headquarters, depots... Inside the city, Chuikov and Shumilov kept hammering the German positions and in the rear of the city the Germans were defending flat and undefeanable ground with ill-equipped infantry. A good example would be Luftwaffe's 7th Flak division which was annihilated while it was used in anti-tank and infantry rôle defending the airfields as well as Luftwaffe's crew. In the north of the city, 94th infantry division was swept in two days with all its support and auxiliar troops. Not even the division general staff remained...

Kai-Petri · #7 (**permalink**) August 31st, 2003, 06:35 PM

Thanx for the view on the Stalingrad war Friedrich!