Two pockets... or three? BATTLESTORM STALINGRAD E49 

There's only going to be one thing left to do soon. Upload all episodes as one video. The end is near, I have been watching this series since I was grade 11 and now I'm in my second year of uni, thank you for this wonderful series tik

As the series draws to an end, I want to say a heartfelt 'thank you' for all the tremendous effort you have put into this series. Bravo and well done.

To those who saw the post before saying there would be a delay: turns out RU-vid had fast upload today!

That story with the horse makes it all so... human. There are stories like that in every episode. It is always a good reminder that those rectangles on the screen were made of hundreds of men.

Ability to say "i was watching this series before Stalingrad was encircled by Germans" feels like being a part of some elite group. Honestly this is too good.

It's actually impressive that there's any records AT ALL from inside the pocket at this time. I'm always impressed by the ability of notetakers and aides to record meetings and file condition reports at such late stages of a catastrphe.

I just dont want this series to end... it's been a pleasure to watch every single episode. I know I'm gonna fell numb when it comes to a conclusion, like when you finish the last chapter of a book that you've been particualry invested.. and then suddenly it's over

00:04 ⚔️ Paulus refuses surrender, commits to orders despite grim situation at Stalingrad. 00:28 🛡️ 14th Panzer Division left with minimal troops, lacking supplies and artillery, facing certain death. 01:27 🏙️ Gumrak airfield falls to Soviets on Jan 24, grim scenes of frozen German casualties discovered. 02:22 ✈️ Last aircraft leaves inadequate Stalingradskii airfield; wounded left behind face dire fate. 03:15 💔 Airlift fails, 6th Army's situation dire, horses and wounded suffer amidst harsh conditions. 05:33 🦠 Typhus spreads, affecting 90% of men; becomes significant factor in aftermath. 06:03 🍞 Rations fail, devastating consequences; German resistance weakens. 07:20 🇩🇪 Swastika flag raised, symbolic stand in apocalyptic conditions, but meaning lost. 08:19 🗡️ Epidemic of self-deletion among German soldiers; dire medical conditions. 09:14 🇷🇺 Stalin praises troops for significant victories, but Stalingrad remains unconquered. 11:55 🔄 Hitler orders creation of new 6th Army, leaving the besieged 6th Army to its fate. 16:48 🏰 6th Army split in two, each pocket containing roughly 50,000 men, half of them wounded. 17:43 🚧 German units disintegrate, leaders struggle to maintain coherence; priorities shift to survival. 19:34 🤝 Generals debate surrender, but Paulus refuses; conflicting accounts emerge regarding Seydlitz's actions. 21:25 🇩🇪 Some want to surrender, others want to fight; divisions and decisions become complex and varied. 22:48 🕰️ Historical narratives suggest Paulus may have been perceived as a puppet, but evidence is inconclusive. 23:15 📜 The portrayal of Paulus as a fanatical Nazi was avoided to deflect blame from German generals and white-wash the German Army's image. 25:03 🔄 Soviets withdrew the 24th Army for rest and refit, emphasizing the shift towards relying on artillery and tanks rather than infantry. 26:28 ⏳ Soviets conducted a slow, methodical approach to minimize casualties, as they knew Germans were on their last legs, starving, and exhausted. 28:21 🛑 Critical shortages of medical supplies and overcrowded hospitals resulted in grim conditions for wounded soldiers. 31:24 ⚔️ Reinhard's attempt at a breakout failed, leading to the disintegration of the 103rd Panzer Battalion. 34:09 🏳️ Romanian resistance at Stalingrad ended, culminating in the surrender of Dimitriu and his men. 35:34 🚀 Shumilov's forces closed in on Paulus's headquarters, marking a critical turning point. 38:45 🏳️ German resistance in the southern pocket collapsed, resulting in a large number of prisoners. 41:25 🇩🇪 Some Germans were unwilling to surrender and attempted to break out, despite grim prospects.

Incredible that those men could keep fighting under such conditions.

Tik took us through a pivotal, dark, and GRIM chapter of the war, detail by excruciating detail. Three giant cheers for Tik!

Absolutely an Herculean effort making this series, best stuff on youtube and that is saying something.

It's more likely Schmidt and Paulus were both working as independent commanders using whatever forces they could get in contact with. As you said, the unit markers simply show where the bulk of the men generally were, not any organized units or lines.

The difference between heartlessness and pragmatism is one of connotation, not denotation. From a heartless, or pragmatic point of view, they're functionally the same thing.

Thank you for this amazing series. I've studied the battle for 50+ years, and I've learned a lot. I can't judge Paulus, he didn't have any good choices.

I Love battlestorm Stalingrad. Too bad It causes you headaches ... or even worse ...

That one croatian legionary that got evacuated by that last airlift, is most probably the one that carried 369. Croatian reinforced infantry regiment diary with him, from which "Croatian Legion" book was made, as main source of information and fate of the unit up until its very end. Excellent work and dedication, TIK, thank you.

Literally yesterday I was thinking "hmm TIK hasnt posted a stalingrad video in a while". Glad to see you back!

I like the way we're now on vol. 4 of Glantz's and House's trilogy.

Recognizing all the effort, time and pain required to produce this extraordinary history, a sincere thank you.

I would love a video where TIK knits his thoughts together as to Stalingrad as a whole. This channel is a gem on RU-vid.

Me also - I watch your videos since Market Garden was issued. I thank you very much for the effort in this fabulous and educative work you have done. Thanks from the Czech Republic.

When it comes to the heartlessness or pragmatism of hitler forming a new six army, in opinion, it was both; the battle of stalingrad was decided but rather than comfort a dying army, he ignored it and did the logical thing and look to the future.

Germans with some real Zap Brannigan vibes towards the Romanians "Stop starving you cowards"

I've been watching since Kalach 3 years ago. This series has lasted a lot longer than the 6 th army, thanks goodness!

Brilliant, thanks for posting!

I think Hitler reconstituted a new 6th Army to give the appearance that it had not been destroyed at Stalingrad but had been able to withdraw heroically in a planned trick maneuver that would bring victory in Russia. Typhus is caused by bacteria in fleas and lice, made worse by a weakened immune system from a lack of food. I cannot imagine the enormous amount of suffering to live a single day in Stalingrad. I am sure some German joked, "Maybe if we eat the lice we will survive!" I had no idea what a balka was (3:30) so, instead of having to wait and go to a library like in the olden days, I looked it up online: Balka: a Russian and Ukrainian term for a valley with grassy slopes around a dry or intermittent watercourse. Similar to a "gulch" but less steep, or a long hollow, or gentle and wide gully. This is why I like this channel so much because I always learn something new. To escape, I would have gathered wood, made rafts, then at night floated down the Volga into the Caspian sea --oh wait, the river was frozen. No hope, none at all.

Another outstanding presentation. Somewhere I heard that after surrender German Generals were asking "Did they get Schmidt?" and then doing a gleeful jig upon learning the answer was yes. Also, a college professor related that during the battle the Soviets set up loud speakers that said "A German soldier dies every 7 minutes (?) (some short length of time) in Stalingrad" to strike at German morale.

One of the best documentaries made ever in history! Another amazing episode.

The final doom descends. I hope a Bagration series is up next. Tik? Tik, only joking, don't run away! A monumental feat of modern history telling not equaled. Thanks for going the length.

You do this so well. Still hard to understand the amazing courage of sick, lousy, starving, cold and doomed soldiers fighting on day after day against hopeless odds.

A masterful and entertaining study...well done TIK!!

Great work as usual. I would be glad if TIK decided to go on with all the rest of Little Saturn. As an Italian, I am interested in the whereabouts of the Italian expedition corps.

This is another masterpiece.! Thank you TIK!

With this series almost done, I have been watching since 2020 by the way. I consider this series your magnum opus, the definitive Stalingrad documentary. If you want to stop battlestorms for quite awhile, I say you have earned the rest.

Thanks TIK, a great series to be proud of! 🙏🙏

I don't know how you do this time after time? It's absolutely fantastic. I don't think I've ever heard of any battle, so disected and explained to such a degree. Thanks ever much

We are close now to the ending. So very very close. I do hope that TIK does an aftermath video. To show us what happened after the final surrender, when the NKVD hunted the last of the holdouts, and what happened to the people we have come to know. Although Anton Jolly did a great series on that showing us what happened to Paulus and the captured German generals in Soviet captivity.

Wow! It is finally coming to an end. Thank you very much for this series. It is a magnificent piece of work.

I wonder how many tons of supplies would need to be airdropped to equip 80 combat troops.

i've just realised it's been 4 years of the series. So much have changed in our lives and worlds in the meantime, but like the soldiers' march, we carry on. A toast to 4 more, whatever comes next!

The end is near!!! I honestly can’t believe it. Bravo TIK 👏🏻

It must be a relief to finally be coming to the end of this battle. Haha. At least, I hope it is? Can't wait to see the next battle going to be covered in such insane detail.

I think you explanation of your third pocket is fully possible, with all the confusion it will be hard to deny

Always enjoy these videos TIK. Good work

Finally this series is reaching it's end and damn, what a journey it has been. Easily the best and most detailed thing about Stalingrad that one could wish for. Many many thanks for doing this TIK.

Again, thank you very much for continuing to make these in spite of how difficult it must have been. It is one of the best historical series ever and the best on the battle of Stalingrad.

I read how the Americans regarded German pows - being held in camps in the USA towards the end of the war - and the difference between groups depending on when and where captured. those captured in North Africa were more likely to be pro-Nazi at they'd been taken fairly early on after US involvement. and these men had not seen the destruction of their cities and the utterly hopeless situation Germany was in by end of 1944. whereas those captured in Italy or France later on were from an army that had only known retreat and defeats, plus effects on the home front. determined Nazis were fighting to bitter end throughout the war, though by 1944 it tended to be SS and those raised in the Hitler Youth movement who remained most ardent.

Hi tik, just signed up for your patreon as I feel I owe you for so much quality content over the years. I'm glad you dedicated yourself to this niche, as youve probably been among the most educational content I've ever had the pleasure to watch. Thanks again, DC

What a great effort you are doing TIK. This is history in the making: the greatest video docummentary in RU-vid of "only" one battle of the war. Even finding new details or errors in major historians. Thanks Lewis, can't get enough of this series.

Tik I do hope you are confidently back in the saddle. You should be, your ability in these presentations is self evident. I think most would say you are the go to historian for this period on YT.

Thank you for all your work throughout this series.

Absolutely 💯 it was most clearly explained that imploded and bleak circumstances of Stalingrad pockets. It was a great work 👍🏻🙏. It seems to me (Adolf Hitler) reorganized new divisions from leftover destroyed divisions inside pockets on papers 📃 and maps in front of his eyes inside his headquarters amongst his flattered generals 1000 miles far from surrounded Stalingrad .what a uselessness supporting didactic by Adolf Hitler....thank you, Sir, for sharing this incredible work

Another excellent episode. Thanks TIK!

I never comment your videos I realise but today i decided i'll do. Incredible work from you. A real historian, full of doubts keep up the good work.

Wonderful work as always, Sir. And the graphic for the episode with Hitler doing the "confused by math," meme is hilarious.

Hartman went out like a boss

This channel is criminally underated.

I dont understand why the soviets felt a need to use so much time and troops to eliminate the pocket. Sure with a fresh pocket you dont want to leave a potential enemy at your back. But this pocket was completely unable to move, let alone attack. A small screen of guards around it would be sufficient until they starved to death, and then all the soviet units could have moved west weeks earlier.

Disastrous situation for the Germans indeed. On the bright side, we get to see close ups of the beautifully crafted map of Stalingrad again!

It is amazing that the 6th Army held on for so long when one considers that the Germans were finished after the failure of Manstein's relief operation. The fact that the 6th Army fought on so long illustrates how frightened the Germans were of Soviet captivity. If Paulus had been fighting the British he might have surrendered once his situation was hopeless in the knowledge that his men would be treated decently. It is worth noting, that in North Africa, the Africa Korps did not fight until total destruction In contrast to the 6th Army, when Von Armin deemed the situation to be hopeless, he gave up - thus saving his men from needless death.

Well done thank you. Best yt series.

But is this really the case? God bless you, TIK. Amen.

I think the reforming of a new sixth army might have been some sort of morale lifting effort in a way. A sort of "the king is dead, long live the king" if you want, by recreating it it sort of produced a continuity of the existence of the army. Idk i might be completely out there with that one

The penultimate episode is here! Also never knew there was a 3rd pocket you make things much more interesting to interpret

Amazing work TIK - your accomplishment is incredible.

If TIK is making CDs with this Battlestorm, it will become the first YT mearch I'll buy.

thanks for continuing the series.

He was being cold and pragmatic, I'd say. The conspiracy theory in me says you build a new 6th Army and then you can publish what they do and the old is slowly forgotten and replaced by the new version.

I love your battlestorm vids. Just love em. And they always seem to appear at the perfect time! What a sad little story about the German with his horse. The man had probably clung onto that horse since the beginning of the operations in Russia.

What a cliffhanger again! I can almost smell the end from here. keep it up!

So appears that when Paulus apologised to Hitler on 23/1/43 he had accepted the following...... If he disobeyed he would have been been flown out of Stalingrad and shot. His new replacement would then have obeyed Hitlers command and the 6th Army would have been lost/annihilated anyway. Paulus decided to take his last chance at living by going into Soviet captivity or.... hope for a miracle. Nothing he could do to save the 6th Army. Very tough choice for Paulus and was actually better than he deserved after his long list or horrendous war crimes during his entire career.

For better or worse BATTLESTORM SATLINGRAD is coming to an end..... Thank you for your dedication TIK!!! I know it's been a tough schlog!

Always love a new Stalingrad episode!

Thanks, TIK, great work. Small note: At 32:43, you said that Seydlitz killed himself. But from other sources on the internet, I found he didn't do that. He was captured and later died in Germany in 1976.

No army commander should survive the annihilation of his army.

I don't give a damn what anyone says, this is art.

Life is good with a new video by TIK the genius.

Outstanding,!!! this was a good video....!!!!!!

TIK I must say this has been a fantastic series. Well done! I've had an interest in WW2 since I was a boy. First read of this battle in a Battered old book my Father was given in 1974. Anyways I always believed no German soldiers managed to get out of the pocket and back to their lines after the surrender. But recently I watched a video by some Spanish fellow, and he made the claim that one German officer made it thru the Russian lines and back to German lines 4 weeks after the Surrender of Stalingrad? Have you heard of this TIK?

i’m very interested to hear the stories of the remnants who kept fighting

I think if we all just ate a piece of Scho-Ka-Kola chocolate, a thick piece of bread, and washed it down with some thin soup with a piece of horse meat, each day until the next episode we would all be a whole lot thinner. Keen ones can turn their heating off too. I'm not going to do that being an armchair general. A highly informed one thanks to TIK.

This is an amazing serie!!!...thanks TIK, from Chile 🇨🇱🌌

Hey Tik, thanks for keeping these up. I'm not up to this episode yet but I'm commenting and viewing the first few seconds to show my support! Keep up the good work

I believe Palus knew he was the reason the Soviets hadn't completely broken through to Ukraine and he had to bide time. He didn't have the foresight to know how the spring and summer of '43 would play out but he did help the Germans stabilize the line.

tik, you made my day with E49. many thanks!

Grim stuff. Absolutely horrendous situation for any German stuck in that encirclement. I can’t imagine how much those boys wanted the living hell of Stalingrad to be over so they could return home and be in the warmth with their loved ones.

Maybe it should be considered that both, the Soviets and the Western Allies needed the idea of “there were also good Germans with a conscience” for when the war would be over.

I'm happy I finally am getting to watch.

Great, as always. This series is the best thing on RU-vid. Btw, there is no typhus inoculation.

Thank you

Thank you, TIKhistory.

Powerful episode

Really well done, thanks!

I find it interesting that general stemple committed suicide after his son was killed, when according to his son his father urges him to survive while he has to commit suicide. At least it's what he said in the BBC documentary blood upon the snow.....

I would love to see Battlestorm Sevastopol (the Crimea campaign of Erich von Manstein) as my grandfather fought in the Kerch peninsula as part of a Romanian unit.

THIS SERIES WILL REMAIN THE BEST DOCUMENTARY ON A SINGLE BATTLE/OPERATION UNTIL LEWIS OUTDOES IT WITH ONE OF HIS FUTURE SERIES!

It’s a pity there were no german unit commander named Schrodinger, so that you could make a joke about him NOT being in charge of forces inside the 3-rd pocket that existed/not existed at this point of the battle

These thumbnails keep getting better and better

Thank you for the informative video and all the hard work it took to get made :-)

Outstanding 👊👏👏