Troops without ammunition or food. Effective command no longer possible. 18,000 wounded without any supplies or dressings or drugs. Further defence senseless. Collapse inevitable. Army requests immediate permission to surrender in order to save lives of remaining troops.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Without supplies and with many wounded, resistance is hopeless and surrender is requested to save lives.
- In plain terms
- We have no supplies or care for the wounded; surrender now to save lives.
- What can you take from it?
- Pragmatism demands surrender to prevent unnecessary death.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is surrender the right choice?
- How to weigh lives against orders?
Another view
It assumes higher command will accept the request.
More from Friedrich Paulus
The Sixth Army, true to their oath and conscious of the lofty importance of their mission, have held their position to the last man and the last round for Fuhr…
Permalink to quote #2 You are talking to dead men here.
Permalink to quote #3 Everything you say, Reichenau, is totally unmilitaristic.
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
It is madness to attempt to hold. In the first place the troops cannot do it and in the second place if they do not retreat they will be destroyed. I repeat th…
Gerd von RundstedtGerd von Rundstedt quote #3 I simply cannot do it. The Russians have branded me a war criminal and the Americans would be sure to turn me over to them - for hanging.
Walter ModelWalter Model quote #5 Surrender is forbidden. Sixth Army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contri…
Friedrich PaulusFriedrich Paulus quote #9