The Madonna Of Stalingrad

-



This superior drawing is known as the "Madonna of Stalingrad".  It was drawn by Lt. Kurt Reuber, a doctor and a protestant pastor.  It measures 3' by 4', and is charcoal on the back of a Soviet map.  It reads, running down the left side, Christmas at the siege, Fortress Stalingrad, Light, Love, Life.  It was flown out by his battalion commander (why was an officer leaving, his place was with his men) on what Wikipedia says is the last flight out but I dispute that.  Could be, though.  Reuber died in a work camp.  He drew another before his death.  The original is on display at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church in Berlin.


The Prisoner's Madonna.  Reuber.


The Germans starved their POW's to death, by policy.  The Russians then starved their German prisoners to death, by policy.  Of the 91,000 6th Army prisoners, 6000 would return home a decade later.
'The Eastern Front was the armies of two mass murderers of about the same strategic ability colliding'.
(Martin Cruz Smith).


Over a million men died during the course of the battle.


Most German soldiers were decent but they were all tarred by atrocities committed on Hitler's orders.  Collectively speaking, the Stalingrad survivors got what they deserved.  Of all the German generals in Russia, only Friedrich Paulus forbade the sonderkommandos to operate in his area.


Nice job, Adolf.  Now we have to look at this rotting concrete abomination.  Way to fucking go.  Great boots, but if I were the Russians I would ditch the goose step.  I mean, what's up with that?

Comments

  1. MuzzlehatchDecember 18, 2022 at 5:12 PM

    Interesting how many armies still use it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_step

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two Angel Forms Were Seen To Glide

-
Image
’Twas on a lofty vase’s side, Where China’s gayest art had dyed The azure flowers that blow; Demurest of the tabby kind, The pensive Selima, reclined, Gazed on the lake below. Her conscious tail her joy declared; The fair round face, the snowy beard, The velvet of her paws, Her coat, that with the tortoise vies, Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw; and purred applause. Still had she gazed; but ’midst the tide Two angel forms were seen to glide, The genii of the stream; Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue Through richest purple to the view Betrayed a golden gleam. The hapless nymph with wonder saw; A whisker first and then a claw, With many an ardent wish, She stretched in vain to reach the prize. What female heart can gold despise? What cat’s averse to fish? Presumptuous maid! with looks intent Again she stretch’d, again she bent, Nor knew the gulf between. (Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled) The slippery verge her feet beguiled, She tumbled headlong in. Eigh
Read more

Where In The World Is Billy D Bunny?

-
Image
''The plight of Davis Paul'' ''Dam you to Hades Billy! why are you setting fire to my Wardrobe with your Cigarette!!?''...you would hear on occasion some kind of verbal anger often from Davis - shouting out in abstract Frustration, 'just because Billy Thought Davis Pauls Clothes were lame'' oh yeah, Billy D was the Dude.........Davis put up with so much crap and nonsense from the rebellious Layabout - come would be antisocial super hero, ''the enabler''...Davis Paul was literally at the end of his tether..all those worrisome late nights... Davis would often shout at Billy, during one of Billy's Trash rampages, ''Aunt may never has this problem ever with peter parker !'' and then the rest of the time, Davis Paul wondering where Billy was? and what was Billy D up too? then after hours and hour of worrying,  Billy would just rock up - staggering through the Front door, Gladiator outfit on, covered
Read more

Two Sides Of The Same Coin

-
Image
 It was a lovely day in November.  At least Tom thought it was November, the air was crisp and cool and it felt Novemberish.  There were no calenders here, while he had a clock he rarely looked at it.  He never had to be anywhere at any particular time in any event, when he had to be somewhere he always showed up on time, if that's the word for it.  Anyway, it was a nice Fall day. Tom stood on his porch that surrounded the small field stone house, he could see and smell the smoke from his neighbor's fires, someone was cooking fish and the big cat was salivating.  Since he had had his coffee he wasn't hungry, but the fish really smelled enticing.  Odd, he thought, I haven't had meat since I got here.  When did I get here?  he thought to himself, I don't remember.  Maybe someplace in town sold meat, although he had never seen such a shop.  It didn't matter, what with the bread and potatoes and butter and honey he was never hungry.  Tom lit a cigarette
Read more