Robert Forsyth - To Save An Army: The Stalingrad Airlift

For Sally, as always.
And to the memory of Jen.
For happy times, love and laughter.

My interest in the Stalingrad airlift started many years ago. The principal cornerstones of my research then were provided by the diaries of the Luftwaffe commanders who organised and oversaw the operation, as well as key reports and papers issued at the time and in the early post-war years by those who were there. These, and many other sources, did not just magically appear on my desk, but came to my attention through the knowledge, helpful suggestions and recommendations of a small number of friends, fellow researchers and correspondents, some of whom have probably long since forgotten their kindness.

First and foremost, I must thank Dr. James H. Kitchens III, formerly of the USAF Historical Research Agency, who, in the early days, introduced me to translations of the Fiebig and Pickert diaries, and in so doing, was among those who sowed the seeds of the book you now hold.

Some years later, I was fortunate enough to meet the late Gtz Freiherrvon Richthofen, who gave me copies of his late fathers diaries, shared many of his papers and was always willing to help with details of the Generalfeldmarschalls life and campaigns. I owe Freiherrvon Richthofen considerable gratitude for his generosity and support.

My fellow Luftwaffe researchers Nick Beale, Christer Bergstrm, Steven Coates, Eddie Creek, Robert Forczyk, Chris Goss, Marcel van Heijkop, Ingo Mbius, Mikael Olrog, Martin Pegg and Georg Schlaug have been kind enough to share their knowledge, files, information and images.

As ever, I am especially grateful to Edwin Ted Oliver for his assistance with translation, as well as for his opinions and advice on technical matters, particularly with regard to the design, manufacture and use of air-drop containers.

Sebastian Remus came to my aid at a difficult time and was able to locate key documents at the Bundesarchiv-Militrarchivin Freiburg. My thanks also to Dr. Reinhold Busch, Professor Patrick G. Eriksson and Georg Schlaug for allowing me to quote from their own authoritative works. Also to the Orion Publishing Group for permission to quote from Joachim Wieders and Heinrich Grafvon Einsiedels Stalingrad Memories and Reassessments(Arms & Armour Press, London, 1993).

I am also very grateful to Javier Ruiz for enrichening this story by kindly contributing letters and photographs of his grandfather, Adolf Spohr, who flew one of the relatively few He 177s during the airlift. Also to Javiers mother and Adolf Spohrs daughter, Barbara Spohr.

Once again I have been very fortunate to work with the team at Osprey Publishing, and my thanks go to my publisher, Marcus Cowper, to my commissioning editor, Tony Holmes, and to my desk editor, Cleo Favaretto, in Oxford for all their support, patience and faith in me and for giving me the opportunity to turn what was an idea into a book.

Most importantly, my greatest thanks go to Sally who, despite sadnesses and pressures from elsewhere at the time, supported my efforts to write this book, as she has done with all the others. Thank you so much.

Robert Forsyth
February 2022

IMAGES

A Ju 52/3m makes its approach during a supply flight on the Eastern Front in early 1942. (Authors Collection)

German troops quickly haul away a sled laden with supplies from a Ju 52/3m possibly at Demyansk. (EN Archive)

Oberst Fritz Morzik, the Luftwaffes foremost transport commander. This highly experienced airman oversaw the air supply and airlift operations at Demyansk, Kholm and Stalingrad. (EN Archive)

Mid-February 1943: Hitler and his generals pore over maps of Russia and Ukraine at Zaporozhye, shortly after the loss of Stalingrad. At far left is von Manstein, while to the right of Hitler is Zeitzler. Watching with a surreptitious air from the background (second from right) is Generaloberst Wolfram von Richthofen. (ullstein bild via Getty Images)

General Friedrich Paulus, commander of 6. Armee , directs his staff from a forward position during the advance on Stalingrad in late 1942. (ullstein bild via Getty Images)

The Stalingrad skyline seen from the east bank of the Volga in September 1942 during the German advance. (Forczyk Collection)

German infantry move forward to the outskirts of Stalingrad in September 1942 during Operation