German WWII, Battle of Stalingrad Document Archive
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $495.00

Original era production. An emotivegrouping of documents and photograph, which give a tragic glimpse intothe sacrifice of one Germanwoman during WWII, widowed by thedeath of her husband in the cauldron of Stalingrad.Georg Worlein was 32 years old when he was killed in action, New Years Day 1943. He served as a Pioneer, his obituary states, and that he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and Infantry Assault badge in silver. His company commander, Oberleutnant Leber, said that Gefreiter Worlein was a brave soldier, and that his comradeswere saddened because of his death. He advised Frau Worlein, that Georg'spersonal effects were being returned by Feldpost; and consisted of 120 Reichsmarks, 1 tobacco pipe, a breadbag, a tube of cream and a pair of Russian boots. Oberleutnant Leber also reassured Frau Worlein that her husband's body was cared for, and that he was buried in the Regiments cemetery in Stalingrad.The documents consist of Iron Cross 2nd Class, awarded to Worlein on December 2nd 1942, Infantry Assault Badge document dated 21 December 1942, and the letter of condolence from Oberleutnant Leber, dated 4 January 1943. Especially poignant, is the small Christmas Card, made in Stalingrad, andnamed to Gefreiter Worlein, Stalingrad, Weihnachten 1942.It'sthought provoking,to consider that these documents, carefully preparedby thelaborious processes of officialdom, wereproduced during the waning days of German resistance inside the Stalingrad Pocket. Then, placed as precious cargo onboard one of the few Luftwaffe aircraftstill able to fly out of the kessel, eventually returningthe sad contents to Frau Worlein.Stalingrad in the East, and the Battle of Midway in the Pacific, are considered by many historians of WWII, to mark the respective turning point in each theater in favor of the Allies. This little assemblage of paper,provides mute testimony to the total annihilation of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad.