Passport – Wehrmacht Division Commander – Battle of Stalingrad

In a letter to the publicist Sebastian Haffner and the editors of the magazine “Die Welt”, he wrote a critical refutation of some superficial and contradictory articles by Haffner,

“…you are a British citizen. You enjoy our right of hospitality. Please do not abuse it by frivolous, superficial writing… Return to your self-chosen fatherland… Sell your typewriter…buy a spade, a spoon and a spoon…go to the Soviet Union…and when you arrive back in the West after many years, perhaps even alive, you will have sufficient material to satisfy your journalistic desires…”

In 2017, a photo estate and some documents were auctioned, including the above letter. His final passport I found on eBay in June 2024, and I assume the seller didn’t know who he was. Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

Biography

Von Hanstein was born on November 11, 1896, in Potsdam, then part of the German Empire. In 1914, he enlisted in the Imperial German Army and served throughout World War I. Following the war, von Hanstein joined the Reichswehr, where he held various command and staff positions. In 1937, he married Ursula von Gellhorn. They had three children, Carola, Jobst Kurt, and Dietmar.

The Name Hanstein Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

The Hanstein Noble Family was always a family of high ranking military officers, going back to the mid 16th Century. Other notable members are…

• Alexander von Hanstein (1804-1884), Count of Pölzig and Beyersdorf from 1826, was the husband of Luise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
• Peter Hanstein (1853-1925) founded the Lempertz art auction house
• Wolfram von Hanstein (1899-1965) was a writer, political functionary and secret agent of the GDR in the FRG!
• Fritz Huschke von Hanstein (1911-1996), motor sportsman and Vice President of the Automobile Sports Commission.

WWII

Originally, the 3rd Infantry Division of the peacetime army, this unit was formed in Hitler’s initial military expansion by the enlargement of the 8th Infantry Regiment of the old Reichswehr. It included the 8th, 29th, and 50th Infantry Regiments.

The 3rd fought in northern Poland in 1939 and in France in 1940. It was reorganized in the fall of 1940, was fully motorized, and had to give up its 50th Infantry Regiment to the 111th Infantry Division. It now included the 8th and 29th Motorized Infantry Regiments, the 3rd Motorized Artillery Regiment, the 53rd Motorcycle Battalion and the 53rd Reconnaissance Battalion.

Furthermore, it crossed into Russia in 1941 as part of Army Group North, took part in the initial drive on Leningrad, and fought at Demyansk. Shifted south late in the year, it was involved in the final thrusts on Moscow and opposed the Russian winter offensive of 1941-42. Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

In March 1942, it was reorganized again. The 53rd Motorcycle and Reconnaissance Battalions were combined, and the 312th Army Anti-Aircraft Battalion was added to its table of organization. That next summer it was sent to Army Group South, took part in the Battle of Vyasma, the advance across the Don, the push to the Volga, and the Stalingrad fighting. It was encircled in the Stalingrad Pocket in November.

On November 10, 1941, von Hanstein was appointed artillery officer of the 12th Army. On November 28, 1941, he became the chief of staff of the 1st Corps, which was engaged in the northern sector of the Eastern Front. He was appointed commander of the 3rd Motorized Artillery Regiment on May 17, 1942, and was part of the 3rd Motorized Division. During the German summer offensive in 1942, he fought in the Battle of Stalingrad during the German summer offensive. On January 17, 1943, von Hanstein was appointed commander of the 3rd Motorized Division, replacing Helmut Schlemmer, who became commander of the 14th Panzer Corps.

On February 2, 1943, von Hanstein surrendered along with the remnants of his division and other forces in the northern pocket of Stalingrad and was taken prisoner, together with Feldmarschall Paulus. Von Hanstein was bearer of the Iron Cross and the German and the German Cross in Gold.

POW NKVD Camp Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

120 officers lived behind the high walls of Block VI, “serious cases” selected by NKVD spies and NK functionaries. Many of them were generals. But we also had a “Blood Order bearer” and a “Reich speaker of the NSDAP”. These two were sent in as informers by the NKVD. Occasionally, they were taken out of prison for reporting and special rations.

The NK also tried several times to smuggle informers into our country. They were younger officers who didn’t yet have the cold “either/or” (informer or trial) of an NKVD assignment breathing down their necks. We had it easy with them. They lasted a maximum of five days with us.

Medals with millet porridge

It was a matter of temperament how the individual occupants of the bloc reacted to the Soviet measures. While Colonel Hans Crome, von Seydlitz’s last Chief of Staff, used clearly polished formulations to knock the intellectual weapons out of the Soviets’ hands, the former anti-aircraft commander Colonel Wolff, an imposing Westphalian type, intimidated all those who tried to convert him with his resolute demeanor.

Not to mention Colonel Jobst von Hanstein, who, according to the motto “an eye for an eye”, seemed to use any means to defend himself against the terror of the communists. The last time I saw him, in April 45, he had already spent a total of 23 days on hunger strike and 56 days in detention. This did not change his attitude, and in the fall of ’48 he was again in his camp’s detention cell for insubordination. 

Hanstein was always coming up with new ideas. Camp leader Kudriachev turned blue with rage when Hanstein trumpeted to the camp’s labor detachments from a roof hatch in Block VI with a homemade megaphone: “Don’t you know Stalin’s order that you only have to work voluntarily?” When Hanstein once again refused to eat, the Soviet camp commander personally shoved spoonfuls of millet porridge into his mouth to break his hunger strike. When his mouth was full, Hanstein suddenly gushed the porridge over his breadwinner’s chest, which was flashing like an ordeal.

Homecoming Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

According to federal archive records, he returned home from a soviet POW camp in 1955, after more than 10 years. After his release from captivity, von Hanstein lived in Hamburg. The years as a USSR POW ruined his health, and on October 13, 1962, he died age 66.

The Passport

We often wonder why such documents appear after such a long time and connect us again to the past.

Stalingrad Passport Wehrmacht Commander Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad during World War II holds profound significance for both Russians and Germans, though the perspectives and emotional responses are vastly different given the context and outcomes of the battle.

For Russians

1. Symbol of Resistance and Heroism: The Battle of Stalingrad is often viewed as a symbol of Soviet resilience and heroism. The city, now known as Volgograd, became the focal point of Soviet resistance against the invading German forces. The defenders’ ability to hold the city against overwhelming odds is a source of national pride.

2. Turning Point in the War: Stalingrad is considered the turning point on the Eastern Front and arguably the entire Second World War. The Soviet victory marked the beginning of a series of successful offensives against the Axis powers, ultimately leading to the liberation of Soviet territory and the capture of Berlin in 1945.

3. Immense Sacrifice: The battle was one of the bloodiest in human history, with enormous Soviet casualties. The scale of loss and the harsh conditions endured by soldiers and civilians alike are remembered with deep reverence. Monuments and memorials across Russia commemorate the sacrifices made during this battle.

4. Patriotic Symbol: Stalingrad holds a central place in Russian cultural and historical consciousness. It is frequently referenced in literature, film, and education as an example of the indomitable spirit of the Russian people.

For Germans

1. Military Catastrophe: For Germany, Stalingrad represents one of the most devastating defeats in its military history. The encirclement and eventual surrender of the German 6th Army marked a significant strategic and psychological blow to Nazi Germany.

2. End of German Expansion: The defeat at Stalingrad halted the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the beginning of a persistent and relentless retreat that would continue until the end of the war.

3. Human Cost and Suffering: The battle is remembered for the severe loss of life and the suffering of German soldiers. The conditions during the battle were harsh, with freezing, starvation, and constant combat taking a heavy toll on the troops. The memory of those who fought and died is often overshadowed by the broader context of the war but remains a point of somber reflection.

4. Impact on German Society: The defeat at Stalingrad had significant repercussions on German society and morale. It exposed the limits of Nazi Germany’s military capabilities and contributed to a growing realization among the German populace that the war might not end in victory. This shift in sentiment had profound implications for the home front and the overall war effort.

In summary, for Russians, the Battle of Stalingrad is a source of immense pride and a symbol of heroic resistance and sacrifice. For Germans, it is a stark reminder of the costs of war, a military disaster, and a turning point that led to the eventual downfall of Nazi Germany.

German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union

German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union faced harsh conditions, including forced labor, inadequate food, and poor living standards. Captured during WWII, many were detained for years, with a high mortality rate due to malnutrition, disease, and harsh treatment. The last prisoners were released in 1956, a decade after the war ended, reflecting the severe post-war relations between Germany and the Soviet Union. 

Negotiations in Moscow

In September 1955, Konrad Adenauer’s negotiations in Moscow aimed to establish diplomatic relations and address the issue of German POWs. Initially, the Soviet Union denied holding any POWs but later offered their release in exchange for diplomatic ties. Despite internal criticism for making concessions, Adenauer’s return was celebrated for securing the release of the POWs, overshadowing the lack of progress on German reunification. The public viewed the return of the POWs as Adenauer’s significant achievement.

Three Million German POWs

About three million German POWs were captured by the Soviet Union during WWII, primarily during the Red Army’s final year of advances. These prisoners were utilized as forced labor in the Soviet wartime economy and for post-war reconstruction efforts.

By 1950, nearly all surviving German POWs had been freed, with the last one returning from the USSR in 1956. According to Soviet records, 381,067 German Wehrmacht POWs perished in NKVD camps, comprising 356,700 German nationals and 24,367 from other nations.

German historian Rüdiger Overmans estimates that around 3,000,000 German POWs were captured by the USSR, with a maximum of 1.0 million deaths in Soviet hands. Based on his research, Overmans asserts that the deaths of 363,000 POWs in Soviet captivity can be confirmed by Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) files. He also suggests it is plausible, though unprovable, that 700,000 German military personnel listed as missing actually died in Soviet custody.

References:
Cole 1950: 60, 193; Cole 1965: 83; Gerhard Dieckhoff, 3. Infanterie-Division, 3. Infanterie-Division (mot.), 3. Panzergrenadier-Division (1960); Fisher: Map III; Garland and Smyth: 203; Hartmann: 54; Keilig: 302; Kursietis: 81; MacDonald 1963: 284, 290, 410; MacDonald 1973: 70, 190, 353, 370; Nafziger 1999: 38; Scheibert: 139; Tessin, Vol. 2: 166-68; RA: 46; OB 44: 263; OB 45: 305.
German Order of Battle, Vol. 3: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen-SS Divisons in WWII, Samuel W. Mitcham, Stackpole Books 2007 Page 97-99
Der Spiegel 9/1949
Bundesarchiv Koblenz B 305/34178, Heimgekehrt E16/55
Bundesarchiv Freiburg PERS 6/6791
Rüdiger Overmans, Soldaten hinter Stacheldraht. Deutsche Kriegsgefangene des Zweiten Weltkriege. Ullstein., 2000-Page 277

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