Analysis Of 'The Good Soldier Schweik'
CHAPTER SEVEN
“THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK” - FRIEDRICH VON PAULUS
“I am very fond of the good soldier Schweik….
He did not set fire to the temple of the goddess at Ephesus….
And that, in itself, is enough.”
Jarsolav Hasek,
“The Good Soldier Schweik”, 1930
Translated by Paul Selver
I
Despite his lengthy service in the German army, Friedrich von Paulus had never directly commanded any military formation larger than a battalion. He had spent a large part of his career serving as a staff officer.
Yet, despite these glaring omissions, he was chosen by Hitler to lead an entire army. In January 1942, he became commander of the Sixth Army. Their mission: - besiege and take the city of Stalingrad.
In September 1942, Hitler asked how long it would take to capture Stalingrad. Either von Paulus wanted to paint a rosy picture or he was being rather …show more content…
General von Paulus surrendered with the remnants of his Sixth Army, estimated to be about 90,000 men. They went into captivity for the next ten years in Siberia.
Although the Second World War against Germany ended on 8 May 1945, the Russians refused to release the Stalingrad survivors until 1955. By then, there were only an estimated 5,000 inmates left.
Year Age Major Events
1946 56 The Russians released von Paulus briefly to testify at the Nuremberg trials.
1953 63 In the autumn of 1953, von Paulus was released by his captors to live in Dresden, East Germany.
One of his sons, also named Friedrich, held the rank of captain. He was killed during the fighting against the Allied beachhead at Anzio in February 1944. Another son, Ernst Alexander, also a captain, had been arrested by the Gestapo during the war.
His wife had died in 1947. They had last met during the summer of 1942 before he left to join in the German offensive against Russia. It seemed to be a forlorn and meaningless homecoming for von Paulus.
1957 66 On 1 February 1957, von Paulus died of disease, probably
“THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK” - FRIEDRICH VON PAULUS
“I am very fond of the good soldier Schweik….
He did not set fire to the temple of the goddess at Ephesus….
And that, in itself, is enough.”
Jarsolav Hasek,
“The Good Soldier Schweik”, 1930
Translated by Paul Selver
I
Despite his lengthy service in the German army, Friedrich von Paulus had never directly commanded any military formation larger than a battalion. He had spent a large part of his career serving as a staff officer.
Yet, despite these glaring omissions, he was chosen by Hitler to lead an entire army. In January 1942, he became commander of the Sixth Army. Their mission: - besiege and take the city of Stalingrad.
In September 1942, Hitler asked how long it would take to capture Stalingrad. Either von Paulus wanted to paint a rosy picture or he was being rather …show more content…
General von Paulus surrendered with the remnants of his Sixth Army, estimated to be about 90,000 men. They went into captivity for the next ten years in Siberia.
Although the Second World War against Germany ended on 8 May 1945, the Russians refused to release the Stalingrad survivors until 1955. By then, there were only an estimated 5,000 inmates left.
Year Age Major Events
1946 56 The Russians released von Paulus briefly to testify at the Nuremberg trials.
1953 63 In the autumn of 1953, von Paulus was released by his captors to live in Dresden, East Germany.
One of his sons, also named Friedrich, held the rank of captain. He was killed during the fighting against the Allied beachhead at Anzio in February 1944. Another son, Ernst Alexander, also a captain, had been arrested by the Gestapo during the war.
His wife had died in 1947. They had last met during the summer of 1942 before he left to join in the German offensive against Russia. It seemed to be a forlorn and meaningless homecoming for von Paulus.
1957 66 On 1 February 1957, von Paulus died of disease, probably