german soldier looks over helmet after nearly being killed.

close call

General der Infanterie ALEXANDER VON HARTMANN (*11.12.1890 in Berlin, +26.01.1943 KIA in Stalingrad). Commander of the 71st Infanterie-Division, Knight's Cross awarded on October 8th 1942). When the fate of his division and of the entire german 6th army was sealed General von Hartmann spoke to his officers: &quot;An officer has to die in combat. I am not going to shoot myself but will sell my skin as expensive as possible.&quot; Then he took his rifle and entered the railroad embankment of Stalingrad South in front of the remains of his divsion (3 officers, 7 NCOs and 183 enlisted men) and started firing -standing uprightly and freehand- on the attacking russian soldiers. At 8:00 am he was killed by headshot, with him died Lieutenant Colonel Corduan (commander Infanterie-Regiment 191) and Major Bayerlein (commander Infanterie-Regiment 211).