The german drive to Stalingrad ground to a halt as fewer and fewer Anti-Tank weapons became available. The resulting lulls in the fighting were used by overtired soldiers to snatch brief naps, it mattered little where. At about this time, the popular singer Wilhelm Strienz used to sing requests on German radio programmes for the troops. One of his songs had the line: "Soldiers now crave sleep not dreams.." Scanned by HOS Bandit)

Precious Sleep

Mortars were set up at particularly fiercely contested positions. But judging by the casual attitudes of the soldiers, whatever contest that was fiercely contested, is over. (scanned by HOS Bandit)

German Mortar Squad at Stalingrad

A German soldier wearing 'captured' articles of clothing at a blocking position outside of Stalingrad. Many German soldiers wore articles of clothing taken from the bodies of fallen Red Army men. Equipment, too, was no longer being replaced, for months at a time, no change of clothing was possible. (scanned by HOS Bandit) 