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This is an account of the Battle of Stalingrad’s later stages, written from the perspective
of a radio operator in a platoon leader’s, later squadron commander’s tank. Obergefreiter
Panse’s chances of survival were vastly superior to that of a simple soldier in the Infantry
Divisions consumed in the battle for Stalingrad. Of the 145 men who started the campaign in
his squadron only 6 survived to the surrender on the 2nd of February 1943 (this unit continued
to fight on even after Paulus surrendered on the 31st January 1943). After his tank was knocked
out Panse was pursued by Russian assault infantry and fired on by high velocity anti-tank guns
whenever he tried to stand up and run (a conspicuous silhouette in his black Panzer uniform
against the snow). Whilst crawling 550 metres to reach a command post of a friendly infantry
unit he developed frostbite. At one stage he and his commander had to shelter beneath the bodies
of recently killed infantry as the only protection against the splinters of Russian rockets.
Iron Horsemen (a reference to the unit’s cavalry origins) is a tribute above all to the virtues
of comradeship and group loyalty; as Panse freely admits, he would never have survived the
battle, nor its aftermath - the 53km ‘death march’ into captivity - were it not for the
selfless care and concern of his fellow crewmen. To read Panse’s account is to understand
why the German Army, even in a situation of utter hopelessness, could hold on, to the
azement of its foes; but is equally evident how disillusion and indeed burning anger had set
in by the time of Sixth Army’s death throes. Panse makes plain his sense of outrage at the
cynicism of Goring, the sense of betrayal at the waste of his comrades’ lives caused by the
empty promises of succour for a doomed cause.
ISBN 1 899765 16 6
56 pages , 13 illustrations Gloss card cover
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