I asked Philipp about the Luftwaffe's attack on Stalingrad, on that day. He said, the bombing was a huge mistake, allowing the Red Army the chance to defend a rubble fortress. He also said the bombing created a very difficult situation for their tanks. Guess we all know this, but just wanted to share it with you, as it is August 23rd. But a wider question comes to mind... Is the August 23rd bombing another occasion when Hitler listens to Goring's advice, only to make a huge mistake having done so? I did notice when I spoke with Philipp Humbert that he had nothing but contempt for Goring. Thumbing through a Third Reich book one night, he saw a photo of Goring, and hit it very hard, muttering something severe in German - but I got the point! Clearly Philipp's contempt for Goring related to the Nov-Jan phases of the Stalingrad battle, but I wonder if the contempt had begun earlier, eg after the August 23rd bombing...or even after Dunkirk? Just some thoughts. Paul.
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