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Hitler Sent Troops to Russia's Frozen Hell

Unprepared troops suffered 'horrific' consequences

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 26, 2009 1:10 PM CDT
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(Newser) – When Adolf Hitler sent his troops to invade Russia, he gave little thought to their warmth—leaving them in “desperate need” of millions of hats, gloves, and coats, writes historian Andrew Roberts in a Daily Telegraph book excerpt. “One can't put any trust in the meteorological forecasts,” Hitler once said. But the consequences of that lack of preparation were “horrific.”

A journalist recounted seeing the Germans on their return: “Thousands and thousands of soldiers had lost their limbs; thousands and thousands had their ears, their noses, their fingers and their sexual organs ripped off by the frost. Many had lost their hair… Many had lost their eyelids.” Winston Churchill later ridiculed Hitler: “There is a winter, you know, in Russia. We all heard about it at school; but he forgot it.”

Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945), accompanied by other party officials, including Ernst Roehm (1887 - 1934),on right of Hitler, inspects his followers in the Sportpalast in Berlin.
Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945), accompanied by other party officials, including Ernst Roehm (1887 - 1934),on right of Hitler, inspects his followers in the Sportpalast in Berlin.   (Getty Images)
Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945), the German dictator, circa 1925.
Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945), the German dictator, circa 1925.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 26 comments
jagerhans
Aug 31, 2009 3:15 AM CDT
and your response shows that you just mistaken a criticism aimed to the Newser staff about his poor choices for an insult to the whole US people which was not in my intentions and it's unfair too. You seem to assume that everyone in the US is a Newser reader. What i meant was that if one gives out well known historical facts as 'news' , that one must believe that his audience is grossly ignorant. and since most readers don't seem to realize , maybe he's right too.
kokuaguy
Jul 27, 2009 12:59 PM CDT
"You don't go to war with the army you want; you go to war with the army you have." Proof reading is good.
kokuaguy
Jul 27, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
Guess that's where Rumsfeld learned that "you don't go to the army you want, you go to war with the army you have." ;^(

 
Russia • Adolf Hitler • history • invasion • Nazis

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