The Tragic History of the 371. Inf.-Div. during the Battle of Stalingrad

Every day, Russian researchers carry out excavations to the west and south of Stalingrad — and occasionally within the city itself — searching for the missing soldiers of this gigantic battle, which cost the Soviets 1,700,000 dead and the Germans 1,000,000.

They sometimes uncover remains and equipment from that period, and occasionally helmets, some of which still bear their owner's name or a postal sector number. Through war diaries and various documents, Didier Lodieu succeeded in identifying the units of the men who wore these helmets. To do so, he developed a computer system that enabled him to determine which units occupied a given sector at any precise moment.

Using this system, he focused on the engagement zone of the 371. Inf.-Div., synthesising scattered information relating to the fighting from late August 1942 to late January 1943, by which point the division numbered barely a hundred men. He then had to reconstruct their itinerary and retrace their terrible battles day by day, right up to their ultimate sacrifice.

A valuable collaboration with Dimitri Malyshev and his colleagues made it possible to recover objects from this battlefield — above all helmets — and even to identify a soldier from this 371. Inf.-Div. who was still listed as missing. The location of these relics was passed on to the author, enabling him to complete the puzzle that led to this unique work.