Hitler was so exhausted that he didn't even want to lose his temper. On the day when the last remnants of the 6th Army surrendered, his personal chronicle calendar recorded: "All day bed rest." The next day, Marshal Milch met Hitler, who saw that "on this particular day, Hitler was completely broken." German officials sent the last news of the 6th Army relatively late. Because Goebbels needed more time to think about how to hide the fact that more than 20 generals and 100,000 German troops surrendered.
As early as January 24, German newspapers were forced to reveal Paulus's desperate situation, so that the German people were "psychologically prepared". Now, Hitler and Goebbels have decided to make the myth to the end. On 3 February, prelude to the muffled sound of drums, a lengthy and sensational communiqué was broadcast in Germany:
"From the Fuehrer's base camp. February 3. The Wehrmacht Command announces that the Battle of Stalingrad is over. The 6th Army faithfully fulfilled its oath and fought until the last breath, under the exemplary leadership of Marshal Paulus, overwhelmed by the superior enemy and the unfavorable environment of our army. They shared their fate with 1 Luftwaffe anti-aircraft artillery division, 2 Romanian divisions and 1 Croatian regiment. In the spirit of brotherhood and brotherhood condensed in blood, they performed their duties to the greatest extent together with their German comrades" and "the group army did not sacrifice in vain." Like a fortress that shouldered our european historical mission, they withstood weeks of attacks by six Soviet army groups. They are completely surrounded by the enemy, but they have long contained the strong enemy. Thus they bought time for the Fuehrer to turn the tide" and "they twice proudly refused the enemy's entrapment. Under the swastika flag that soared high above the ruins of Stalingrad, they threw themselves into the final battle.
Generals, officers, sergeants and soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder until the last bullet was fired. They died, but Germany lived forever. They will be on the rise, and all the propaganda lies of the Bolsheviks will not be able to hide. At the end of the communiqué, Hitler had not forgotten to issue the order to form a new 6th Army. After the communiqué, the second movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was played.