In Stalingrad before dawn, the wind was bitterly cold, and the sky was covered with gloomy clouds. In this smoky land, the fate of Dr. William Gross is quietly taking a turn. An unexpected illness, the torment of pyelitis, pulled the commander of the ammunition replenishment battalion of the 16th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht back from the line of death.
The winter in Stalingrad was bone-chilling, and the continuous blizzard turned the entire city into a giant refrigerator, freezing the pulse of all life. Dr. Gross, struggling with the fire and cold, is exhausted. His body, after a long period of tension and exertion, finally protested. A sudden low back pain, like thousands of needles piercing his back, made him almost unable to stand upright.
Early life and academic pursuits
Wilhelm Gross's academic journey at the University of Göttingen was one of rigor and dedication. He lived in a time of rapid development of science and medicine, and dentistry was constantly advancing in search of higher standards and more precise treatments. As one of the academic centers in Germany and Europe, the University of Göttingen offers an excellent environment for learning and research with state-of-the-art medical facilities and an outstanding team of professors.
During his time at the university, Gross was involved in several research projects that covered all aspects of dentistry, from dental anatomy to complex dental restoration techniques. He spent countless days and nights in the laboratory, researching the causes of dental diseases and the most effective treatments. Gross had in-depth discussions and exchanges with his instructors and classmates, and consolidated his theoretical knowledge through practical exercises. During this period, he refined his skills, including the use of various dental instruments and performing complex dental procedures.
After graduating, Gross returned to his hometown of Hearn to begin his internship career. At his local hospital, he encountered a wide variety of cases, from common tooth decay to complex orthodontics. Hearn's medical care was not as good as in the big cities, but there were plenty of hands-on opportunities that allowed Gross to apply first-hand what he learned in college. During his internship, he gradually transformed from a student to a professional dentist.
Military career and the Battle of Stalingrad
With the outbreak of World War II, the trajectory of Dr. William Gross's life took a dramatic turn. He went from being a respected dentist in the town of Hern to being a member of the Wehrmacht's 16th Panzer Division. This transformation not only changed his daily life, but also placed him at the center of the storm of history. When he puts on his military uniform, puts on the epaulettes of a major, it means that he will have to leave his clinic and patients and go to the battlefield.
In 1942, Gross was appointed commander of the ammunition replenishment battalion, where he held key responsibilities in the Battle of Stalingrad. His task was to ensure that the front-line troops had an adequate supply of ammunition, which was a challenging job, especially on a battlefield like Stalingrad, where every bullet and every shell counted. As battalion commander, Gross is responsible for developing detailed plans for the deployment of supplies, overseeing the safety of transportation routes, and ensuring the smooth flow of supply lines.
During the Battle of Stalingrad, Gross and his troops faced extremely difficult circumstances. The battle was one of the bloodiest and most brutal of World War II, with a lot of manpower and supplies committed by both sides. For Gross, he had to work in harsh conditions while ensuring that the ammunition supply lines were clear. The situation on the battlefield is changing from moment to moment, and he needs to adjust his supply strategy based on real-time battlefield intelligence to ensure that the needs of his frontline soldiers are met.
Gross's supply battalion also needs to be constantly coordinated with front-line troops, which requires him to have not only good logistics management skills, but also the ability to communicate and collaborate with different military units. In the process, he often met with the commanders of infantry, artillery and armored units to discuss the priorities and timing of ammunition supplies. Due to the volatile situation on the battlefield, they often need to make quick decisions to adapt to the immediate demands of the battlefield.
Fighting and Escape
In November 1942, as the Battle of Stalingrad progressed, Dr. Gross's ammunition replenishment battalion received an order for an emergency transfer. While there is no definite destination, an atmosphere of urgency is felt throughout the camp. In the early hours of November 23, they began the transfer to Pishkovatka, a risky operation aimed at breaking through the Soviet blockade. The situation of the war in this period was extremely unfavorable for the German army, the counteroffensive of the Soviet Red Army continued to intensify, and the pressure on the front gradually increased.
During the transfer, their detachment had to cross an area closely monitored by enemy troops. It wasn't dawn yet, and everything seemed to be shrouded in an uncertain shadow. Suddenly, Soviet tanks and machine guns began a fierce attack. First came the roar in the distance, followed by explosions and gunfire in the near distance. The Soviet firepower was strong and intensive, and they seemed to have mastered the German plan of action, concentrating their fire precisely on Gross's camp and its transfer route.
Under this sudden attack, the camp was thrown into chaos. The soldiers hurriedly ran out of their tents and bunkers, looking for a place to take cover, while reacting quickly and responding to the enemy offensive. Gross made a quick decision at this critical moment, ordering everyone to abandon the camp and retreat in order to preserve vital equipment and personnel. He realized that if he continued to stay here, he would face the danger of total encirclement and annihilation.
Under his command, the soldiers and equipment in the camp began to retreat in an orderly manner. Heavy vehicles are activated, loaded with ammunition and necessities, and use the surroundings as much as possible to cover themselves and avoid direct hits from enemy fire. In this tense atmosphere, every decision and action counts, and the slightest mistake can lead to catastrophic consequences.
During the retreat, Gross's camp continued to come under shelling and machine-gun fire from Soviet troops. The soldiers marched in extremely dangerous conditions, and they had to be constantly on the lookout for threats around them, while moving forward quickly to try to break through the encirclement before the enemy completely sealed off the area. All of this requires extremely precise coordination and execution, and while Gross ensures the retreat of his troops, he also has to deal with contingencies such as vehicle breakdowns and injuries to soldiers.
Suffering and perseverance
During the harsh winter of the Battle of Stalingrad, Dr. Gross's unit experienced extreme environmental conditions. As the wind blows and temperatures plummet, soldiers must dig deep foxholes and use these makeshift bunkers to withstand biting winds and frequent blizzards. These trenches are not only their refuge under enemy fire, but also a living space in extreme weather. Due to the tense conditions of the battle, these foxholes often became places where soldiers were stationed for long periods of time, where they waited for orders, rested, and even carried out simple meal preparations.
Food supply problems further exacerbated the soldiers' plight. The instability of supply lines and the continuation of fighting have led to food shortages. Rations, which were already not abundant, became even more scarce during the long fighting. Soldiers often relied on hard dry black bread and small amounts of canned food, and sometimes even caught game for nutrition. The diet under such extreme conditions is far from satisfying the energy needs of the soldiers in high-intensity combat.
For the sick and wounded, the plight is even more severe. Due to the extreme strain on medical resources, only soldiers with extremely serious injuries were sent to temporary field hospitals for treatment. These hospitals are poorly equipped, with a serious shortage of medicines and medical supplies, as well as a far shortage of medical personnel, which prevents many of the wounded from receiving timely and effective treatment. Soldiers with less severe or less severe injuries often remain on the battlefield to care for their wounds, relying on limited medical kits for simple self-care.
In such a harsh environment, the soldiers were under tremendous physical and mental pressure. The combination of lack of adequate sleep and rest, prolonged tension and intense fighting, combined with malnutrition and extreme weather conditions, contributed to a rapid decline in the health of many soldiers. Illness and injuries became the norm, and many soldiers, even in extremely poor physical condition, still had to hold on to the fight, as the opportunity to retreat or rest was almost non-existent.
Illness and evacuation
By the end of 1942, Dr. Gross's health had deteriorated severely. The long hours of cold environment, tiring work, and constant mental stress greatly reduced his physical resistance, which eventually led to his suffering from pyelitis. The disease was extremely dangerous in the battlefield conditions of the time, due to the lack of proper medical conditions and medicines for effective treatment.
Gross's condition deteriorated rapidly, and several days of illness prevented him from performing his command duties normally. The medical staff in the army did their best to treat him in poor conditions, but soon realized that he needed to be taken to a more well-equipped hospital. In that harsh winter, such a decision meant a long transfer and a great risk.
On January 6, 1943, Gross was rushed aboard a Heinkel 111 to fly to Novocherkassk. The aircraft was originally used for military transport, but was also used from time to time for emergency medical evacuations. Before the plane took off, the medical staff prepared a temporary hospital bed for him in the cabin to ensure his relative comfort and stability during the transfer process. Despite Gross's serious physical condition, being able to leave the battlefield in Stalingrad was undoubtedly a glimmer of life for him.
The journey to Novocherkassk is fraught with uncertainty and danger. Wartime air routes often carry the risk of being attacked by enemy aircraft, and adverse weather conditions create additional challenges for flying. The Heinkel 111 struggled to maintain stability in low temperatures and strong winds, and the crew constantly adjusted its course to avoid enemy interception or adverse weather effects.
During this air transfer, Dr. Gross was cared for by the accompanying paramedics. They used limited medical equipment and medicines to ease his pain and closely monitor changes in his condition. Despite the difficult conditions, the paramedics kept him as steady as possible to ensure that he could reach his destination safely.
After several hours of turbulent flight, the plane finally arrived in Novocherkassk. Here, Gross was quickly taken to a local military hospital. Compared to the frontline medical sites, the hospital has better facilities, more adequate medical resources, and more doctors and medical personnel to provide professional treatment.
In the hospital, Gross underwent a more detailed medical examination and treatment. Doctors used the best medications and treatments available at the time to control the infection and relieve pain. Although the road ahead was still uncertain, here he was at least able to receive more systematic treatment and escape from the hellish battlefield of Stalingrad.
The Battle of Stalingrad finally changed hands on land[J].National Humanities and History,2012(19):42-46