Background: This page is part of a larger, and likely unfinishable, project to trace the history of World War II as reflected in the headlines of the Völkischer Beobachter, the Nazi Party’s daily newspaper.
January 1943 was the turning point of the war in Europe. Stalingrad had been surrounded for some time, but the German press downplayed the situation and remained optimistic until the headlines turned increasingly grim after 18 January. Before the end of January, Germans could reasonably believe in victory. After the fall of Stalingrad that became increasingly difficult.
Völkischer Beobachter: January 1943
1 January 1943
The Führer Slogan for 1943: With All Our Strength!
2 January 1943
The Year’s Proud Achievement of German Naval Warfare
8,940,000 BRT Destroyed
The British-American Merchant Fleet Lost 1450 Ships — Hundreds of Freighters Damaged
3 January 1943
Dark Shadows over the New Year
Cassandra Voices in London because of the U-Boat Danger
Cyrill Falls: “Great Horrors and Great Dangers Are Still before Us
4 January 1943
74 Enemy Tanks Destroyed
Soviet Attack Group in the Caucasus Destroyed
Successful German Counter Attacks along the Don and near Toporez
5 January 1943
Document of a Bad Conscience
War Criminal Roosevelt Washes His Hands in Innocence
White Book to Confuse Congressional Opposition
6 January 1943
Roosevelt’s White Book — A Failed Attempt to Wash the Negro
Sharp Rejection by the European Press
7 January 1943
France Also Recognizes:
The U.S. War: Preparing for Bolshevism in Europe
Congress Considers the White Book
8 January 1943
Alarm in the Reactionary Camp
English Money Bags against the Beveridge Plan
Insurance Companies Buy Public Opinion
9 January 1943
Congress Listens to a New Speech Filled with Bluffs
Roosevelt Dreams of a Super-Versailles
Demands Disarmament and Permanent Enslavement of for Germany, Italy, and Japan
10 January 1943
Confident of the Victory of the Three-Power Pact
National China at War with England and the USA
Japan Gives Up its Concessions and Extraterritorial Rights
11 January 1943
A Serious Blow to African Supplies
Tanker Convoy Completely Destroyed
13 Valuable Special Ships with 174,000 Tons of Fuel Sunk by German U-Boats
A tanker convoy did, in fact, lose seven of nine ships off the African Coast.
12 January 1943
Fighters for the Power and Greatness of the Reich
The two had birthdays.
13 January 1943
A New U-Boat Success with 89,000 BRT
Remains of a Large Tanker Convoy Also Destroyed
14 January 1943
They Will Not Escape Punishment for Their Warmongering
“U.S. Jews must Reckon with a Wave of Intolerance”
Roosevelt Senator on Public Opinion Hostile to the Jews
15 January 1943
Great Results of East Asian Unity
National China Mobilizes Its Rich Reserves
The Chungking Government Must Be Silent about Japan’s Renunciation [See 10 January]
16 January 1943
Rosenmann Hides behind Roosevelt
A Genuine Jew on the Throne of the United States
“Saturday Evening Post” Talks out of School:
The President Only a Tool of Jewish High Finance
17 January 1943
The USA Youth Dies for Their Profits
2000% for the Armaments Hyenas in Roosevelt’s Thieve’s Paradise
How General Director Newell Turns U.S. Ship Losses into Fat Dividends
18 January 1943
Forces in Velikije Luki Break Out
Mass Soviet Attacks by Stalingrad Fail against Brave Resistance by German Defenders
19 January 1943
Continuing Hard Defensive Battle
Furious Attacks by the Soviets on All Fronts
English Doubts about the Value of Soviet Winter Operations
20 January 1943
The Winter Battle on the Eastern Front
Greatest Test of German Military Spirit
Rising Soviet Losses of Men and Matériel
21 January 1943
Full Use of the Economic Resources of Europe and East Asia for Total War
Comprehensive Treaty of the Three Power Pact to Mobilize Their Full Economic Resources
Treaty Signed at the Führer’s Headquarters— Simultaneous Signing in Rome
22 January 1943
American Eyewitness Confirms:
Twenty Years of Soviet Misery Only for the War against Europe
The Whole Country a Weapons Factory for Establishing a Bolshevist World Republic
23 January 1943
Heroic Defense by Our Troops
Unique Hard Battles at Stalingrad
Over 8,000 Soviet Armored Vehicles Destroyed Since the Beginning of the Soviet Offensive
24 January 1943
Stalingrad
Heroic Resistance Using Every Strength
The Battle of our Soldiers Obligates the Whole Nation to the Greatest Efforts
25 January 1943
Shining Example of the Best German Military Spirit
Situation at Stalingrad Further Intensifies
Successful Counterattacks in the West Caucasus and Lower Don
26 January 1943
Heroic Battle of Stalingrad
Immortal Fame for the Flags of the 6th Army
Romanian Unites in Glorious Military Brotherhood
27 January 1943
Heroic Defense in the Ruins of Stalingrad
German, Romanian, and Croatian Troops Fight at Close Quarters under the Leadership of their Generals
28 January 1943
Fearless Knowledge of a Significant Task
The Resistance in Stalingrad Occupies Several Soviet Armies
Troops Still Battle-Worthy Dig into the Ruins of the City
29 January 1943
All Resources for Final Victory!
Labor Reserves Must Register
The Battle of Our Soldiers Obligates the Homeland to the Greatest Effort
30 January 1943
“For If Need Will Not Break Iron — Then Iron Shall Break the Need!”
A line from Emanuel Geibel.
31 January 1943