"Yes, I know, the history of war has already passed judgment on me." The one who said this, in the ruins of Stalingrad at the end of January 1943, was Friedrich Paulus, Field Marshal and Commander of the remnants of his encircled 6th Army. A few days later, he surrendered and spent ten years in Soviet captivity. To this day, Friedrich Paulus (1890-1957) remains one of the most well-known yet also controversial military leaders of World War II. His name is inextricably linked to the drama of the Battle of Stalingrad and the downfall of the 6th Army. However, to base the judgment of Paulus solely on the few horrific months of Stalingrad, to narrow it down to the question of whether he could have saved his army had he only mustered the courage to act independently against Hitler's orders, would do an injustice to the life of this exceptionally capable officer.