Minutes Before the Battle of Stalingrad

A gripping poetic retelling of the fateful encounter between German General Friedrich Paulus and Soviet Commander Vasily Chuikov before the brutal Battle of Stalingrad.

In July, 1941
The two great commanders met each other at an open field
Their armies waited behind, covering south and north
The Germans were like the grain of sand at seashore
The Russians gathered like bees about to strike a teashop
While the armies faced one another at an open space
The two commanders started their dialogue,

"My old friend, good to see you again!" Said Paulus.
"Who would ever think we could ever meet again?"
said Chuikov.
"After the great split of the first war," said Paulus.
"Finally we met the wrong way, my friend," said Chuikov.
"I first suffered defeat," said Paulus.
"Now it is your turn to be killed."
"Paulus, you betray me," said Chuikov.
"But I can do nothing but defend the Soviet Union"
"Unfortunately it is too late," said Paulus.
"You can surrender now and we shall take you prisoner and spare your life."
"Unfortunately it is too late," said Chuikov
"You are too proud and too treacherous, just like your fhurer."
"We will win this war and you know it," said Paulus.
"Another chance to save your life and be free."
"I shall never retreat," said Chuikov.
"You will have to finish us all before you win."

And Paulus drove back to his German infantry
And Chuikov drove back to his Russian infantry
And a horn was blown for the battle of Stalingrad
And both armies rushed at each other in bitterness.

© Godwin Isiwu

Author's Note

In an attempt to illustrate how even friendship cannot stop the fidelity and discipline of a made up mind, the writer discusses an imaginary scene during the second world war, where two former good friends, despite still acknowledging their friendship and the state of the situation, will still go on with their determined mind to do what is most important to them. So frantically the poem lectures that if one allows friendship with anyone stop him from doing what is most important to him, he never actually meant to do that thing in the first place— for nothing can stop a made up mind, even friendship.