page_title: Nikolay Dyatlenko
section_title: Second attempt
hierarchical_section_title: Nikolay Dyatlenko / Stalingrad truce / Second attempt
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Russland, Paulus in Kriegsgefangenschaft ADN-ZB/TASS II. Weltkrieg 1939-45 Schlacht um Stalingrad vom Juli 1942 bis Februar 1943 Der kriegsgefangene Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Paulus (l.), bisher Oberbefehlshaber der faschistischen 6. Armee in Stalingrad, trifft am 31.1.1943 mit seinem Stabschef, Generalleutnant Arthur Schmidt (m.), und seinen Adjutanten, Oberst Wilhelm Adam, beim Stab der sowjetischen 64. Armee in Beketowka ein. Aufnahme Lipskerow Abgebildete Personen: Paulus, Friedrich: Generalfeldmarschall, Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee, Ritterkreuz (RK), Heer, Deutschland (GND 118739654) Schmidt, Arthur: Generalleutnant, Ritterkreuz (RK), Heer, Deutschland Adam, Wilhelm: Adjutant von Gen. Paulus (GND 118500554) Information added by Wikimedia users.EN Translation: ADN-ZB/TASS Second World War 1939-45 Battle of Stalingrad from July 1942 to February 1943: The prisoners of war, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus (left), former commander of the fascist 6th Army at Stalingrad with his chief of staff, Major General Arthur Schmidt (center), and his aide, Colonel William Adam, meet the staff of the Soviet 64th Army at Beketovka on 01.31.1943. Photo: Lipskerow
context_page_description: Major Nikolay Dmitrevich Dyatlenko was a Soviet officer, interrogator and translator who was part of a team that attempted to deliver a message of truce to the German Sixth Army at the Battle of Stalingrad in January 1943. He also acted as the translator at the interrogation of Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus a few weeks later.
context_section_description: According to one account, the Stavka was keen to call off any further attempts to initiate a truce but on the evening of 8–9 January Russian planes overflew the Kessel, dropping leaflets signed by Voronov and Rokossovsky addressed to "Deutsche Offiziere, Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften" and printed with an ultimatum to Paulus; they also dropped bombs. German soldiers later admitted that they had picked up these leaflets and read them, so the ultimatum was known about in the defending German army. Dyatlenko and Smyslov were driven to the HQ of the 96th Rifle Division near Marinovka, then a staff car drove them to the front line, from where they proceeded on foot.
  On their second attempt, the envoys forgot their white flag, so a new one had to be made from a sheet belonging to the divisional commander; this was nailed to a branch from an acacia. They were again accompanied by a trumpeter, this time a warrant officer named Siderov, whose call "Attention! Attention", although sounding to Dyatlenko more like 'The Last Post'",  had the effect of attracting the attention of a German warrant officer. He asked their business. 
  We are truce envoys from the commander of the Red Army," Dyatlenko shouted back in German. "We are on our way to your commander-in-chief with a message. We ask you to receive us according to international law.
  — 
  Blindfolded with the shirt from Siderov's snowsuit (as well as forgetting their white flag, the envoys had forgotten to bring the blindfolds they had carried on their attempt the day before) the three Soviets were led behind German lines, at one point slipping on the ice and creating "an unplanned diversion". The German soldiers who came to their aid themselves slipped and fell over, reminding Dyatlenko of the Ukrainian children's game "A little heap is too little: someone is needed on top". Once they had reached the German trenches and had their blindfolds removed, Dyatlenklo realised to his embarrassment that he was carrying his pistol, against international convention. A senior German officer came in, then left to confer with his superiors; he soon returned and told the Soviet envoys to return, without their oilskin packet having had even a cursory inspection.
  I am ordered," the colonel announced to the Russians, "not to take you anywhere, not to accompany you, nor to receive anything from you, only to cover your eyes again, to lead you back, to return your pistols and to guarantee your safety.
  — 
  Erickson wrote of the incident: "Paulus refused to meet the emissaries, who were informed that the Sixth Army's commander already knew the contents of the message from Soviet radio transmission."
caption: Paulus (left), and his aides Col. Wilhelm Adam (middle) and Lt.-Gen. Arthur Schmidt (right), after their surrender in Stalingrad
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