陆军元帅的选择(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
陆军元帅的选择
one of the largest battles in human history, the battle of stalingrad raged for 199 days. at different times the germans held up to 90% of the city, yet the soviet army fought on fiercely, and in november 1942 launched a massive counter attack that ended in disaster for germany.
friedrich paulus, commander of the german sixth army, asked for permission to surrender to save the life of his troops, but hitler refused, and instead promoted him to the rank of field marshal. no german officer of this rank had ever surrendered, and the implication was clear. if paulus surrendered, he would shame himself. hitler believed paulus would either fight to the last man or commit suicide. choosing to live, paulus surrendered, saying, "i have no intention of shooting myself for that bavarian corporal."

斯大林格勒战役是人类历史上最大战役之一，激战一百九十九天，其间德军先后占领市内百分之九十土地，但苏联军队死战，一九四二年十一月更大举反攻，德军终于惨败。
德国第六军司令弗里德里希．保罗斯请希特勒容许他投降，以免部队牺牲，但希特勒不许，反而擢升他为陆军元帅，用意很明显：这个级别的德国军官，是从来没有投降的。保罗斯假如请降，将颜面无存。希特勒以为保罗斯会战至一兵一卒或自杀，但保罗斯宁愿活下去，投降苏联，并说：「我不会为巴伐利亚那个陆军下士开枪自杀。」
【附注】希特勒少时曾任德国巴伐利亚省步兵队下士。
【更正】昨日拙栏an almost universal tendency 误 作 almost an universal tendency ， 合 更 正 。