Was reading this article here http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-stalingrad-operation-winter-tempest.htm and they blame the German defeat on Göring lying about his ability to keep the army supplied. In other words, if it weren't for Herr Hermann, Hitler would have ordered a withdrawal.
Any truth to this viewpoint? Seems suspicious to me a bit..
The argument has some merit.
On November 24th 1942, with the noose around 6th Army drawn and the prospects for a break out limited, and for a relief operation non-existent, a conference was held in East Prussia. The Army Group commander, the Chief of Staff of OKH (Army supreme command), Paulus and his corps commanders were all recommending a break out as the only reasonable way to avoid the army starving.
Manstein, who was at the conference, later said Goering's promise to supply the garrison was given frivolously, and it certainly wasn't thought through as events were to show.
While Goering's credibility would have already been suspect from previous failures, Hitler was probably galvanised by the success of his 'stand fast' order at Moscow the previous year, and Luftwaffe success in the mean time in supplying isolated garrisons at Vyazma. Retreat went against his instincts, and the contempt for the Russian army, fostered from 1917 to its great failures of 1942, dominated German thinking.
While it is hard to say which factors were most important, Goering's promise gave Hitler an argument at a crucial moment.
John Erikson The Road To Berlin.