I once read a novel that was based on real events around the battle of Stalingrad (sorry completely running a blank on the title), the novel seemed to mix real occurrences with fictional events and characters.
One episode left an impression but I’ve been unable to determine if it actually occurred or not, the author describes a German General committing suicide in despair by standing out of cover and shooting towards the Russian lines, before it he allegedly said regarding the events of WW2, “What will it matter in six-thousand years time and looking from Sirius?”, I suppose referring to the futility of events and how little it matters on the large scale.
On checking only two German Generals died at Stalingrad, Hartmann and Stemple, neither account of their deaths mentions this detail.
I read about this in the Time Life series on WW2. I don’t have it here with me right now though, and I don’t remember the name of the officer, who may or may not have been a general (could have been a Colonel, which is why you didn’t find it.). The quote went something like “in 6,000 years, the works of Goethe will be dust”.