re: When did the German soldiers of WWII realize they were the 'bad guys'?

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Probably in January 1943. General Von Paulus BEGGED Hitler to allow his sixth Army to retreat from Stalingrad intact to live to fight another day. Hitler's response was to promote Von Paulus to Field Marshall, stating that a Field Marshall had NEVER before surrendered, and made him stay. The results were disastrous for the German Army. The rank and file of the German Army had to see the insanity of that and realize they were on the wrong side.

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David Glantz's most recent book on the War in the East makes it very clear that by January 1943, it would have been impossible for 6 Armee to break out of the pocket and reach the German front lines. 6 Armee hadn't sufficient food, fuel, ammo or physical strength to break out. 6 Armee was starving in their trenches and they would have died or been slaughtered in the snow had they tried to fight their way out.

All that could be done at that point was for 6 Armee to hold out until the last man and last cartridge had been expended. Every day they held out provided one more day for reinforcements to reach the front and stop the Soviet offensive.

Glantz makes it clear that, even had 6 Armee tried to break out in November 1942, they probably would have been slaughtered in the snow by the Soviets before reaching the German lines.