Hi all. I'm currently contemplating drafting a rough AH WW2 timeline for use in a roleplaying/strategy game I'm planning to run for some friends. The POD in question is this - Hitler, flying into a fury (as he did OTL) upon hearing of 6th Army's surrender to the Soviets on 2nd February 1943 at Stalingrad, is struck down by a massive stroke, slips into a coma, and dies a few hours later despite all medical attempts to stabilize him.
Naturally, my first question is: how would the German leadership succession issue play out at this juncture? A smooth transition to Fuhrer Hermann Goering? Bloody behind the scenes power struggle between senior Nazis? Wehrmacht coup to prevent civil war and the establishment of a military junta? I'd be very interested to hear opinions on the most likely scenarios here.
Secondly, how would the shift to a potentially saner (unless it's Himmler!

) supreme commander affect the strategic situation over the course of 1943? Is there an immediate shift to a reasonably flexible defensive stance in Russia, perhaps including the appointment of an
Oberbefehlshaber Ost? Are fewer Wehrmacht forces wasted in the last disastrous phase of the North African campaign? Is Manstein given a free hand to attempt his "Backhanded Blow" (potentially leading to an even greater debacle for Axis forces than Kursk) or does Germany sue for peace at any even vaguely palatable price? Very keen to examine any and all likely butterflies here.
Thanks in advance for folks' thoughts!