Stalingrad was a major target for the invading German army, as it was a large industrial city along the Volga River that produced armaments. If the Germans captured the city, they would cut Soviet transport links with southern Russia and would be in position to capture the oil fields of the Caucasus. Furthermore, seizing the city that was named after Joseph Stalin would serve as both a personal and propaganda victory for Adolf Hitler.
On April 5, 1942, Hitler issues Führer Directive No. 41, which outlined the the goals of Fall Blau (“Operation Blue”). He wanted to eliminate Soviet forces in the south, secure the region’s economic resources, and then go on to either conquer Moscow in the north or the remainder of the Caucasus in the South. However, on July 9, Hitler altered his original plan and ordered the simultaneous capture of both Stalingrad and the Caucasus, which put enormous pressure on the already strained German forces. Hitler set a deadline of August 25 for the capture of the city, and the Sixth Army under General Friedrich Paulus would lead the assault.
The Stalingrad offensive began on July 17. The Axis forces on the Eastern front was mainly composed of the well-equipped German troops but also included the lacking Italian, Romanian, and Hungarian contingents. On July 28, Stalin infamously issued Order No. 227, which decreed that the defenders at Stalingrad would take “Not One Step Back”, and refused the evacuation of any citizens, stating that the army would fight harder knowing that they were defending the residents of the city.
The German attack was supported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing that completely destroyed much of the city. However, the Red Army put up a determined resistance, yielding ground very slowly and at a high cost to the Sixth Army. By mid-September, the Germans had pushed the Soviet forces in Stalingrad back until the latter occupied only a 9-mile long, 2- to 3-mile wide strip along the Volga river.
On November 19, 1942, the Red Army launched the two-pronged counteroffensive code named Operation Uranus. It took the Germans by surprise, as they believed that the Soviets were incapable of mounting such an attack. The counteroffensive targeted the weaker Romanian and Hungarian armies protecting the 6th Army’s flanks. The Axis forces on the flanks were overrun, and the 6th Army was cut off and surrounded in the Stalingrad area.
Hitler ordered that the army stay in Stalingrad and make no attempt to break out. Attempts were made by the Germans to supply the army by air and break the encirclement from the outside. However, by the beginning of February, 1943, the Axis forces had exhausted their food and ammunition and surrendered to the Soviet army.
Fierce close quarters combat and direct assaults on civilians in air raids caused almost 2 million casualties. It remains the largest and deadliest battle in the history of warfare.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stalingrad
https://www.britannica.com/list/timeline-of-the-battle-of-stalingrad
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-W0506-316%2C_Russland%2C_Kampf_um_Stalingrad%2C_Siegesflagge.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Map_Battle_of_Stalingrad-en.svg/1920px-Map_Battle_of_Stalingrad-en.svg.png
Maxwell, I really enjoyed your post on this pivotal battle of WW2. Connecting it back to our readings, I thought that the Battle of Stalingrad was one of the many reasons for Stalin's disillusionment with the other Allies and the Allies' fear of other countries' perception of Stalin at this time. Considering how the Soviet Union found over a million casualties from this immense battle, it really seemed like the Soviets were dedicating their all towards the Eastern Front. Contrast this with the Allies' halfheartedness and ultimate withdrawal from their plan to set up a Second Front in Northern France. In light of the major Soviet victory at Stalingrad, we can see why Stalin was upset with Britain and America, while Americans were fearful that other countries would perceive the Soviet Union as the sole major player in the battle against the Nazis.
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