The Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point in World War II because of its meaning and its nature. It marks the beginning of uninterrupted retirement of the German Army in Eastern Europe until the final defeat in 1945 with the conquest of Berlin by the Red Army. It is considered one of bloodiest battles of history and remains remembered for its intense urban combat . If the defeat of the army German before Moscow in December 1941 is turning geostrategic the Second World War in Europe, the Soviet victory at Stalingrad in February 1943 was the psychological turning point. The Battle of Stalingrad, a city in southern Russia on the Volga River (now called Volgograd), was marked by brutality and lack of consideration of civilian casualties.
Unlike "traditional" seat, it has mainly consisted of urban warfare conducted by the Germans and their allies. The battle included the German siege of the city, the battle inside the city and the cons-Soviet offensive. The fighting lasted end of August 1942 to early February 1943 and made between 1-2000000 deaths (between 4500 and 9000 deaths a day).
's capitulation just promoted Marshal Paulus and German troops before February 2, 1943 Soviet forces is considered the "beginning of the end" of the forces of Axis, who lost a quarter of their armies and the initiative on the Eastern Front.
Stalingrad lock on the road and the Caucasus city symbol
June 22 1941 Germany and its Axis allies invaded the Soviet Union, advancing rapidly and deeply into enemy territory. Having suffered much over the summer and autumn of 1941, Soviet forces attacked-cons at the Battle of Moscow in December 1941. German forces exhausted, ill-equipped for winter warfare and with supplies pushed to their maximum capacity, shall be adopted if repelled as they move towards the capital.
The Germans stabilized their advance in spring 1942. Plans to launch another offensive against Moscow were rejected because the troops have been severely weakened. The German military philosophy in wanting the hope of quick gains the attack takes place where it is least expected an attack on Moscow was seen as too obvious by some, including Adolf Hitler. " The German High Command knows when that time is against them, the United States from going to war after the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese. So Hitler wanted to finish the fight on the Eastern Front before the United States could become more involved in the war in Europe.
For all these reasons, new offensive north and south are considered. A breakthrough would secure the southern oil-rich Caucasus, as well as the Volga River, a very important transportation route in Soviet Central Asia. A German victory in the south of the Soviet Union severely damage the war machine of Stalin and the economy, while enabling the capture of vast farmland of this area.
The name of the town referring to the Soviet leader, it is symbolic of particular interest to both sides: his capture would for Nazi propaganda, a victory that Stalin can not afford to accept. To slow the Germans, the Russians provoked fires destroyed forests and dams, implementing the policy of "scorched earth". But on July 12, Army Group B reached the outskirts of the city. From 13, a portion of the population was evacuated and formed partisan groups. A fourth line of defense was built on July 15 (the city already had three) by more than 180,000 civilians.
German offensive on Stalingrad in 1942
On 17 July, LVIII LVIIth and Soviet armies were attacked by the army of Paulus VI. Stalin sent to Stalingrad divisions commanded by two of his best generals: Andrei Ieremenko and Alexander Vasilevsky, they associate the Political Commissar Nikita Khrushchev. July 23, German troops were ordered to attack the city itself. The massive bombing of the Wehrmacht destroyed the railway tracks passing through the supply trains. In August, the German Sixth Army and Fourth Panzer Army (led by von Bock) launched an offensive against Stalingrad was defended by the General Chuikov . September 5, Divisions Paulus entered the outskirts of the city is engaged while the first street fighting in Stalingrad. By pounding the city, the Germans had been reduced to ruins, thus transforming it into a vast fortress The Russians were quick to learn. The Russians became expert in the art of ambush (they even managed to conceal tanks full, so they allowed to fire at short range on the Germans). The city was full of Russian Snaypersky (snipers) that sowed terror among the German soldiers (they feared being killed even in their camp). The German soldiers were recalled from the Russian front re-used these techniques to defend ruins in Italy in 1943-1944.
The German advance
September 13 to November 18 1942, the German Sixth Army, the Eighth Army's Italian General Gariboldi and the Third and Fourth Romanian armies and generals Dumitrescu Constantinescu attacked the city repeatedly. On 21 September, 4 DI and 100 tanks crossed the city and reached the Volga 26. 28, heavy fighting took place around the Red October and Barricades plants. Thanks to a Soviet attack against the factory Barricade could continue to produce its tanks. On 5 October, the Soviets managed to send 200,000 soldiers in Stalingrad, including an elite division of the guard. This feat was made possible through the Volga fleet and aviation Russian. He very nearly, because LXII army was about to falter.
On 15 October the Germans occupied the factory Barricade and a band of 2.5 km on the Volga. 11, they took the southern part of the Red October factory and another stretch of river. LXII The Soviet army found itself then cut into three pieces, and communications between them proved very difficult. In mid-November, the first ice appeared on the Volga. At the end of the month, most of the city was in the hands of the Germans and the Russians found themselves caught between the German guns and the icy waters of the Volga. Despite huge losses, the Russians managed to hold the Germans the time reinforcements arrive (new divisions, T-34, the DCA and artillery). In mid-November still the Germans reached the river, that's when the Russians devised a cons-offensive.
The cons-Soviet attack
On 12 November, the Romanian troops charged with protecting the route from supply trucks were attacked by two DB's Red Army. Romanian troops had to retreat. The 200 000 men were now Paulus stuck in the city without the possibility of supply. Zhukov held a cons-pincer offensive to encircle the Germans and eventually retake the city. This operation was named "Uranus". It was launched 19 November 1942 and was scheduled as follows: the Soviets would use the Southwestern Front (Army Group Vatutin), the front of the Don (Army Group General Rokossovsky) and the Stalingrad front (army group of General Ieremenko), 15 armed with one armored and air.
At Kremenskaïa (north-west of the city), Rokossovsky managed to pierce the German lines . The next day, crossed the Volga Ieremenko 10 km south of Stalingrad. The Romanian Third Army, the Italian Eighth Army Hungarian Second Army and were destroyed by the troops Vatutin of up to Serafimovich. The cons-attack of armored H of the Fourth Panzer Army was pushed back to Kalatch. Then, the Romanian Fourth Army was annihilated by Ieremenko, making 65 000 prisoners. Soviet fronts effected their junction Kalatch November 23. In doing so, the Soviets came to encircle Paulus the Sixth Army Corps and the Fourth Panzer Army, 22 divisions and 160 independent units, totaling more than 300,000 men.
At this stage of the battle, the Germans still had an escape, but when Reichsmarschall Göring announced that he could provide 500 tons of food and ammunition to the besieged day, Hitler ordered Paulus hold its positions. With 57 000 troops and 130 tanks, Paulus knew that it was impossible. He then received a personal order from Hitler ordering him to "conquer or die on the spot." The same day, von Manstein found himself at the head of Army Group Don. Von Manstein was ordered to rescue the troops encircled Paulus. During this time the Luftwaffe was only supplying 300 tons of material per day for the Germans. Göring had again lied to Hitler. From December 12 to 23, "Operation Wintergewitter" (German "Winter Storm") was launched, it aimed to break the Soviet lines southwest of the city. But the Germans were stopped 55 km from the enclave. From 24 to 30 December 1942 came the Russian operation "Little Saturn" during which an attack took place cons-cons Army Group Hoth. During the month of January, Stalingrad, the mother of all issues, was almost entirely taken over by the Soviets.
The end of the battle
An offensive was launched towards Rostov and von Manstein was forced to retreat (to protect his flanks) and abandon its attempt to release the Sixth Army. Army Group A had to withdraw from the Caucasus after suffering heavy losses. At this time of the battle, the Luftwaffe could not parachute 20 to 50 tons of equipment and supplies per day. In addition, the German soldiers had no clothes suitable for the Russian winter. They were building freeze, without food, equipment and ammunition. The horses were eaten and the rations of bread fixed at 100 grams per day, then 60 grams. 
January 8, 1943, Paulus refused an ultimatum that offered an honorable capitulation. On 24 January, following heavy losses, he changed his attitude to Hitler and asked permission to surrender.
the latter refused. On 25 January the Germans were no longer an area of 100 sq km 26, an attack of the Sixth Army Rokossovsky cut in half, or a group south (downtown) directly under the orders of Paulus and a northern group (in the area of the plant Barricade) under the command of General Strecker. It was then that triggered the operation "Circle". 
On 27 January, the Soviets began to clean up pockets of German resistance, who were then unable to resist an assault by rule. On 31 January, the southern group capitulated. February 2, Paulus (who had been captured on January 31) went to the Soviet High Command signed the surrender of his troops. was the first time a German marshal surrendered and was taken prisoner (he Marshall was promoted by Hitler shortly before). The Battle of Stalingrad was over. The Russians took 60,000 vehicles, 1,500 tanks and 6,000 guns. 94,500 Germans were captured (only 5000 will return alive), whose 2,500 officers, 24 general and Marshal Paulus himself. 140 000 Germans were killed, wounded or frozen. The Soviets, meanwhile, lost 200,000 men. 
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