Conflict: World War II
Combatants: Germans vs. Soviets
Location: USSR (Russia)
Outcome: Soviet victory
Having first advanced into the outskirts of Stalingrad in August of 1942, by November of that same year the German Sixth Army found itself enveloped by the Soviets. By the end of December an attempt by a German relief force had failed to breakthrough and 300,000 Germans were left trapped in the city. By the time the Germans surrendered in early February of 1943, only 91,000 men were still alive.
Soviet Marines in the Battle of Stalingrad, Volga Banks by an unknown Soviet photographer
Points of Interest:
Adolf Hitler adamantly refused to allow the Sixth Army to withdraw, dooming thousands of Germans to misery and death. Capturing the city bearing the Soviets leader's name was too great a prize for HItler to give up.
The deafeat at Stalingrad broke the strength of the Wermacht on the Eastern Front. The Germans were unable to launch any more major offensives against the Soviets for the remainder of the war.
Adolf Hitler by an unknown photographer
Stalin Secretary general CCCP 1942 by an unknown photographer