One of these following facts about the Battle of Stalingrad should expand your knowledge about the battle related to Russian history. The Battle of Stalingrad was a major of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in the south-western Soviet Union. Marked by constant close quarters combat and disregard for military and civilian casualties, it is the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. However, the heavy losses inflicted on the Wehrmacht make it arguably the most strategically decisive battle of the whole war. For further information about this battle, here are some other facts about the Battle of Stalingrad you might be interested in.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 1: Casualties
While people largely remember it for the destruction of the German 6th Army. There were well over 1.1 million Soviet causalities as well. At least 40,000 civilians living in the area were dead.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 2: Operation Barbossa
Operation Barbarossa was the German plan to quickly defeat the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941. The plan failed and in 1942, Germany made the decision to attack Stalingrad in order to prevent the US sending aid and supplies to the Soviet Union via the Persian corridor. Also because Stalingrad was named after Joseph Stalin the leader of the Soviet Union, it also had symbolic importance.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 3: German Occupation
At the height of the German occupation of Stalingrad, the German 6th Army controlled nearly 90 percent of the city. In fact, the life expectancy of newly arrived Soviet troops was around one day at the point and a Soviet officer would be killed on average within three days.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 4: Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus was the successful plan by the Soviet Red Army to focus their attacks on the weaker German flanks. Finally, the Red army managed to surround the German 6th Army.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 5:Hitler’s Move
Adolf Hitler personally ordered the German 6th Army to remain and fight. In the end (despite efforts to air drop supplies to the cornered men) the German soldiers ran out of food and ammunition. And, after withstanding the Red Army for nearly two months, they had to forcefully surrender.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 6: Hero City
In 1945, Stalingrad came to be the title Hero City. This marked the heroic actions of the Soviet soldiers who gave their lives to defend the city. And acknowledged how the battle was one of the key turning points of WW2.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 7: The Beginning
The German offensive to capture Stalingrad began in late summer 1942 using the 6th Army and elements of the 4th Panzer Army. Furthermore, the attack was supported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing that reduced much of the city to rubble. Ultimately, the fighting degenerated into building-to-building fighting, and both sides poured reinforcements into the city.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 8: Operation Winter Storm
Soviet forces consolidated their positions around Stalingrad, and fierce fighting to shrink the pocket began. Operation Winter Storm (Operation Wintergewitter), the German attempt led by Manstein to relieve the trapped army from the south, was initially successful. The cross country ability of German tanks in the snow may have slowed the relief attempts. Finally, by 19 December, the German Army had pushed to within 48 km (30 mi) of Sixth Army’s positions.
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 9: Soviet Victory
The Germans inside the pocket retreated from the suburbs of Stalingrad to the city itself. The loss of the two airfields, at Pitomnik on 16 January 1943. And Gumrak on the night of 21/22 January, meant an end to air supplies and to the evacuation of the wounded
Facts about the Battle of Stalingrad 10: Aftermath
Stalingrad marked the first time that the Nazi government publicly acknowledged a failure in its war effort; it was not the first major setback of the German military. But a crushing defeat where German losses were almost equal to those of the Soviets was unprecedented. Prior losses of the Soviet Union were generally three times as high as the German ones.
Hope you would find those Battle of Stalingrad facts really interesting, useful, and helpful for your additional reading.