The Battle of Stalingrad began in May 1942 and ended in February 1943, with German forces attempting to capture the city to cut Soviet access to resources and defeat the USSR. Intense urban combat raged as Germans fought house-to-house against Soviet troops determined to hold the city at all costs. By November, Soviet reinforcements arrived and trapped over 200,000 German soldiers in Stalingrad, forcing their surrender by February 1943 in one of the war's bloodiest battles and a major turning point placing Germany on the defensive.

1. Battle of Stalingrad
The battle started in May 1942 and officially ended in
February 1943.
By: Brittny Marino

2. The battle of Stalingrad is a major turning point of
World War II which put the Germans on the defensive.

3. Hitler was ready to force the Soviets out of the war so he decided to
destroy the economy of the Soviet Union. He ordered his army to seize oil
fields, factories, and farmlands. The city of Stalingrad controlled the Volga
River and was a major railroad junction. This was to be the key of the attack.
Stalingrad is now known as Volgograd

4. The fact that Stalingrad is named after his nemesis, Joseph Stalin,
only added fuel to the fire. Hitler planned to capture Stalingrad and cut off
the Soviets from resources they needed to stay in the war.
When German troops entered Stalingrad, Stalin ordered his soldiers
to hold the city no matter what. As was said by Lieutenant General Vasiliy
Chuikov of the Soviets, “We will defend the city or die in the attempt.” There
would be no retreat.
German soldiers had to fight from house
to house trying to capture the city.

5. Germans started attacking by bombing Stalingrad in August 1942. As a result,
Stalin moved more of his soldiers to defend Stalingrad. The Germans were not
prepared for the bitter winter. The Soviets, on the other hand, were prepared with
quilted under suits, felt boots, fur hats, and white camouflaged over suits.
Civilians were used to make
trenches, as replacement
soldiers, and motivation for
The bombing reduced the city
the troops to keep fighting.
to little more than rubble.
Soviets were prepared for winter.

6. On November 23rd, Soviet reinforcements arrived and surrounded
Stalingrad which trapped almost 250,000 German troops. When it was over,
91,000 Germans surrendered, but only 5,000 of those survived the Soviet
prison camps.
German soldiers surrendered, but
suffered greatly even after they
surrendered.
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles of WWII and
a major turning point of the war.