Battle of Battle of StalingradStalingrad

  August 19, 1942- February 2,   August 19, 1942- February 2, 19431943

Battle of Stalingrad in action

Location of the Battle of StalingradLocation of the Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad took place in and around the Russian city from August of 1942 to February of 1943.

What is the Battle of What is the Battle of Stalingrad? Stalingrad?

The Battle of The Battle of Stalingrad was considered Stalingrad was considered the turning point in World the turning point in World War Two in Europe and is War Two in Europe and is considered one of the considered one of the bloodiest battles in human bloodiest battles in human history. It was a battle history. It was a battle between Germany and its between Germany and its allies and the Soviet Union allies and the Soviet Union for the Soviet city of for the Soviet city of Stalingrad that took place Stalingrad that took place between August 21, 1942 to between August 21, 1942 to February 2, 1943.  When the February 2, 1943.  When the Germans advanced into the Germans advanced into the Soviet territory they were Soviet territory they were halted by the severe halted by the severe resistance of the Red Army. resistance of the Red Army. 

Why did Hitler choose Why did Hitler choose Stalingrad to attack?Stalingrad to attack?

The capture of Stalingrad was The capture of Stalingrad was important to Hitler for two primary reasons. important to Hitler for two primary reasons.

1.1. it was a major industrial city on the Volga it was a major industrial city on the Volga River— a vital transport route between the River— a vital transport route between the Caspian Sea and Northern Russia. Caspian Sea and Northern Russia.

2.2. its capture would secure the left flank of its capture would secure the left flank of the German armies as they advanced into the German armies as they advanced into the oil-rich Caucasus region — with a goal the oil-rich Caucasus region — with a goal of cutting off fuel to Stalin's war machine. of cutting off fuel to Stalin's war machine.

What happened at the Battle of Stalingrad and how did What happened at the Battle of Stalingrad and how did it start?it start?

At the Battle Of Stalingrad At the Battle Of Stalingrad on August 23, 1942 at around six on August 23, 1942 at around six P.M., one thousand airplanes P.M., one thousand airplanes began to drop bombs on began to drop bombs on Stalingrad. Against the advice of Stalingrad. Against the advice of his generals Hitler attacked his generals Hitler attacked Stalingrad.  The German forces Stalingrad.  The German forces took much of the city.  German took much of the city.  German armies surrounded the city and so armies surrounded the city and so the Russians were trapped and the Russians were trapped and would remain so for several would remain so for several months.  When reinforcements months.  When reinforcements arrived for the Soviets they arrived for the Soviets they surrounded the Germans and surrounded the Germans and forced them to surrender. forced them to surrender. 

The Battle of Stalingrad The Battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest in was the bloodiest in modern history, with modern history, with combined casualties combined casualties estimated at over estimated at over 1,530,0001,530,000 killed, killed, wounded or captured. wounded or captured. Historical referenceHistorical reference regarding Stalingrad regarding Stalingrad casualties varies casualties varies greatly, so while this greatly, so while this figure is just an figure is just an estimate, it may be estimate, it may be conservative.conservative.

CasualtiesCasualties• 790,000 Soviet casualties (750,000 Soviet 790,000 Soviet casualties (750,000 Soviet

military, 40,000 civilians) military, 40,000 civilians) • 740,000 Axis casualties (91,000 captured) 740,000 Axis casualties (91,000 captured) • To put this in perspective, the United To put this in perspective, the United

States lost 416,800 service members States lost 416,800 service members during World War II, both in Europe and in during World War II, both in Europe and in the Pacific. the Pacific.

• The life expectancy for a Soviet private The life expectancy for a Soviet private sent to the front was less than 24 hours, sent to the front was less than 24 hours, while that of a Soviet officer was 3 days. while that of a Soviet officer was 3 days.

• The battle took a toll of roughly The battle took a toll of roughly 7,700 7,700 casualties per daycasualties per day

• Of the 91,000 German troops taken Of the 91,000 German troops taken prisoner, less than 6,000 lived to return prisoner, less than 6,000 lived to return home home

What happened at The What happened at The Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Stalingrad

continued..continued..The Luftwaffe went on nightly The Luftwaffe went on nightly

bombing raids that set much of the bombing raids that set much of the city ablaze and reduced the rest to city ablaze and reduced the rest to rubble. On November 19, Soviet rubble. On November 19, Soviet troops outside the city launched a troops outside the city launched a counterattack, trapping the Germans counterattack, trapping the Germans inside Stalingrad.inside Stalingrad.

Soldiers fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad

What happened at the end What happened at the end of The Battle of Stalingrad?of The Battle of Stalingrad?

At the end of the battle, the city of Stalingrad was At the end of the battle, the city of Stalingrad was 99% destroyed. By the end of 1943, more than two-thirds of 99% destroyed. By the end of 1943, more than two-thirds of what the Germans occupied was recovered by the what the Germans occupied was recovered by the advancing Red Army.  Eventually, the Soviets succeeded in advancing Red Army.  Eventually, the Soviets succeeded in defeating the entire German Army in the Eastern Front, defeating the entire German Army in the Eastern Front, which would have failed if the Nazis had reached the which would have failed if the Nazis had reached the Caucasus and controlled the Caspian oil wells. The Battle of Caucasus and controlled the Caspian oil wells. The Battle of Stalingrad was then known as one of the bloodiest battles.Stalingrad was then known as one of the bloodiest battles.

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler•Many historians believe that Hitler ordered the taking of Stalingrad simply because of his hatred toward Joseph Stalin.

•The tables were turned when Hitler set in motion one of the bitterest conflicts of the 20th century - the Battle of Stalingrad.

Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

•He adopted the name Stalin which translated as “Man of Steel.” His surname was Djugashvili.

•The city of Stalingrad was named after Joseph Stalin. Some believe that Adolf Hitler chose Stalingrad to attack just because of his hatred toward Joseph Stalin.

•He led Russia throughout World War Two and up to his death in 1953.

Georgy ZhukovGeorgy Zhukov

Georgy Zhukov was the most successful Russian general in World War Two. He was born 1896 and served as an officer in the Russian Imperial Army during World War One.

In 1940, he was appointed chief of staff by Joseph Stalin. He accomplished many victories assigned for him to do including the Battle of Stalingrad.

TimelineTimelineAugust 25, 1942- The Battle of Stalingrad begins

November 19, 1942- Russian forces hold Stalingrad

February 2, 1943- German troops at Stalingrad surrender after three months of extremely intense fighting

September 23, 1942- The German advance in Stalingrad is stopped.

December 19, 1942- The Germans fail to break the encirclement of their army in Stalingrad

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