What happened in the Battle of Stalingrad?

Answer 1

The first large-scale German defeat of World War II.

The Battle of Stalingrad was as battle of World War II between Nazi Germany and its allies, and the Soviet Union, for for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 17 July 1942 and 2 February 1943.

It is often cited as one of the turning points of the war. The battle was the bloodiest in modern history, with combined casualties estimated at nearly two million . The battle involved more participants than any other in history, and was marked by brutality and disregard for military and civilian casualties by both sides. The German offensive to take Stalingrad, the battle inside the city, and the Soviet counter-offensive which eventually trapped and destroyed the German 6th Army and other Axis forces around the city, was the first large-scale German defeat of World War II. The Battle of Britain, Moscow and El Alamein preceded it and were large scale defeats. Soviet and Russian studies identify ten campaigns, strategic and operational level operations.

It is of great strategic significance because during the battle a large air - sea battle was being fought for the Mediterranean. Much of the German air force was diverted from Stalingrad to fight in that battle. Germany could no longer fight in the East or the West without the battle for one affecting the other.

The reason Germany lost:

The Germans needed oil for their campaign into Russia. Hitler split his massive Moscow force into three pieces, of which the southern one advanced into the Caucasis to link up with German forces coming through North Africa and the middle east. Stalingrad was a great prize to claim along the way. For political reason the German army became involved in an attritional battle for the city with both Hitler and Stalin ordering "not one step back."

Despite weeks of intense fighting, the Russians managed to hold a small bridgehead on the bank of the Volga and supplies and troops were being ferried in large amounts into the city.

This allowed General Zhukov the Soviet Commander in chief to build a strategic reserve which was used to strike at the Romanian and Italian army that was fighting alongside the Germans. The Romanians collapsed and the Germans encircled.

Hitler would not give and sent in a large number of reinforcements, or permit a breakout by the encircled troops. The attempt at air supply of of the entrapped army failed because the German air force did not have the capacity due to other commitments.

Eventually, the Germans gave up and a hodgepodge of 91,000 cold, battered, and half-starved troops surrendered to the Russians.

Answer 2

The red army took a massive defeat sending out soldiers against Germany with low ammo and supplies trying to defend Stalingrad.