Battle of Stalingrad
August 19, 1942- February 2, 1943
Battle of Stalingrad in action
Location 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 Stalingrad?
The Battle of Stalingrad was
considered the turning point in
World War Two in Europe and is
considered one of the bloodiest
battles in human history. It was a
battle between Germany and its
allies and the Soviet Union for the
Soviet city of Stalingrad that took
place between August 21, 1942
to February 2, 1943. When the
Germans advanced into the
Soviet territory they were halted
by the severe resistance of the
Red Army.
Why did Hitler choose Stalingrad to
attack?
1.
2.
The capture of Stalingrad was important
to Hitler for two primary reasons.
it was a major industrial city on the Volga
River— a vital transport route between the
Caspian Sea and Northern Russia.
its capture would secure the left flank of
the German armies as they advanced into
the oil-rich Caucasus region — with a goal
of cutting off fuel to Stalin's war machine.
What happened at the Battle of Stalingrad and how did it start?
At the Battle Of Stalingrad on
August 23, 1942 at around six P.M.,
one thousand airplanes began to drop
bombs on Stalingrad. Against the
advice of his generals Hitler attacked
Stalingrad. The German forces took
much of the city. German armies
surrounded the city and so the
Russians were trapped and would
remain so for several months. When
reinforcements arrived for the Soviets
they surrounded the Germans and
forced them to surrender.
The Battle of Stalingrad was
the bloodiest in modern
history, with combined
casualties estimated at
over 1,530,000 killed,
wounded or captured.
Historical reference
regarding Stalingrad
casualties varies greatly,
so while this figure is just
an estimate, it may be
conservative.
Casualties
• 790,000 Soviet casualties (750,000
•
•
•
•
•
Soviet military, 40,000 civilians)
740,000 Axis casualties (91,000
captured)
To put this in perspective, the United
States lost 416,800 service members
during World War II, both in Europe
and in the Pacific.
The life expectancy for a Soviet private
sent to the front was less than 24
hours, while that of a Soviet officer
was 3 days.
The battle took a toll of roughly 7,700
casualties per day
Of the 91,000 German troops taken
prisoner, less than 6,000 lived to return
home
What happened at The Battle of
Stalingrad continued..
The Luftwaffe went on nightly bombing
raids that set much of the city ablaze and
reduced the rest to rubble. On November
19, Soviet troops outside the city launched
a counterattack, trapping the Germans
inside Stalingrad.
Soldiers fighting in the
Battle of Stalingrad
What happened at the end of
The Battle of Stalingrad?
At the end of the battle, the city of Stalingrad was 99%
destroyed. By the end of 1943, more than two-thirds of what
the Germans occupied was recovered by the advancing Red
Army. Eventually, the Soviets succeeded in defeating the
entire German Army in the Eastern Front, which would have
failed if the Nazis had reached the Caucasus and controlled
the Caspian oil wells. The Battle of Stalingrad was then known
as one of the bloodiest battles.
Adolf 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 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 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.
Timeline
August 25, 1942- The Battle of Stalingrad begins
September 23, 1942- The German advance in
Stalingrad is stopped.
November 19, 1942- Russian forces hold Stalingrad
December 19, 1942- The Germans fail to break the
encirclement of their army in Stalingrad
February 2, 1943- German troops at Stalingrad
surrender after three months of extremely intense
fighting
Video
• http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx
?ID=131337