Battle+of+Stalingrad

//by Cameron Coil and Jules Ross - Edit //

The Battle of Stalingrad (September 1942- February 1943) is considered to have been the turning point in WW2. It caused the Germans to lose there best army and put them on the defensive. It allowed the allies to start there march for liberation and eventually defeat Nazi Germany brining an end to WW2.

The Start of The Battle of Stalingrad On September 3, 1942, the German Sixth Army (Hitlers best army) reached the outskirts of Stalingrad, expecting to take the city quickly. But the Russians had built up their defenses and continued to bring in reinforcements. A general, V. I. Chuikov, took command of the main defending force, the Sixty-second Army, while Marshal Georgii K. Zhukov, Soviet Russia's greatest general, planned a counteroffensive in order to save the city.

In subsequent days the invaders fought their way into Stalingrad against fierce resistance. This was urban street fighting of the most bitter sort, occasioning tremendous losses on both sides. The blasted ruins of houses and factories began to stink as hot winds carried the smell of decaying corpses into every nook and cranny. By late September the Germans could raise the swastika flag over the Univermag department store in the center of town, but they could not dislodge the Russians from the sprawling industrial quarters along the Volga.

Generals: German Army Soviet Red Army Romanian (List taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_officers_and_commanders_in_the_Battle_of_Stalingrad )
 * ** Name ** ||  ** Rank **  ||  ** Unit **  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** [|Wilhelm Adam] ** || Oberst  ||  IIa [|AOK 6]   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Günther Angern] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 16. Panzerdivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hans-Adolf von Arenstorff] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 60. Infanteriedivision (mot.)  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Karl Arndt] || Generalarzt  ||  Korpsarzt LI. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Johannes Bässler] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 14. Panzerdivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Friedrich Freiherr von Broich] || Oberst  ||  Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Brigade 24  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Georg Brombierstäudl] || Wehrmachtdekan  ||  IVd [|AOK 6]   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Bruno Chrobek] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur Infanterieregiment 672  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Siegfried Conradi] || Generalmajor  ||  Arko 6  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Albrecht Czimatis] || Oberst  ||  Kommandeur 305. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Alexander Edler von Daniels] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 376. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Heinrich-Anton Deboi] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 44. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Otto Deßloch] || General der Flakartillerie  ||  Kommandierender General I. [|Flakkorps]   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Moritz von Drebber] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 297. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim] || Oberst  ||  Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Brigade 24  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Friedrich Fangohr] || Generalmajor  ||  Chef des Generalstabes 4. Panzerarmee  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Martin Fiebig] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandierender General VIII. Fliegerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Max Fremerey] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 29. Infanteriedivision (mot.)  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Eccard Freiherr von Gablenz] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 384. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Otto Geuther] || Wehrmachtoberpfarrer  ||  IVd [|AOK 6]   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Erich Grosse] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur Grenadierregiment 276  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Walter Hanspach] || Generalarzt  ||  Korpsarzt XIV. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Alexander von Hartmann] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 71. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 24. Panzerdivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Ferdinand Heim] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandierender General XXXXVII. Panzerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Walter Heitz] || Generaloberst  ||  Kommandierender General VIII. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Karl-Adolf Hollidt] || General der Infanterie  ||  Kommandierender General Armee-Abteilung Hollidt  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hermann Hoth] || Generaloberst  ||  Oberbefehlshaber 4. Panzerarmee  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hans-Valentin Hube] || General der Panzertruppen  ||  Kommandierender General XIV. Panzerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Erwin Jaenecke] || General der Pioniere  ||  Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hermann Kayser] || Oberstarzt  ||  Korpsarzt IV. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Werner Kempf] || General der Panzertruppen  ||  Kommandierender General XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Walther Kittel] || Generalstabsarzt  ||  Heeresgruppenarzt Heeresgruppe Don  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Otto Kohlermann] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 60. Infanteriedivision (mot.)  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Otto Korfes] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 295. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Willibald Freiherr von Langermann und Erlenkamp] || General der Panzertruppen  ||  Kommandierender General XXIV. Panzerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Willy Langkeit] || Oberstleutnant  ||  Kommandeur Panzerregiment 36  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Martin Lattmann] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 389. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Wilhelm von Lengerke] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Arno von Lenski] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 24. Panzerdivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Richard Lepper] || Generalmajor  ||  Arko 6  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hans-Georg Leyser] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 29. Infanteriedivision (mot.)  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Erich von Manstein] || Generalfeldmarschall  ||  Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe Don  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Erhard Milch] || Generalfeldmarschall  ||  Oberbefehlshaber Kessel Stalingrad  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Siegfried Müller (Oberstartzt)] || Oberstarzt  ||  Korpsarzt VIII. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Kurt Oppenländer] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 305. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Friedrich Paulus] || Generalfeldmarschall  ||  Oberbefehlshaber 6. Armee  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Max Pfeffer] || General der Artillerie  ||  Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Georg Pfeiffer] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur [|94. Infanteriedivision]   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Wolfgang Pickert] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 9. Flakdivision (mot.)  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Otto Renoldi] || Generalstabsarzt  ||  Armee-Arzt 6. Armee  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen] || Generaloberst  ||  Oberbefehlshaber Luftflotte 4  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Gustav-Adolf Riebel] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur Panzerregiment 24  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hans Ringe] || Oberst  ||  Feldkommandant 343  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Carl Rodenburg] || Generalleutnant  ||  Kommandeur 76. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Werner Sanne] || Generalleutnant  || Kommandeur 100. Jägerdivision ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Helmuth Schlömer] || Generalleutnant  || Kommandierender General XIV. Panzerkorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Arthur Schmidt] || Generalleutnant  || Chef des Generalstabes 6. Armee ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Friedrich Schulz] || Generalmajor  || Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe Don ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Viktor von Schwedler] || General der Infanterie  || Kommandierender General IV. Armeekorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Richard Graf von Schwerin] || Generalleutnant  || Kommandeur 79. Infanteriedivision ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach] || General der Artillerie  || Kommandierender General LI. Armeekorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Heinrich Smend] || Generalarzt  || Korpsarzt XIV. Panzerkorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Georg von Sodenstern] || General der Infanterie  || Chef des Generalstabes Heeresgruppe B ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Hans Spiegelberg] || Oberstarzt  || Korpsarzt XI. Armeekorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Richard Stempel] || Generalleutnant  || Kommandeur 371. Infanteriedivision ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Karl Strecker] || Generalleutnant  || Kommandierender General XI. Armeekorps ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Weichs] || Generalfeldmarschall  ||  Oberbefehlshaber Heeresgruppe B  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Walther Wenck] || Oberst  ||  Chef des Generalstabes Armee-Abteilung Hollidt  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Gustav Anton von Wietersheim] || General der Infanterie  ||  Kommandierender General XIV. Panzerkorps  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [|Rolf Wuthmann] || Generalmajor  ||  Kommandeur 295. Infanteriedivision  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** Name ** ||  ** rank **  ||  ** unit **  ||
 * ** [|Georgy Zhukov] ** || Marshall  ||  Commander Red Army  ||
 * [|Konstantin Rokossovsky] || General  ||  Commander Don Front  ||
 * [|Filipp Golikov] || Colonel General  ||  Co-Commander Stalingrad Front  ||
 * [|Fyodor Tolbukhin] || General  ||  Commander 57th Army  ||
 * [|Vasily Chuikov] || General  ||  Commander 62nd Army  ||
 * [|Aleksandr Vasilevsky] || General  ||  Commander-in-Chief  ||
 * [|Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin] || General  ||  Commander Southwest Front  ||
 * [|Nikolai Voronov] || Chief Marshal of Artillery  ||  Commander of Artillery  ||
 * [|Vasili Zaitsev] || Captain  ||  Sniper  ||
 * ** Name ** ||  ** rank **  ||  ** unit **  ||
 * ** [|Constantin Constantinescu-Claps] ** || General  ||  Commander 4th Romanian army  ||
 * [|Petre Dumitrescu] || General  ||  Commander 3rd Romanian army  ||

Initial Troops:

Axis: 270,000 men 3,000 artillery pieces 500 tanks 600 aircraft, 1,600 by mid-September

USSR: 187,000 men 2,200 artillery pieces 400 tanks 300 aircraft

Turning Point

In mid-November, the Nazis were still trying to take control of Stalingrad. Soviet General Zhukov (as seen above) launched his offensive to ambush the army. At this point the Germans could have fought their way out, but Hitler ordered them to hold their until death. Winter began to set in and temperatures dropped and food, ammunition, and heat were all in short supply. Nazi Field Marshal Erich von Manstein attempted a rescue mission, but it was halted short of its goal, and the freezing and starving Germans in Stalingrad were forbidden to try to reach their would-be rescuers. On February 2, 1943, Nazi General Paulus surrendered what remained of his army-some 91,000 men. About 150,000 Germans were killed in the fighting.

Significance Casualties:

Axis: 850,000 killed, missing or wounded

USSR: 1,150,000 killed, missing or wounded The victory of the Battle of Stalingrad was essential for the allies because it would determine if they would begin there march for liberation or keep fighting. If Hitlers men were victorious the Nazis would gain much needed supplies giving them a key foothold, allowing them to rebuild and prepare for further push back. The allied victory marked the Nazis first major defeat and failure of blitzkrieg. For the first time Germany was now on the defensive giving the allies the advantage. With the Germans having to defend two fronts, the allies would have the advantage. The victory of the Battle of Stalingrad opened up the second front as Germany was now being pushed back from the East and West. The Battle of Stalingrad was an essential in opening another front against Germany, and it marked the beginning of the end for the defeat of the Nazis.

=Video on Battle of Stalingrad=

media type="youtube" key="T1AC4wm6SwM" width="420" height="315"

=Sources =

[] [] http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_stalingrad.html http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/stalingrad/default.aspx