During the battle
"Not a Step Backwards"
Said By General Joseph Stalin
On August 23, 1942, the Battle of Stalingrad began. This was a major battle in which
Germany fought the Russians for control of the city of Stalingrad.
This was known as one of the most brutal hand to hand battles in the
history of WWII. This was also
known as one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
war.
The German’s were to
infiltrate and capture the city of Stalingrad in the summer of 1942.
The city of Stalingrad was not only the Headquarters for the Soviet Army,
but was also a checkpoint for taking over other major Soviet cities, Moscow was one of them.
Not only did Hitler want Stalingrad as
a checkpoint, it was a focus of hatred for the Russian General Joseph
Stalin. Because the city was named
after Joseph Stalin, this made it a higher target for
Hitler.
In early September,
1942, the Germans approached the city of Stalingrad with high hopes to take it
over. Hitler felt that the oil
fields in the Caucasus were necessary for the German Army so they invaded. At first, things were going well
for Hitler and his troops, and then Hitler’s orders caused the advance
to go bad. He split his 600,000
man army into two parts. One was to capture the oil fields, the other
Stalingrad. They came from the
West and surrounded the already devastated city.
The Germans created
ocean barriers and headed in with tanks to engage the Soviets in a brutal
battle. This battle went through
trenches, destroyed buildings and littered streets.
This attack was hit from the West of the USSR.
The Russians could and would not let the city fall, for it was the center
for communications and manufacturing.
The Russians were
just recovering from the failed Operation Barbarossa and the many waves of
attacks that came after that. This gave Hitler high hopes of success
and threatened the Russians. The Germans expected
to take the city within short order.
the Russian Army wanted to retreat, But Stalingrad replied to them all saying
"Not a Step Backwards"
General Joseph Stalin to the Russian Army
During the battle,
rodent-like scurrying took place through the trenches, causing the most crucial
engagements. Using the Russian’s
last defense and supply houses, the Russians held the Germans back as well as
they could. Russia withstood
the lightening warfare of the Germans and turned the battle into a contest of
war in the city. This was something
the Germans were not trained and neither were they good at it. The
Russians would prove that if you could withstand the initial advance, the
Germans were beatable.
On November 4, 1942,
the British broke through to aid the Russians. Afterwards the Germans set up mine
fields to keep more allies out and prevent them from aiding the
Russians.
On November 19, 1942,
the Russians launched counter offensive orders from Stalin and led by
Zhukov. The counter attack used 1
million men with tanks attacking from the North, surrounding the
Germans.
The German Army
leader, General Paulus, wanted to retreat, but Hitler denied that replying,
Supreme Commander to 6 Army, January 24, 1943
"Surrender is forbidden. 6 Army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contribution towards the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of the Western world."
Hitler's communication with von Paulus.
Winter came causing harsh
conditions for both Russian and German soldiers, with snow reaching up to two
and a half feet in height and temperatures reaching well below zero
degrees. The Russians and Germans
fought on regardless of conditions.
While the Russians
were used to these conditions, the Germans were venerable to the below freezing
temperatures. The Germans were
losing soldiers due to hypothermia and blood loss.
During the battle,
food and supplies were scarce for both sides. Hitler promised Paulus a supply drop
while the Russians were already obtaining their much needed supplies from supply
drops.
"My hands are done for, and have been ever since the beginning of December. The little finger of my left hand is missing and - what's even worse - the three middle fingers of my right one are frozen. I can only hold my mug with my thumb and little finger. I'm pretty helpless; only when a man has lost any fingers does he see how much he needs then for the smallest jobs. The best thing I can do with the little finger is to shoot with it. My hands are finished."
Anonymous German soldier
Hitler made many
promises for more food, more fuel, lots of supplies and more personnel
reinforcements, but he broke most of these promises, sending in only minimum
food, fuel and reinforcements.
"I was horrified when I saw the map. We're quite alone, without any help from outside. Hitler has left us in the lurch. Whether this letter gets away depends on whether we still hold the airfield. We are lying in the north of the city. The men in my unit already suspect the truth, but they aren't so exactly informed as I am. No, we are not going to be captured. When Stalingrad falls you will hear and read about it. Then you will know that I shall not return."
Anonymous German soldier
Paulus asked once
again for food, fuel, supplies and if all else fails, to retreat.
Hitler again denied retreat and promised he would send in reinforcements,
as soon as they returned from battles elsewhere.
ocean barriers and headed in with tanks to engage the Soviets in a brutal
battle. This battle went through
trenches, destroyed buildings and littered streets.
This attack was hit from the West of the USSR.
The Russians could and would not let the city fall, for it was the center
for communications and manufacturing.
The Russians were
just recovering from the failed Operation Barbarossa and the many waves of
attacks that came after that. This gave Hitler high hopes of success
and threatened the Russians. The Germans expected
to take the city within short order.
the Russian Army wanted to retreat, But Stalingrad replied to them all saying
"Not a Step Backwards"
General Joseph Stalin to the Russian Army
During the battle,
rodent-like scurrying took place through the trenches, causing the most crucial
engagements. Using the Russian’s
last defense and supply houses, the Russians held the Germans back as well as
they could. Russia withstood
the lightening warfare of the Germans and turned the battle into a contest of
war in the city. This was something
the Germans were not trained and neither were they good at it. The
Russians would prove that if you could withstand the initial advance, the
Germans were beatable.
On November 4, 1942,
the British broke through to aid the Russians. Afterwards the Germans set up mine
fields to keep more allies out and prevent them from aiding the
Russians.
On November 19, 1942,
the Russians launched counter offensive orders from Stalin and led by
Zhukov. The counter attack used 1
million men with tanks attacking from the North, surrounding the
Germans.
The German Army
leader, General Paulus, wanted to retreat, but Hitler denied that replying,
Supreme Commander to 6 Army, January 24, 1943
"Surrender is forbidden. 6 Army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contribution towards the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of the Western world."
Hitler's communication with von Paulus.
Winter came causing harsh
conditions for both Russian and German soldiers, with snow reaching up to two
and a half feet in height and temperatures reaching well below zero
degrees. The Russians and Germans
fought on regardless of conditions.
While the Russians
were used to these conditions, the Germans were venerable to the below freezing
temperatures. The Germans were
losing soldiers due to hypothermia and blood loss.
During the battle,
food and supplies were scarce for both sides. Hitler promised Paulus a supply drop
while the Russians were already obtaining their much needed supplies from supply
drops.
"My hands are done for, and have been ever since the beginning of December. The little finger of my left hand is missing and - what's even worse - the three middle fingers of my right one are frozen. I can only hold my mug with my thumb and little finger. I'm pretty helpless; only when a man has lost any fingers does he see how much he needs then for the smallest jobs. The best thing I can do with the little finger is to shoot with it. My hands are finished."
Anonymous German soldier
Hitler made many
promises for more food, more fuel, lots of supplies and more personnel
reinforcements, but he broke most of these promises, sending in only minimum
food, fuel and reinforcements.
"I was horrified when I saw the map. We're quite alone, without any help from outside. Hitler has left us in the lurch. Whether this letter gets away depends on whether we still hold the airfield. We are lying in the north of the city. The men in my unit already suspect the truth, but they aren't so exactly informed as I am. No, we are not going to be captured. When Stalingrad falls you will hear and read about it. Then you will know that I shall not return."
Anonymous German soldier
Paulus asked once
again for food, fuel, supplies and if all else fails, to retreat.
Hitler again denied retreat and promised he would send in reinforcements,
as soon as they returned from battles elsewhere.