THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD

DATE/ LOCATION/WHO AGAINST WHO?

• August 23rd, 1942-February 2nd, 1943
• Stalingrad, Russia
• The Soviets vs the German's 6th Army

WHY DID THIS BATTLE BEGIN?

• The Germans wanted to conquer and take the city of Stalingrad

TACTICS USED DURING THE BATTLE

• German invaders fought their way into Stalingrad against fierce resistance
• Operation Blue: concentrate all forces in southern flank, destroy front line, split
• German military: mostly combined-arms teams and close cooperations
• Germans favored daylight attacks, more air support

SOVIET TACTICS

• Defense used in depth, multiple lines of fire
• Used "strong points" or "breakwaters for obstacles in the streets
• Strong points=strong buildings like brick or stone
• Soviets had more experience with setting up the barricades and strong points
• Troops stationed were expected to stay in the strong points for several days

DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS IN BUILDINGS

• Troops in basement/semi-basement=fire onto the streets
• Upper floors or attic=fire on car roofs, streets, neighboring buildings

STORM GROUPS

DIARY OF A GERMAN SOLDIER

• William Hoffman
• "October 22: Our regiment has failed to break into the factory
• We lost many men; everytime you move you have to jump
• Over bodies. You scarcely breathe in the daytime:
• Ther is nowhere and no one to remove the bodies."

ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES IN HISTORY

SOVIET UNION WINNER

• About 350000 German soldiers dead
• About 500000 men in Stalingrad

THIS BATTLE MARKS A TURNING POINT

(: DONE

Untitled Slide