The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the most brutal and decisive battles of World War II. Fought between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union from August 1942 to February 1943, this battle marked the turning point in the war.

Hitler, confident in his army’s superiority, launched a massive offensive to capture the industrial city of Stalingrad. What he didn’t anticipate was the fierce Soviet resistance. The fighting quickly turned into brutal urban warfare, with soldiers battling street by street, building by building. The city became a shattered ruin, but the Soviets were determined to defend it at all costs.

As the harsh Russian winter set in, the tide began to turn. The Soviets, under General Zhukov, launched a surprise counteroffensive, encircling the German 6th Army. Trapped and without supplies, the Germans faced starvation and freezing conditions. Despite Hitler’s orders to fight to the last man, the German commander, General Paulus, surrendered in February 1943.

The Soviet victory at Stalingrad was devastating for the Nazis. They lost an entire army of over 300,000 men, marking the beginning of the end for Hitler’s ambitions in the East. The Battle of Stalingrad stands as a symbol of Soviet resilience and a crucial turning point in the war.

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