how did the battle of stalingrad change the course of the war

Today, the Battle of Stalingrad is universally regarded as the turning point in the European Theatre of war, as it forced the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (German High Command) to withdraw considerable military forces from other areas in occupied Europe to replace German losses on the Eastern Front

.

Full Answer

What was the result of the Battle of Stalingrad?

Nov 08, 2009 · In the end, many historians believe the Battle at Stalingrad marked a major turning point in the conflict. It was the beginning of the march toward victory for the Allied forces of Russia, Britain,...

Was the Battle of Stalingrad a turning point in WW2?

Feb 06, 2017 · This marked the end of the battle of Stalingrad. However this decisive victory that changed the tide of the entire war wasn’t won without heavy casualties on both sides, as the Soviet Red Army lost 479,000 men since November while 147,000 German soldiers were killed and 91,000 German troops captured.

Why did the Wehrmacht want to conquer Stalingrad?

Stalingrad was the turning point of the war, while Kursk was its most decisive battle. After Stalingrad, there was only one direction for the German troops: backwards. But although Germany lost a whole army during the battle of Stalingrad, it still had a powerful military. This would change with the battle of Kursk.

What was the Battle of Stalingrad?

Sources. The Battle of Stalingrad was a brutal military campaign between Russian forces and those of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers during World War II. The battle is infamous as one of the largest, longest and bloodiest engagements in modern warfare: From August 1942 through February 1943, more than two million troops fought in close quarters – ...

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

In the end, many historians believe the Battle at Stalingrad marked a major turning point in the conflict. It was the beginning of the march toward victory for the Allied forces of Russia, Britain, France and the United States.

What happened in the middle of World War II?

In the middle of World War II – having captured territory in much of present-day Ukraine and Belarus in the spring on 1942 – Germany’s Wehrmacht forces decided to mount an offensive on southern Russia in the summer of that year.

How many German soldiers were captured in the Battle of Stalingrad?

Battle of Stalingrad Ends. By February 1943, Russian troops had retaken Stalingrad and captured nearly 100,000 German soldiers, though pockets of resistance continued to fight in the city until early March. Most of the captured soldiers died in Russian prison camps, either as a result of disease or starvation.

What was Operation Uranus?

From there, they launched a counterattack, famously known as Operation Uranus. Although they again sustained significant losses, Russian forces were able to form what in essence was a defensive ring around the city by late November 1942, trapping the nearly 300,000 German and Axis troops in the 6th Army.

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

The events of the Battle for Stalingrad have been covered in numerous media works of British, American, German, and Russian origin, for its significance as a turning point in the Second World War and for the loss of life associated with the battle.

What happened to the Germans in Stalingrad?

The Germans inside the pocket retreated from the suburbs of Stalingrad to the city itself. The loss of the two airfields, at Pitomnik on 16 January 1943 and Gumrak on the night of 21/22 January, meant an end to air supplies and to the evacuation of the wounded.

What factories were attacked in Stalingrad?

Having slowly advanced over 10 days against strong Soviet resistance, the 51st Army Corps was finally in front of the three giant factories of Stalingrad: the Red October Steel Factory, the Barrikady Arms Factory and Stalingrad Tractor Factory. It took a few more days for them to prepare for the most savage offensive of all, which was unleashed on 14 October with a concentration of gunfire never seen before. Exceptionally intense shelling and bombing paved the way for the first German assault groups. The main attack (led by the 14th Panzer and 305th Infantry Divisions) attacked towards the tractor factory, while another assault led by the 24th Panzer Division hit to the south of the giant plant.

How many people died in the Battle of Mamayev Kurgan?

Nevertheless, the fighting continued, especially on the slopes of Mamayev Kurgan and inside the factory area in the northern part of the city. From 21 August to 20 November, the German 6th Army lost 60,548 men, including 12,782 killed, 45,545 wounded and 2,221 missing.

Who were the Soviet generals responsible for strategic planning in the Stalingrad area?

In autumn, the Soviet generals Georgy Zhukov and Aleksandr Vasilevsky, responsible for strategic planning in the Stalingrad area, concentrated forces in the steppes to the north and south of the city. The northern flank was defended by Hungarian and Romanian units, often in open positions on the steppes.

What is the name of the monument in Stalingrad?

In recognition of the determination of its defenders, Stalingrad was awarded the title Hero City in 1945. A colossal monument called The Motherland Calls was erected in 1967 on Mamayev Kurgan, the hill overlooking the city where bones and rusty metal splinters can still be found. The statue forms part of a war memorial complex which includes the ruins of the Grain Silo and Pavlov's House. On 2 February 2013 Volgograd hosted a military parade and other events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the final victory. Since then, military parades have always commemorated the victory in the city.

What was the significance of the Kotluban battles?

David Glantz indicated that four hard-fought battles – collectively known as the Kotluban Operations – north of Stalingrad, where the Soviets made their greatest stand, decided Germany's fate before the Nazis ever set foot in the city itself, and were a turning point in the war. Beginning in late August, continuing in September and into October, the Soviets committed between two and four armies in hastily coordinated and poorly controlled attacks against the Germans' northern flank. The actions resulted in more than 200,000 Soviet Army casualties but did slow the German assault.

How did the Battle of Stalingrad affect the course of World War II?

The Battle of Stalingrad drastically changed the course of World War II. In the beginning of 1943 Nazi Germany lost its military advantage, and the Allies gained the upper hand over the Axis Powers.#N#Moreover, the United Kingdom and the United States realized that the USSR could win this war without their military support and decided to finally open the Second (Western) Front in Normandy.#N#Some countries which had been supporting the fascist policy broke off with Nazi Germany.#N#Chairs under many pro-Nazi leaders shattered due to active actions of anti-fascist movements.#N#The Battle of Stalingrad also influenced the military leaders of Japan. Two years later, on August 9, 1945, the Red Army fulfilled its obligation to the Allies and entered the war against Japan. Thanks to consolidated efforts it took less than a month for the Japanese armies to surrender (September 2, 1945).#N#The Japanese have estimated that the war between Japan and the United States would have lasted till 1947 and would have claimed the lives of millions American soldiers if it had not been for the Soviet military support.

What happened after the Battle of Stalingrad?

After the Battle of Stalingrad. The Battle of Stalingrad drastically changed the course of World War II. In the beginning of 1943 Nazi Germany lost its military advantage, and the Allies gained the upper hand over the Axis Powers. Moreover, the United Kingdom and the United States realized that the USSR could win this war without their military ...

How many people died in the Battle of Stalingrad?

The total casualties in the Battle of Stalingrad are estimated to be 2 million Soviets and Nazis. The statistics sheds light on the real scale of this slaughter.

What happened in 1943?

In the beginning of 1943 Nazi Germany lost its military advantage, and the Allies gained the upper hand over the Axis Powers. Moreover, the United Kingdom and the United States realized that the USSR could win this war without their military support and decided to finally open the Second (Western) Front in Normandy.

What is the statue of the motherland called?

In Volgograd (previously known as Stalingrad) Soviet people built the famous statue “The Motherland Calls ”. This large monument (85 m high) represents a woman who is standing half-turned and holding a sword in her hand. In fact, this statue is a part of a sculptural triptych. Other parts of this triptych are located in Magnitogorsk and Berlin. The sculptural ensemble symbolizes that the sword is hammered in rear, and then it is handed over to defenders, so that they can stand up to the Nazis. In Berlin the soldier is holding a small girl in his arms, and his sword is lowered. It means that the world is saved from the Nazi threat.