Georgii K. Zhukov
Soviet Russia's greatest general and planned a counteroffensive to surround Germany. This counter offense caused Germany to hold their ground and later led them to starvation, which kept them from reaching their rescuers. This then led General Paulus and the Germans Sixth Army to surrender (91,000 men).
Adolf Hitler
initiated a plan to attack Russia because conquering Russia would help defeat Great Britain. Hitler wanted to end the fighting on the Eastern Front, or at least minimize it, before the Americans had a chance to get deeply involved in the war in Europe.
Significance
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the largest battles in WWII, and was a key turning point on the war of the Eastern Front. Stalingrad was one of the largest and longest single battles in military history. Most of Germany's forces from Army Group Center and large parts from Army Group South was used in this battle, which meant it was nearly impossible to win the war on two fronts.
"Wolf Packs"
"Wolf Packs" are German U-boats or a group of submarines operating together and attacking Allied ships coming across the Atlantic ocean. Wolf Packs were used in the Battle of Stalingrad by Germany to capture enemy's boats.
Outcome
Stalingrad was a blow out for Germany, they ended up surrendering to the Soviets.There were heavy casualties for both countries fighting in the war. The casualties for Germany, was 850,000 troops. Russia had many more casualties, 750,00 and more military troops and 45,000 civilians. The total amount of casualties for the Battle of Stalingrad was about more than 1.5 million. Since there were so many casualties, some bodies just ended up in river banks.
"On Tuesday the Russians finally accomplished the liquidation of the Germans encircled north of Stalin-grad. In the last 2 days we took 45,000 prisoners, making the total between January 10 and yesterday 91,000."
"On Tuesday the Russians finally accomplished the liquidation of the Germans encircled north of Stalin-grad. In the last 2 days we took 45,000 prisoners, making the total between January 10 and yesterday 91,000."
Strategies
-The fighting retreat - put a strain on German supply lines.
-The German Blitzkrieg technique was as devastating in Russia as it had been in the rest of Europe. This strategy was used to attack at the least obvious point, in order to concentrate the offensive against the weakest defense, punching through, and then maintaining a highly mobile offensive in order to keep the enemy off balance.
-Kotelnikovo Offensive Operation 12 December 1942 - 31 December 1942
-Middle Don Offensive Operation (Operation Little Saturn) 16 December 1942 - 30 December 1942
-Operation Koltso (English: Operation Ring) 10 January 1943 - 2 February 1943
-Operation Saturn, attempted to punch through the Axis army on the Don and take Rostov.
-The German Blitzkrieg technique was as devastating in Russia as it had been in the rest of Europe. This strategy was used to attack at the least obvious point, in order to concentrate the offensive against the weakest defense, punching through, and then maintaining a highly mobile offensive in order to keep the enemy off balance.
-Kotelnikovo Offensive Operation 12 December 1942 - 31 December 1942
-Middle Don Offensive Operation (Operation Little Saturn) 16 December 1942 - 30 December 1942
-Operation Koltso (English: Operation Ring) 10 January 1943 - 2 February 1943
-Operation Saturn, attempted to punch through the Axis army on the Don and take Rostov.