The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad took place from August 19, 1942 to February 2, 1943 at the city of Stalingrad, Russia bordering the Volga River. Hitler wanted this city as it is a major industrial city and if he controlled the river, he could cut off trade from the agricultural south to the North. In addition, his rival, Joseph Stalin, would be embarrassing for him to lose a city of his own name. The German's attacked with the Sixth Army and with Panzer tanks, a special kind of tanks built with a tough outer shell. Stalin had as many people as possible help to defend the city. The fighting was of different varieties, hand-to-hand, grenades, and short-range guns, and took place in and out of the city.
A few months into the war, the Germans took control of 90% of the city. The Russians counterattacked and trapped the Sixth Army in the city. Hitler tried to airlift supplies to the army to keep them alive, however the supplies were too little and too scarce. The Germans tried to fight into the city during the winter, but it proved unsuccessful. On January 31, 1943, Von Paulus, leader of the Sixth Army, finally surrendered, due the harsh Winter and not enough supplies. Other German forces kept fighting until February, 2 1943, unaware that the battle was over. After the battle, the Russians kept marching west until they got to Berlin.
A few months into the war, the Germans took control of 90% of the city. The Russians counterattacked and trapped the Sixth Army in the city. Hitler tried to airlift supplies to the army to keep them alive, however the supplies were too little and too scarce. The Germans tried to fight into the city during the winter, but it proved unsuccessful. On January 31, 1943, Von Paulus, leader of the Sixth Army, finally surrendered, due the harsh Winter and not enough supplies. Other German forces kept fighting until February, 2 1943, unaware that the battle was over. After the battle, the Russians kept marching west until they got to Berlin.