Why was Stalingrad of such great importance in the European Theatre of the war?

1 Answer
Jan 24, 2018

It was a major battle in World War 2. As part of the 2nd year of the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, it ended in a major defeat of the Germans.

Explanation:

The failure to knock the Soviet Union out in the first summer offensive (1941) caused Hitler to sack many of his Generals that had been successful in France. Plan Blue (Summer 1942) was developed to open the way to the Caucasus Oilfields and perhaps the Middle East.

The left flank of this attack rested on the Volga river. One of the major river crossing points was Stalingrad. Most of the area around Stalingrad was flat featureless Steppe and difficult to defend. Stalingrad as a rail and road center was essential to defending the supply route to the Caucasus Mountains to the South.

The Germans started out by flattening the City by bombing. This made the city easier for the Soviets to defend. As the battle continued more and more German formations were drawn into the battle and away from the drive to the Caucasus. The offensive failed and Hitler became focused on the Battle for Stalingrad. The Soviets massed troops outside the city and their offensive surrounded and isolated the Germans in the city. The City surrendered in February 1943.

Combined with the British victory at El Alamien in Oct/Nov 1942 this was the high water mark for the Germans an they started to lose ground afterwards. Some Germans began to sense the War wasn't going to work out for them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein

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