Stallingrad

During the course of World War II there were a number of turning points that impacted the outcome of the World War II. One of the most important and influential turning points that effected the outcome of the war was the Battle of Stalingrad 23 August 1942 – 2 February 1943. This was a defining moment in the war because it showed Russia’s unwillingness to be defeated on home grounds, the battle of Stalingrad showed that Hitler was incapable of accepting defeat and surrender as well as it severely demoralised German troops and equipment. For these reasons the Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point in World War II and had dramatically changed the outcome of World War II in Europe.

Despite all the reasons for the cause of the battle of Stalingrad Russia wasn't gonna give up nor were they willing to accept defeat on home grounds. Many historians strongly believe that the reason for Germanys attack on Stalingrad was because of its name, Hitler hated Joseph Stalin who was Russia’s current leader. Another reason that could of caused the Battle of Stalingrad was Hitlers idea of Case Blue later renamed Operation Braunschweig. Operation Braunschweig was in the summer of 1942. It was a plan that Adolf Hitler came up with to cut off all Russia’s Forces, Stalingrad was one of Russia’s leading industrial towns many of its tractor factories were turned into tank factories. The planned to cut of Stalingrad from many of its neighbouring countries, allowing a decrease in men and equipment. Seeing as this was where USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) go most of their equipment from, them loosing access to Stalingrad would of been a major down fall in their part of World War II. Just before the Battle of Stalingrad was what many historians would argue to be the start of the holocaust, and as many of Russia’s jews were taken from their home. Stalin was enraged by Hitlers act and knew that Russia would stop at nothing to protect its city and citizens. The events of Stalingrad and in particular convinced many germans that the war could not be won. The soviets also known as the red army in towns around Stalingrad had started to cut of Germanys forces to and from Caucasus, in return the German forces were forced to withdraw, allowing the Russians the get the upper hand on Germany and ruining there plans of cutting off access to the oil reserves and factories.

Hitler wasn't able to accept defeat in Stalingrad nor would he allow his men to surrender. Despite having Paulus be promoted to Field Marshall by Hitler (Hitler then reminded that no officer of a similar rank had ever surrendered or been taken alive) Hitler said "Surrender is forbidden. 6 Army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic endurance will make an unforgettable contribution towards the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of the Western world."General Paulus disobeyed Hitlers commands agreeing to surrendered on January 31st, he was shortly after followed by 24 the generals and the remainder of the Axis forces followed in his footsteps on February 2nd. During this event the soviet union was under the reign of Joseph Stalin, The German army wasn't gonna be spared any mercy (Stalin wasn’t known as to look after his own people and now war prisoners under Stalins care). The German war prisoners were compelled on death marches or they were put to work on repairing/rebuilding Stalingrad, most or many of them weakened by starvation, illness and wounds, 75,000 German prisoners of war perished inside three months of their initial surrender. In an attempt to cut the death rates that were talking up, the Soviets left alone the death march and left the rest of the war prisoners on transports, however this did nothing in helping and the count of survivors decreased again from roughly 35,000 men to around 17,000. All of the 110,000 men captured there was about 5,000 of them that ever returned to their hometowns