Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad took place in and around the present day
city of Volgograd between
July 17, 1942 and February 2, 1943.
The battle is considered to be the turning point of World War II. The Soviet counter-offensive, which trapped and destroyed the German 6th Army (and their Axis comrades), led to the first large-scale German defeat of the war.
Battle of Stalingrad Casualties
The Battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest in modern history, with combined casualties estimated at over 1,530,000 killed, wounded or captured. Historical reference regarding Stalingrad casualties varies greatly, so while this figure is just an estimate, it may be conservative. Soviet archives put military casualties closer to 2.6 million (excluding civilians).
- 790,000 Soviet casualties (750,000 Soviet military, 40,000 civilians)
- 740,000 Axis casualties (91,000 captured)
- To put this in perspective, the United States lost 416,800 service members during World War II, both in Europe and in the Pacific.
- The life expectancy for a Soviet private sent to the front was less than 24 hours, while that of a Soviet officer was 3 days.
- The battle took a toll of roughly 7,700 casualties per day
- Of the 91,000 German troops taken prisoner, less than 6,000 lived to return home
Initial Strength of German and Soviet Armies at Stalingrad
German & Axis Forces |
Soviet Forces |
Led by General Paulus |
Led by General Zhukov |
1,011,500 men |
1,000,500 men |
10,290 artillery guns |
13,541 artillery guns |
675 tanks |
894 tanks |
1,216 planes |
1,115 planes |
Battle of Stalingrad Timeline
- July 17, 1942 - Battle of Stalingrad begins as the Luftwaffe begins to bomb the city and Soviet shipping on the Volga River
- August 23, 1942 - Panzer column reaches Volga River just north of Stalingrad
- September 13, 1942 - German ground offensive starts in the city
- November 19, 1942 - Red Army begins Operation Uranus to encircle German 6th Army
- November 23, 1942 - Encirclement is complete trapping roughly 290,000 Axis troops
- December 12, 1942 - Field Marshal von Manstein's army group launches an attack to relieve the 6th Army in Stalingrad. German advance is pushed back by the Soviets.
- February 2, 1943 - German troops trapped at Stalingrad surrender
Historical Sites of Interest
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Motherland Calls Statue Standing 85 meters (279 feet) high, the monument is one of many memorials on the Mamayev Hill. It was this strategic position overlooking the Hero City, that some of the fiercest fighting occurred in the Stalingrad Battle.
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Mamayev Hill Memorial Complex The Mamayev Memorial Complex To the Heroes of the Stalingrad Battle, is a moving memorial with numerous sites-memorials as you ascend to the crest of the hill where the Motherland Calls Statue is situated. Its interesting to note that many of the monuments were created with the bricks of the ruined city of Stalingrad. For more information about the memorial complex, see the official website (English, German and Russian) |
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Eternal Flame Also on Mamayev Hill, the Hall of the Warrior Glory, Mamayev Hill, Volgograd houses the eternal flame and the names of 7200 Russian soldiers who perished in the fighting. |
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Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum The Volgograd State Panoramic Museum Battle of Stalingrad houses an impressive 360' artistic panorama, "The Defeat of Fascist Armies at Stalingrad", plus 8 exhibition halls with over 3500 exhibits including photos, portraits, firearms and war paraphernalia. There is also an outside exhibit with Russian tanks and artillery. For more information about the Panorama Museum, see the official website (English, German and Russian) |
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Steam Mill Memorial Part of the Battle of Stalingrad Panorama-museum, the ruins of the old mill are testament to the brutality of the fighting and the bravery of the Soviet soldiers who defended the besieged city of Stalingrad. |
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River Embankment Stairs and monuments leading to Volgograd's central |
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Chekists Monument Dedicated to members of Soviet counterintelligence division (called Cheka or NKVD during the war) for their bravery in stopping German advances north of the city near the tractor factory in August of 1942. |
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Pavlov House Pavlov House memorial, site where a well defended
apartment building stood in the Battle of Stalingrad. Sergeant Yakov Pavlov and
his platoon stormed and seized the building and successfully defended it from |
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Steamship Gasitel Built in 1903 under the name Tsarev, the ship participated in the Russian Civil War and played a key role in the Battle of Stalingrad, ferrying supplies and reinforcements across the Volga River to the frontline while evacuating wounded Soviet soldiers. |
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river
embankment. It was this narrow stretch of land that separated Soviet victory and
defeat. The river embankment is thus named in honor of the 62nd Army which fought
here. 
countless German attacks. The building became a symbol of the stubborn Soviet
resistance during the Battle of Stalingrad
and in the war in general.
Battle of Stalingrad Movies / Documentary Film
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Hunde, Wollt Ihr Ewig Leben? Dogs, Do You Want to Live Forever? German made movie about the Battle of Stalingrad Director: Frank Wisbar Year of Release: 1958 Running Time: 93 minutes |
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Сталинград (Фильм 1, Фильм 2) Stalingrad (Film 1, Film 2) Russian made movie about the Battle of Stalingrad Director: Yuri Ozerov Year of Release: 1989 Running Time: 87 min (Film 1) + 98 min (Film 2) |
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Stalingrad German made movie about the Battle of Stalingrad Director: Joseph Vilsmaier Year of Release: 1993 Running Time: 134 minutes |
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Enemy at the Gates Hollywood made movie about the Battle of Stalingrad Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud Year of Release: 2001 Running Time: 131 minutes |
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Stalingrad Documentary film about the Battle of Stalingrad Director: Sebastian Dehnhardt Year of Release: 2003 Running Time: 165 minutes |
BBC Documentary Film 20th Century Battlefields
Stalingrad Part 1/6
Stalingrad Part 2/6
Stalingrad Part 3/6
Stalingrad Part 4/6
Stalingrad Part 5/6
Stalingrad Part 6/6