Campaign or Battle Analysis: World War Two.
During the Second World War, Stalingrad was one of the largest industrial centres, producing tanks, mortars, heavy guns and automatic weapons for Russia. Stalingrad is located in the south-western region of Russia, between Ukraine and Kazakstan. .
The battle of Stalingrad began on the 23rd of August 1942, and lasted until surrounded German forces surrendered on the 2nd of February 1943. .
The battle involved over 2 million men, over 2,000 tanks, 2,000 aircraft, and more than 26,000 guns and mortars. On the 23rd if August 1942, German aircraft flew over 2,000 sorties, dropping thousands of bombs on the city of Stalingrad. During this bombing about 40 thousand people died, and 150 thousand injured. When the Russian military decided to evacuate the city, over 300 thousand people were taken across the Volga River under continuous enemy fire. Over 91,000 men were captured and a further 150,000 had died during the siege. .
When German troops surrendered, over 1.5 millions mines, shells and bombs were defused. Over 91,000 men were captured and a further 150,000 had died during the siege. .
2. People and Ideas.
In the summer of 1942, German forces pushed through the south-western front pushing back soviet troops. They then moved into the large bend of the Don River and then stormed Stalingrad. After that they were then going to move on to the Caucasus Mountains to capture vital oil supplies, and take Moscow. .
Although Stalingrad was not part of Germany's initial plan of attack on Russia, Hitler became obsessed with it. He could not see "Stalin's City" stand in his way. Hitler then concentrated the majority of his force on a frontal assault on Stalingrad. .
On the 23rd of August German tanks supported by motorised infantry broke through Russian lines and reached the Volga River north of Stalingrad. Thousands of German Aircraft then proceeded in bombing the city, leaving nothing but rubble.