The Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the major battles of the Second World War, and saw the German Wehrmacht and Stalin’s Red Army fight savagely, often in close quarters, for control of the city. The combat also involved civilians and was unprecedented in its scale; the Battle of Stalingrad is now widely regarded as one of the largest and bloodiest battles in history. It marked a turning point in the war: the Germans were defeated for the first time since the outbreak of hostilities, and the Soviets gained the upper hand on the Eastern Front. In just 50 minutes, you will learn about the events leading up to the Battle of Stalingrad, the main incidents of the battle and its decisive impact on the rest of the war.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough analysis of the tactics and maneuvers of both sides, such as the famous German Rattenkrieg. It also features biographies of the key commanders and leaders, including the German marshal Friedrich Paulus, a valuable introduction to the political and social context and an evaluation of the battle’s impact, giving you all the essential information about this deadly combat.

About the Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad introduced a new form of fighting to the Second World War: close combat in urban areas. The battle was part of Hitler’s attempt to cripple the Soviet economy by capturing the Caucasus and its oil reserves, but a number of errors on the German side and the fierce resistance of the Red Army meant that the Nazi troops were driven back and both sides sustained horrific losses.

This clear and accessible 43-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Battle of Stalingrad
• Political and social context
  • The origins of the conflict
  • The invasion of the Soviet Union
  • The Soviet Union on the brink
  • Control of the Caucasus oil
• Commanders and leaders
  • Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, Russian General
  • Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus, German Marshal
• Analysis of the battle
  • The Wehrmacht at the gates of the city
  • The resistance of the Red Army
  • The Russian counter-attack
  • The German errors
• Impact of the Battle of Stalingrad
  • The total failure of the German campaign
  • The Soviet Union is saved
  • A turning point in World War II
• Summary