Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad was fought in Stalingrad, Russia. Germany, Romania, Hungary, Italy,and Croatia fought against Russia for the control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd). The Battle for Stalingrad was fought during the winter of 1942 to 1943. In September 1942, the German Commander of the Sixth army, General Paulus, assisted by the Fourth Panzar Army, advanced on the city of Stalingrad. His primary task was to secure the oil fields in the Caucasus and to do this, Paulus was ordered by Hitler to take Stalingrad. Stalingrad was a very important target for the Germans because it was Russia's Center of Communications.  In early September 1942, the German Army advanced to the city. The Russians, already devastated by the power of Blitzkrieg during Operation Barbossa, had to make a stand especially as the city was named after the Russian leader Joseph Stalin. for simple reasons of morale, the Russians could not let this city fall. Likewise, the Russians could not let the Germans get hold of the oil fields in the Caucasus. Stalin's order was "Not a step Backwards".  The battle for the city descended into one of the most brutal in World War II. Individual streets were fought using hand-to-hand combat. The Germans took a great deal of the city but they failed to fully assert their authority. Areas captured by the Germans during the day, were re-taken by the Russians at night.  Over November 19th, the Russians were in a position whereby they could launch a counter-offensive.  Marshall Zhukov used six armies of one million men to surround the city. The Russians would go on to win this battle.

The Strength of the armies were: