The+Battle+of+Stalingrad

=__THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD, 1942-1943:__   = =__//The turning point of WWII//__   =


  

= <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> = =<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> = <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">

-> STALINGRAD <-
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<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">

The battle of Stalingrad was extremely important to the results of WWII. It was essentially waves of men being cut down for mere yards of the city. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the 20th century. It served specific importance to the Germans because it was sort of metaphorical for Stalin himself, and it was the last real stronghold to preventing the Germans from reaching the much needed Russian oil fields in the Caucasus. Both side's dictatorial leaders had the same order: No surrender and no retreat. This battle was a turning point and a decisive victory much like the battle of lepanto, Waterloo, Balaclava, and the battle of Amiens in WWI. There were many things that truly affected the outcome of this battle: there were new advancements in weaponry, new styles of warfare, and a bitter unrelenting grip of the Russians. This grip was so effective that even when they were reduced to an area of two football fields they were able to fight the Germans off and regain their city. The ultimate defeat of the Germans came from the fact that their supply lines were cut, and men were attempting to survive in subfreezing temperatures with less than a piece of bread a day. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">     <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="color: rgb(3, 2, 2)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 2, 2)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">         <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">      <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 2, 2)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 2, 2)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">IMPORTANT FACTS: ==
 * ~ German Army || Gen. Paulus || 1,011,500 || 10,290 Artillery || 675 Tanks || 1,216 Planes ||
 * ~ Russian Army || Marshal Zhukhov || 1,000,500 || 13,541 Artillery || 894 Tanks || 1,115 Planes ||

<span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 3, 3); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">__Tactics and Strategies__: The Germans under the lead of General Paulus invaded the city in September as one of the key objectives of Operation Barbarossa.* The major flaw in their tactics was that they attacked in early fall anticipating a quick victory. They were forced to endure the the brutal russian winter which single handedly claimed a huge number of German lives. The Germans used their invaluable Blitzkrieg* to rush the city, but the German armies never took the whole city. And what they did have was reclaimed slowly after November 19th by the Russians. This battle is a perfect example of urban warfare because: what happened during the daytime could be reversed at night, men never knew where the enemy line was, and casualties were often too high to count. This battle was one of extreme importance to both Hitler and Stalin, but this was because of the propaganda values that the city had. Both the Axis and the Allies used huge ammounts of propoganda for moral purposes. The men fighting in this city had to deal with a great deal of hardships varying from: no food, extreme temperatures, being captured, being shot for retreating, and the paranoia inspired by sporadic sniperfire.* The Russians in the beginning of the battle were not even issued weapons due to the lack of supplies in the Red Army, but fortunately patriotic courage overcame this setback. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(8, 8, 8)"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">


 * __Blitzkrieg:__ This was a special tactic that was developed by the Germans where they used different armored vehicles and attached them to an infantry unit making their sieges go at a "lightning" pace. The Blitzkrieg was immortalized by their tanks, Panzer Division. The German Tiger tanks were known for their superiority in battle, and they were known for inspiring fear into their enemies.

<span style="color: rgb(112, 112, 112); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 3, 3); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">*__Snipers:__ The role of snipers in this battle was huge in that it caused surges of moral and depletions of moral. This battle was one of the first where snipers made an effect on the outcome. The snipers were able to covertly cross enemy lines and take out key objectives and officers. Another huge importance of snipers is that they inspired heroes which created purpose for many soldiers. This was important especially for the Russians who were able to look up to Vasiliy Zaitzev. Zaitzev became a huge hero in the war through propagand, and eventually the Germans sent in one of their own to rid them of this pest. This man was <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">SS Colonel Heinz Thorwald. Zaitsev won this duel by outfoxing the Colonel in a sniper battle. <span style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">
 * __Operation Barbarossa__- It was the major German offensive in 1941. Gaining a good foothold into Russia was Hitler's greatest goal. He required Lebensraum, and Russia was his main target. It was a double cross against the Russian and their Non-Agression Pact. At first it was very successful, but with the employment of the Blitzkreig they went for the major cities such as Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad (see the      <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250)">Siege of Leningrad    <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250)"><span style="color: rgb(112, 112, 112); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 3, 3); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">), and Stalingrad.

media type="youtube" key="NJzcQxeg_Cg&hl=en" height="355" width="425"

This is the first of a History Channel series about the battle of Stalingrad and evidence that has just been recovered that sheds new light on the battle.

Works Cited: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_of_stalingrad.htm <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">[|http://www.campbell.edu/faculty/Slattery/stalingrad.htmhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAPzelma.htm</span] <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250)"><span style="color: rgb(112, 112, 112); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(3, 3, 3); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">[|http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/maps/stalingrad_map_1.htm</span]> http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/maps/stalingrad_map_9.htm http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/russianpart/russnipers.html http://members.aol.com/wrldhist/hist1615/h1615l16.htm http://militarybooks.tripod.com/sniping.htm http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/albums/germans/stalingrad.jpg http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=79679&rendTypeId=4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJzcQxeg_Cg <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">http://www.torweihe.de/bilder4/41_ssscharfschtz.jpg http://russianlegacy.com/catalog/images/soviet_collection/flags/FS0088.jpg http://image59.webshots.com/559/2/56/45/2511256450101154159uieBAt_fs.jpg

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