The battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of StalingradGROUP 5

Vadym Shevchenko Adi Mustapha Emir Katica

The Battle of StalingradAgenda

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1. Analysis of the political situation before the battle.o Germanyo The Soviet Union

2. Overview of the battle.o Troops and assets involvedo Timelineo Strategyo External Factors

3. Results and analysis of the political situation after the battle. What would have happened if there had been a different outcome?

The Battle of StalingradPolitical situation before the battle

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GERMANY

Hitler decided to remove one of only two possible threats left to Germany (the US and the Soviet Union)

During WWII, by 1941-1942, Hitler controlled Scandinavia, Central, West and most of Eastern Europe (Belorussia, Ukraine and Moldova)

Germany had a strong political belief of socialism introduced by the Nazis

Hitler despised communism and the Soviet Union’s leader Stalin

The Battle of StalingradPolitical situation before the battle

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THE SOVIET UNION

In May 1942 Soviet offensives in the Kerch Peninsula and at Kharkiv was defeated by the Germans

Led by Stalin and had a strong political belief of communism

In 1939-1940, the Soviet Union forcibly annexed eastern Finland , Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, Hertza, eastern Poland.

On 22 June 1941, Germany, supported by Italy and Romania, invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa

The Battle of Stalingrad Overview of the battle

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WHO - Germany (and allies) and the Soviet Union in Stalingrad.

WHEN - Between 23rd August 1942 and 2nd Feb 1943.

WHY - Hitler chose to attack Stalingrad because:- a major industrial city.- a vital transport route (oil).

WHAT - The Battle of Stalingrad was considered the turning point in WWII in Europe and one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

WHERE - Stalingrad, Soviet Union.

The Battle of StalingradTroops and assets involved

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Initial

270,000 personnel3,000 artillery pieces500 tanks600 aircrafts

At the time of the Soviet Union counter-offensive:

187,000 personnel2,200 artillery pieces400 tanks300 aircrafts

GERMANY THE SOVIET UNION

1,040,000 personnel 10,250 artillery pieces500 tanks732 aircrafts

1,143,000 personnel13,451 artillery pieces894 tanks1,115 aircrafts

The Battle of StalingradTimeline

23rd August 1942 - Operation Blue began.

19th Nov 1942 - Operation Uranus: Counter offensive by the Soviet Union.

12th Dec to 23rd Dec 1942 - Operation Winter Storm: Germany to break the Soviet Union encirclement.

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2nd Feb 1943 – The 6th Army surrender.

The Battle of Stalingrad Strategy

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OPERATION BLUE Conducted by 2 sub groups :Group A:

- 17th Army and 1st Panzer Army.- towards the Caucasus.

Group B:- 6th Army and 4th Panzer Army.- towards the Volga River and

Stalingrad.Supported by the Luftwaffe bombing.Group B succeeded in pushing the Soviet Union (6th Army) back to the west bank of the Volga River.Both sub groups were not positioned to support each other.

The Battle of Stalingrad Strategy....Continued...

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OPERATION URANUS : The Soviet Union Counter-offensive.1st Guard Army, 21st Army and 5th Tank Army.Targeting Romanian and Hungarian forces (flank protection).6th Army was cut off and surrounded.

OPERATION WINTER STORM4th Panzer Army unsuccessfully attempted to break the Soviet Union encirclement.

6th ARMY SURRENDERHad exhausted their ammunition and food.Early Feb 1943 - The remaining elements of the 6th Army surrendered.

The Battle of Stalingrad External Factors

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Japan had succeeded in a Pacific campaign.Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States since the bombardment of Pearl Harbour by Japan.Demands on natural resources increased to support forces.

Had support by the United States and the United Kingdom.

GERMANY

THE SOVIET UNION

The Battle of StalingradResults

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More than 11400 casualties each day

THE SOVIET Victory:

More than 1,830,000 killed or wounded

The biggest defeat in the history of the German Army

The turning point not only on the Eastern Front, but also the turning point of the whole of WWII

The Battle of StalingradPolitical situation after the battle

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Germany lost their old reputation as being invincible

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After Stalingrad Germany did not won any decisive battles

It caused bewilderment and confusion in the Axis countries

It activated crisis the pro-fascist regimes in Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia

Neutral countries with Germany began to dominate the elements of restraint and exclusion

Soviet Union and allies began offensive operations

The Battle of StalingradSupposition

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What would have happened if there had been a different outcome?

Demoralized the Soviet Union Red Army and people

Cut off fuel to Stalin’s war machines

The Soviet Union and other countries would have been invaded by Germany

Germany would have become a “Super (World) Power”

German & Axis Forces would have won WWII

The Battle of Stalingrad

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Questions?

The Battle of Stalingrad

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Thank you for attention!