The Battle at Stalingrad

The Battle at Stalingrad was a turning point in World War II in the western front of the European theater. The unexpected success of the Soviet Red Army gave uplift to the Allied Forces. On April 5, 1942, Hitler ordered an offence at Stalingrad, Russia. If the Germans were successful at capturing the city, then the Russians would be cut off from oil supply. Thus, allowing the Germans to further conquer Europe and into Asia. A brilliant plan called Operation Uranus was devised. The Red Army led by General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, secretly mobilized one million troops, 1,350 aircraft, 14,000 heavy guns, and 979 tanks to attack German flanks that were protected by weak Axis powers. The Russians were able to surround the Germans and eventually lead to the victory for the Red Army. The Battle at Stalingrad was arguable the bloodiest battle in human history. The combined casualties of the battle totaled more than 1.5 million people. The confidence that came from the Battle at Stalingrad helped lead to a massive Allied counter attack in Europe. Hitler was unable to cut off Russian oil supplies, and lost the propaganda that would have came from taking "Stalin"grad; after the Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin. The Battle of Stalingrad was a defiant victory by the Red Army.