L11: the Battle of Stalingrad (Jul 1942 - Feb 1943)

Question 1

why Hitler focused on Stalingrad

Answer 1

• Stalingrad = industrial centre of Russia (produce weapons etc)
• rich in raw materials (oil, gas, crops)
• Volga river runs through it = imp for shipping oil etc

Question 2

nature of fighting during battle of Stalingrad

Answer 2

• urban warfare
• different from Blitzkrieg
• brutal trench warfare

Question 3

operation uranus

Answer 3

• nov 1942 -> Soviet troops encircling 300k Gr
• Hitler refuses to surrender + order all to continue fight instead order an airlift to resupply 6th Army
• Soviets -> waited for harsher winter + attack trapped Gr whose airlift was failing
• 2 Feb 1943: 6th Army surrenders = 1st major defeat in WW2

Question 4

consequences of the USSR victory

Answer 4

• first major defeat in WW2 for Gr
• despite suffering 1.1mil casualties, the victory increased Soviet confidence + morale as as showed Gr army = x invincible
• Nazi= x win in WW2 -> USSR begin to push Gr back culminating in invasion of Berlin in 1945