The battle of Stalingrad, presentation

1. The Battle of Stalingrad
GROUP 5
Vadym ShevchenkoAdi Mustapha Emir Katica

2. The Battle of Stalingrad
Agenda
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1. Analysis of the political situation before the battle.
o Germany
o The Soviet Union
2. Overview of the battle.
o Troops and assets involved
o Timeline
o Strategy
o External Factors
3. Results and analysis of the political situation after the
battle. What would have happened if there had been a
different outcome?

3. The Battle of Stalingrad
Political 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

4. The Battle of Stalingrad
Political situation before the battle
4
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

5. 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.

6. The Battle of Stalingrad
Troops and assets involved
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Initial
270,000 personnel
3,000 artillery pieces
500 tanks
600 aircrafts
At the time of the Soviet Union counter-offensive:
187,000 personnel
2,200 artillery pieces
400 tanks
300 aircrafts
GERMANY THE SOVIET UNION
1,040,000 personnel
10,250 artillery pieces
500 tanks
732 aircrafts
1,143,000 personnel
13,451 artillery pieces
894 tanks
1,115aircrafts

7. The Battle of Stalingrad
Timeline
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.

8. 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.

9. 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 STORM
4th Panzer Army unsuccessfully attempted to
break the Soviet Union encirclement.
6th ARMY SURRENDER
Had exhausted their ammunition and food.
Early Feb 1943 - The remaining elements of the
6th Army surrendered.

10. 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

11. The Battle of Stalingrad
Results
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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

12. The Battle of Stalingrad
Political situation after the battle
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Germany lost their old reputation as being invincible
.
.
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

13. The Battle of Stalingrad
Supposition
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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

14. The Battle of Stalingrad
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Questions?

15. The Battle of Stalingrad
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Thank you for attention!