Transcript Battle of Stalingrad - St Flannan's College History

A major turning point in WWII
Mr D Vaughan – St Flannan’s College Ennis
The Battle of Stalingrad
 In 1942 the Germans advanced towards Stalingrad and






the oil fields of the Causcuses.
The Luftwaffe bombed the city to shreds.
When the Germans entered the Russians emerged
from the rubble to fight them.
Molotov cocktails were thrown at Ger tanks.
Stalin insisted the city must not be lost.
In Nov 1942 the Russians attacked from the sides and
surrounded the Germans.
The trapped German army surrendered on 31 Jan 1943.
Hitler’s order to Von Paulus and
the 6 Army, January 24, 1943
 "Surrender is forbidden. 6 Army will hold their
positions to the last man and the last round and
by their heroic endurance will make an
unforgettable contribution towards the
establishment of a defensive front and the
salvation of the Western world.“
 “My hands are done for, and have been ever since
the beginning of December. The little finger of my
left hand is missing and - what's even worse - the
three middle fingers of my right one are frozen. I
can only hold my mug with my thumb and little
finger. I'm pretty helpless; only when a man has
lost any fingers does he see how much he needs
then for the smallest jobs. The best thing I can do
with the little finger is to shoot with it. My hands
are finished." Anonymous German soldier
Importance of Battle of Stalingrad
 A complete German army group was lost. 100,000 were




taken prisoner.
It proved to be a major turning point in war.
The Nazi advance had been stopped, slowly the
German forces were pushed back to Germany.
The power of the German army was broken.
By early 1945 the Red Army would enter Germany.