📅 #OnThisDay in 1943 - exactly 8️⃣0️⃣ years ago - one of the largest and fiercest battles in history, which radically changed the course of World War II, the Battle of Stalingrad was concluded.

This bitter battle lasted 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ days on the banks of the Don and Volga rivers, at the walls of Stalingrad, and finally in the city itself. Over 2.1 million people were part of the battle on both sides.

The Battle for Stalingrad surpassed all previous battles in world history in its scale and intensity.

It was the Third Reich's firm belief & strategic calculus that in order to defeat the USSR the Axis would need to accomplish the following:

1️⃣ Conquering the Caucasus with its vital oil reserves (some 90% of all Soviet oil was produced there);

2️⃣ Seizing fertile agricultural areas in the Don and Kuban regions, the North Caucasus and the low reaches of the Volga;

3️⃣ Establishing control over the Volga River - an important transport route.

☝️ However, their plans were not destined to come true.

The Battle of Stalingrad includes two periods:

Defensive: from July 17 to November 18, 1942

Offensive: from November 19, 1942 to February 2, 1943.

🎖 The Battle of Stalingrad ended with a historic victory by the Soviet armed forces, marking a radical turn not only in the course of the Great Patriotic War, but also in the entire World War II.

The fascist block lost a quarter of its forces on the Soviet-German front during this battle with the total losses, including the dead and wounded, prisoners of war and those who went missing, totalling around 1.5 million people. This led Germany to announce its first national day of mourning during the war.

❗️ The victory in Stalingrad created conditions enabling Soviet forces to mount a large-scale counteroffensive aimed at expelling the invaders from the Motherland.

Not only did this massive feat increase the international prestige of the USSR & the Red Army, but also helped strengthen the anti-Hitler coalition.

📖 Learn more

#Stalingrad80