Google Earth Community: The battle of Stalingrad

The battle of Stalingrad

Picture : http://www2.arnes.si/~sarih1/Poglavje.html

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After the narrow failure of Hitler's invasion of Russia in 1941 the German Army no longer had
the strength and resources for a renewed offensive of that year's scale, but Hitler was unwilling
to stay on the defensive and consolidate his gains. So he searched for an offensive solution that
with limited means might promise more than a limited result. No longer having the strength to
attack along the whole front, he concentrated on. the southern part, with the aim of capturing the
Caucasus oil which each side needed if it was to maintain its full mobility. If he could gain that
oil, he might subsequently turn north onto the rear of the thus immobilised Russian armies
covering Moscow, or even strike at Russia's new war-industries that had been established
in the Urals. The 1942 offensive was, however, a greater gamble than thatof the previous
year because, if it were to be checked, the long flank of this southerly drive would be exposed
to a counterstroke anywhere along its thousand-mile stretch.

Source : http://users.pandora.be/stalingrad/allerlei/introduction.html

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Volgograd today..
Here the places of interesting, Memorials, Buildings and locations where the fight took place.

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A site about Volgofrad

Volgograd / Stalingrad : http://www.stalingradtours.com/index.htm

Stalingrad at war : http://www.stalingrad-info.com/photosfromvolgogradarchives.htm

The battle for/in Stalingrad : http://katardat.org/marxuniv/2002-SUWW2/Images/images10-Stalingrad.html

More battle : http://katardat.org/marxuniv/2002-SUWW2/Images/images03.html

Stalingrad | 1942-1943 : http://www.katardat.org/marxuniv/2002-SUWW2/Images/images05-stalingrad.html

Stalingrad | 1942-1943 : http://www.katardat.org/marxuniv/2002-SUWW2/Images/images06-stalingrad.html

Stalingrad at war : http://www.stalingrad-info.com/bunimovich.htm

Map of Stalingrad : http://www.privates-antiquariat.de/stalingrad-karte-stalingrad.jpg

THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR IN PHOTOS : http://www.vor.ru/55/Photo_Exhibition/Pic_eng.html

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The battle of Stalingrad phase on

Picture : stalingrad.com.ru

The idea of a counter-stroke to cut off Paulus's Sixth German Army in Stalingrad was born as early as 12 September in Stalin's office. While Stalin himself remained convinced that the ultimate German objective was an advance up the Volga to Moscow, the fact was that Paulus was out on a limb with his flanks guarded by lesser-quality Roumanian formations, and the idea grew in attraction, especially since it would nip a German offensive northwards in the bud. Reserves were not available to carry out the counter-stroke at an early date, and Soviet attention was diverted by abortive attacks to relieve Leningrad. These began on 19 August and came to an end at the close of September. While they had not achieved their aim, they did forestall a major German assault on the city, one of Hitler's main plans for 1942, and kept German troops tied down who could have been better employed elsewhere. There was also the continued German pressure in the Caucasus and above all, at least in Stalin's eyes, on Stalingrad. The first priority was to prevent that city ailing into German hands. Nevertheless, Zhukov and Vasilievsky commenced planning. During the next month, Chuikov in Stalingrad desperately fought oft fierce German attacks. As he did so, the plan for Operation 'Uranus' began to take shape. It would consist of a deep double envelopment.

Source : http://www.stalingrad.com.ru/history/atlas/phase_one.htm

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The end battle of Stalingrad

Picture : stalingrad.com.ru

The final destruction of the German pocket at Stalingrad was to involve seven armies commanded by Rokossovsky’s Don Front. Three of these were transferred from Yeremenko’s Stalingrad Front, which on 1 January 1943 was renamed the South Front. This was to continue the attacks against von Manstein.

Source : http://www.stalingrad.com.ru/history/atlas/phase_one.htm

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