They had killed so many Germans that Hitler's overall plan to conquer the Soviet Union, started with Operation Barbarossa, was seriously weakened. There were more Russian deaths than German, but it was a victory for the Russians. 1.6 million people dead or wounded in battle were reported. The battle lasted five months, one week, and three days. Rather than freeze, they surrendered, knowing the Soviets were usually cruel to their prisoners. By February 1943, the German forces in Stalingrad had no ammunition and food. The German air force tried to supply them by air. On 19 November 1942, the Red Army launched an attack which surrounded the Stalingrad area. They both ordered that anyone who retreated would be shot on the spot for treason. Hitler and Stalin sent in large numbers of soldiers. However, the rubble made hiding places from which Russian snipers could attack the Germans.

With bombs and fire the German Luftwaffe turned the city into ruins. By the end of July the German army had reached Stalingrad. In June 1942, Adolf Hitler launched an attack in southern Russia. Hitler also wanted to capture Stalingrad because it was named after Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, thus it would embarrass him. It was an important industrial city, and the Volga was an important transport route. Stalingrad, now Volgograd, was a city on the Volga River. It is reported that, due to limited supplies, soldiers and civilians had to resort to eating rats, mice, and even cannibalism. The Battle of Stalingrad has often been recorded as an example of how brutal a war can be. Hitler even blamed his defeat partly on Stalingrad.

It was one of the most important battles of the war because it marked the end of Germany's advances. The battle was fought between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943. They were fighting for control of the city of Stalingrad. The Battle of Stalingrad was fought during the Second World War between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

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