  Photo Link:> http://blacksnob.com/snob_blog/tag/bill-oreilly |
After the initial German invasion of Russia in June 1941 Germany had penetrated deep into Russia very quickly. On the way they captured many industrial centers and Ukraine grain fields. By winter they were close to Moscow. In the Summer of 1942 German forces moved toward Stalingrad to get to the oil fields south of the city. The Russians defended the city, refusing to surrender. Stalin ordered that the city must not fall. German soldiers moved through and killed civilians as well as soldiers. Soviets eventually surrounded the German soldiers in the city. German forces were ill prepared for the winter with little supplies and forbidden to surrender by Hitler. Germany eventually surrendered in January 1943. After Stalingrad, Germany had an estimated 200,000 casualties. The battle of Stalingrad is sometimes considered one of the most brutal battles in World War II. Individual streets were fought over with hand-to-hand combat. Areas captured by Germany were retaken daily. The Battle of Stalingrad is considered by many to be the turning point of the war in Europe. A strange thought to why Hitler ordered the attack on Stalingrad when his armies were advancing then told to move to Stalingrad, leaving another major city in their rear. Some say Hitler's hatred for Stalin gave him a desire to conquer a city with Stalin's name. Stalin ordered "Not one step back," in the defense of the city. Cited from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd_Wt4N1Sss |
