At the beginning of 1942, Hitler’s German army had control over most of Europe and were deep inside Soviet territory. However, by the end of 1942, the war had begun to turn in favour of the Allies. Three major victories by the Allies marked the turning point.
1. Stalingrad
Perhaps the most heroic of all the decisive battles of World War II took place in Stalingrad. With the arrival of better weather in the USSR, the German army began to push into Soviet territory again. Leningrad in the north was still being besieged and Moscow was also still under attack. Stalin’s decision to remain in Moscow throughout the war seemed to inspire the army to repel the German attacks on the city. The Germans had much more success in the south and pushed through to Stalingrad. Under General Friedrich Paulus, the Germans were able to conquer large areas of land. By August 1942 they were at the gates of Stalingrad. The speed of their advance meant that Hitler needed to use his Hungarian, Italian and Romanian troops to protect the newly won land. The German troops now tried to take the city. Stalin had ordered his troops to take ‘not a step back’ and it became a street-to-street battle. The German tanks were not suitable for the close quarter fighting that took place in Stalingrad. By the end of October, the German troops were exhausted and running low on ammunition and supplies.
Black Sea
Fig 14.10 American President Franklin D. Roosevelt
German 6th Army
Russian pincer movement, November 1942
Stalingrad
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Caspian Sea
German advance July1942
Russian armies
German armies Extent of German occupation
Fig 14.11 Map of the Battle of Stalingrad: The Soviet counter-attack in November 1942 cut General Paulus’ Sixth Army off. Within three days the Russians surrounded the Germans, trapping them in the city.