Fortress on the Volga River
Volgograd is located on the lower reaches of the Volga River, a large river in south-western Russia that flows into the Caspian Sea. It is a long, narrow city that developed along the approximately 3 to 9 km wide and 80 km long Volga River valley. Until 1925 the city was known as Tsaritsyn, at which point it was renamed Stalingrad until 1961.
Built as a fortress on the Volga River in 1589, by the latter half of the 19th century Volgograd had developed into an industrial centre utilizing a river port and water transportation. Following the Russian Revolution, Volgograd became a leading commercial and cultural centre in Russia.
During the Second World War, between July 1942 and February 1943, the "Battle of Stalingrad" destroyed 85% of the buildings in the city, turning much of the city to rubble. Although the city's pre-war population numbered 1.5 million, by the end of the battle it was only 32,000, meaning only 1 out of 50 people of the original population remained.
Volgograd was quickly rebuilt following the end of the war, becoming one of Russia's leading cities possessing central industries such as steel, machinery and timber processing. In addition, with cultural facilities such as art museums and theatres and possessing such things as theatre groups, symphony orchestras and circuses, Volgograd is also very culturally active.
On April 5, 1942, Hitler ordered Army Group A and B to sweep east to Stalingrad, south to Astrakan, Grozny, and to the Caspian Sea. On July 1942 250,000 troops from Germany, Hungry, and Italy poured into the outskirts of Stalingrad. On August 19, Friedrich Paulus commander of the German 6th army mounted the first assault on Stalingrad, with the support of the 4th Panzer army. The attack proved disastrous for the Red Army. By August 23, German forces had reached the Volga River north of Stalingrad. Stalin ordered Marshall Zhukov to command Soviet forces at the Southern front.
Throughout the months of September and October, bitter fighting raged in Stalingrad. The 62nd Army, commanded by General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov was holding on by a thin thread. The Germans had taken 80% of the city and were pushing the Red Army to the Volga River. During this time, Marshall Zhukov and General Vasilevsky devised plan Uranus, the encirclement of 6th army. On November 19, Soviet forces from the South-western Front and Don Front attacked Romanian, Italian , and Hungarian positions. The front collapsed as fast moving soviet troops began encircling German Army Group B from the North and South. Within four days, the two Soviet armies met 60 miles west of Stalingrad. The German 6th and 4th Panzer armies were completely surrounded, a total of 330,000 men.
In the months of December and January, the German 6th Army fought a desperate battle against Soviet forces. Hitler ordered to fight to the bitter end. Finally, Field Marshall Paulus had no choice but to surrender what was left of the 6th Army. The Casualties in the battle of Stalingrad were catastrophic for both sides. The Germans lost 147,000 men and 91,000 were taken prisoner. The Red Army paid a huge price for victory, some half million men were killed in the battle. The battle of Stalingrad showed to the world that the German war machine was vulnerable. It gave overwhelming confidence and strength to the Red Army.
Throughout the months of September and October, bitter fighting raged in Stalingrad. The 62nd Army, commanded by General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov was holding on by a thin thread. The Germans had taken 80% of the city and were pushing the Red Army to the Volga River. During this time, Marshall Zhukov and General Vasilevsky devised plan Uranus, the encirclement of 6th army. On November 19, Soviet forces from the South-western Front and Don Front attacked Romanian, Italian , and Hungarian positions. The front collapsed as fast moving soviet troops began encircling German Army Group B from the North and South. Within four days, the two Soviet armies met 60 miles west of Stalingrad. The German 6th and 4th Panzer armies were completely surrounded, a total of 330,000 men.
In the months of December and January, the German 6th Army fought a desperate battle against Soviet forces. Hitler ordered to fight to the bitter end. Finally, Field Marshall Paulus had no choice but to surrender what was left of the 6th Army. The Casualties in the battle of Stalingrad were catastrophic for both sides. The Germans lost 147,000 men and 91,000 were taken prisoner. The Red Army paid a huge price for victory, some half million men were killed in the battle. The battle of Stalingrad showed to the world that the German war machine was vulnerable. It gave overwhelming confidence and strength to the Red Army.