Top 10 Facts About the Battle of Stalingrad (August 23rd 1942-February 2nd 1943)

[Balu]

Top 10 Facts About the Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad has been something has long fascinated me, the Soviets at the close of WW2 went on to become the antagonist in the Cold War, thus the Soviet contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany is often overlooked here in the West, however without the sacrifices made by mostly untrained and poorly armed men, women and in some cases children, it is almost certain we would be living in a very different world today. The battle began on August 23rd 1942 and ended with Germans surrendering on February 2nd 1943. What would eventually bring about the downfall of Hitler began here, carnage, brutality and loss of life unlike any the world had ever seen would mark the bloodiest battle of the most destructive war in history. I’ve tried provide a mixture of well known and slightly more obscure facts to make this list interesting for both those who haven’t heard much about the topic and those who know a bit more about it. Now I present to you the Top 10 Facts About The Battle of Stalingrad. ...

Sword of Stalingrad

In honor of the defenders of Stalingrad, King George VI of the United Kingdom commissioned a ceremonial longsword to be presented to the Soviet Union. Thirty six inches long, with a hand grip bound in 18 carat carat gold wire and a pommel of rock crystal, the blade was inscribed in Russian and English with the words:
“TO THE STEEL-HEARTED CITIZENS OF STALINGRAD. THE GIFT OF KING GEORGE VI. IN TOKEN OF THE HOMAGE OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE”
Believe it or not the sword was created by Wilkinson Sword, yes, the same company who make the razors (Our American readers might know them by the name Schick). The sword was presented by Winston Churchill to Joseph Stalin at the Tehran Conference in 1943 and resides today at the Stalingrad Museum in Volgograd.

Full text - http://listverse.com/2012/09/17/top-10-facts-about-the-battle-of-stalingrad/

For those who are sure that they know what the war is a Battle of Stalingrad Full Documentary below. For the rest it will be interesting too, though this is not a 'Saving Private Ryan'


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcM4o2yfXo

[gabosaurus]

Stalingrad was a primary example of Stalin's disdain and cruelty toward his own people. Knowing of the German advance, Stalin removed virtually all the food, supplies and rail cars from the city, then ordered the people to defend the city. Every resident had the choice to either bear arms or be executed.
The city of Stalingrad was saved not as much by the citizens of the city as the brutal Russian winter. General Zhukov decided to dig in until November, then conduct a counter offensive. The German forces did not expect for the campaign to extend that long and were ill prepared for winter fighting.
When the Russians launched their offensive, they managed to cut off the Axis forces, who had not be reinforced or resupplied. Hitler refused to withdraw and left his forces totally unprepared.
Sorry Balu, but the truth of the battle of Stalingrad is not as daring and romantic as the Russian legends. :cool:

[Balu]

Stalingrad was a primary example of Stalin's disdain and cruelty toward his own people. Knowing of the German advance, Stalin removed virtually all the food, supplies and rail cars from the city, then ordered the people to defend the city. Every resident had the choice to either bear arms or be executed.
The city of Stalingrad was saved not as much by the citizens of the city as the brutal Russian winter. General Zhukov decided to dig in until November, then conduct a counter offensive. The German forces did not expect for the campaign to extend that long and were ill prepared for winter fighting.
When the Russians launched their offensive, they managed to cut off the Axis forces, who had not be reinforced or resupplied. Hitler refused to withdraw and left his forces totally unprepared.
Sorry Balu, but the truth of the battle of Stalingrad is not as daring and romantic as the Russian legends. :cool:
I understand that you are an expert who can open our eyes and King George VI of the United Kingdom with his sword was a hereditary, genetic cretin who was blinded and misled by Communist propaganda. :laugh:

[gabosaurus]

King George was a diplomat. Kings do those sort of things. Churchill didn't trust the Russians anymore than the Americans did.

[Kathianne]

King George was a diplomat. Kings do those sort of things. Churchill didn't trust the Russians anymore than the Americans did.

Actually Churchill trusted Stalin, not Russians, more than FDR. Some similarities between Trump and FDR are eerie.

[Black Diamond]

Still amazing Stalin trusted Hitler over his own intelligence apparatus.

[Balu]

King George was a diplomat. Kings do those sort of things. Churchill didn't trust the Russians anymore than the Americans did.
OK. You convinced me that Russians fought in soft Mediterranean weather while poor Nazis for whom the economy of all EU countries ver.1 worked suffered from Russian frosts. Bravo! You are a real American expert. :clap:

[Elessar]

Stalin had purged 8 of his 11 field generals prior to this point.

Stalin created this Nazi incursion. He left the west of Russia vulnerable.

[Balu]

Stalin had purged 8 of his 11 field generals prior to this point.

Stalin created this Nazi incursion. He left the west of Russia vulnerable.

Have you ever served and do you know that the structure of the Army expects the equal replacement of any gone commander? And it appeared to be a proper step to replace some generals with their experience and ambitions from the times of Civil War in Russia if trust Dr. Goebbels' diaries d.d. March-April 1945.

[Balu]

Volgograd marks Battle of Stalingrad date

Society & Culture (http://tass.com/society)
February 02, 4:35 UTC+3 VOLGOGRAD
All in all, according to the city administration, about 100 different events timed to the date will be held in the city

https://phototass4.cdnvideo.ru/width/744_b12f2926/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20170202/1160295.jpg
Motherland Calls statue on top of the Mamayev Kurgan commemorating the WWII Battle of Stalingrad

© Dmitry Rogulin/TASS

VOLGOGRAD, February 2. /TASS/. The Volga River city of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) marks on Thursday 74 four years since the victory of Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad, the press service of the regional administration reports.
Mamayev Kurgan, a dominant height overlooking the city, and the state panoramic museum Battle of Stalingrad will be traditionally the main sites to attract thousands of local residents and guests.
Gallery 13 photo


https://phototass4.cdnvideo.ru/width/333_3412a45b/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20150202/1081185.jpg (http://tass.com/russia/774828)

© Fotokhronika TASS/Georgy Zelma Victory in the battle of Stalingrad (http://tass.com/russia/774828)

They will climb 200 stairs, the number of days that the battle against German troops continued, to lay flowers to the Eternal Flame.
A concert will be held at the railway station building, where war-time songs will be sung and poems recited.
All in all, according to the city administration, about 100 different events timed to the date will be held in the city - meetings with veterans, tours to battle sites, exhibitions, concerts and a race. A minute of silence will be observed at noon at all schools of Volgograd.
A total of 212 veterans of the Battle of Stalingrad still live in the city. The battle (August 23, 1942 - February 2, 1943) was the bloodiest in the history of humankind, with more than two million people killed on both sides.
Read also
https://phototass3.cdnvideo.ru/width/746_f4e82b2e/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20150508/1092836.jpg (http://tass.com/russia/793495)

70th anniversary of Victory Day: how Russian cities changed since the Great Patriotic War (http://tass.com/russia/793495)

More:
http://tass.com/society/928567