DECLARATION

I, ANSHDEEP SINGH, solemnly declare that the report titled "The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning
Point in World War II"is the result of my independent research and work. I further declare that the
information and data presented in this report are accurate, complete, and based on my findings and
analysis.

I take full responsibility for the content of this report and affirm that it does not contain any
fabricated, falsified, or plagiarized information. Any external sources, publications, or individuals
whose work or ideas are referenced in this report have been duly credited and cited in accordance
with the established academic and ethical standards.

I acknowledge that any failure to adhere to these standards may result in the report's invalidity and
potential consequences as defined by the governing rules and regulations
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the following individuals and
organizations for their valuable contributions and support in the completion of this report:

- I am deeply thankful to Jaidev Sir for their guidance and expertise. Their insights have been
instrumental in shaping the content and direction of this report.

-I would like to acknowledge PEC library for providing access to resources that enriched the research
findings
 Table of Contents:

1. Introduction:
1.1 Background and Context
1.2 Objectives of the Report
2. Origins of the Battle:
2.1 The Eastern Front
2.2 Nazi Germany's Offensive
2.3 Stalingrad's Strategic Importance
3. Key Events of the Battle:
3.1 Initial Assault on Stalingrad
3.2 Brutal Urban Warfare
3.3 The Turning Point
4. Strategies and Tactics:
4.1 German Tactics
4.2 Soviet Defense
4.3 The Role of Winter
5. Human Cost:
5.1 Casualties and Suffering
5.2 Civilian Impact
6. Outcome and Significance:
6.1 German Defeat
6.2 Impact on World War II
6.3 Lessons Learned
7. Legacy and Commemoration:
7.1 Memorials and Museums
7.2 Historical Memory
 Executive Summary

The Battle of Stalingrad, a critical conflict during World War II, holds a unique place in history due to
its profound impact on the course of the war. This executive summary provides a concise overview of
the battle's significance.

1. Origin and Importance:

The Battle of Stalingrad emerged from the Eastern Front of World War II, with Nazi Germany
launching an offensive to capture the strategically vital city of Stalingrad. The city's importance lay in
its industrial and symbolic value.

2. Key Events:

The battle was marked by intense urban warfare, characterized by brutal house-to-house combat. A
turning point came during the harsh winter, which favored the defending Soviet forces.

3. Strategies and Tactics:

Both the German and Soviet forces employed unique strategies. The Germans focused on
encirclement and siege tactics, while the Soviets utilized strong defensive positions and urban warfare
expertise.

4. Human Cost:

The Battle of Stalingrad resulted in staggering casualties and immense suffering, not only among
soldiers but also civilians trapped in the city.

5. Outcome and Significance:

Ultimately, the battle ended in a decisive defeat for Nazi Germany, serving as a turning point in the
war. It signaled the beginning of the Soviet advance and the eventual downfall of the Axis powers.

6. Legacy and Commemoration:

Stalingrad's legacy is remembered through memorials, museums, and as a symbol of human resilience
in the face of adversity.
 INTRODUCTION

The Battle of Stalingrad, a name etched into the annals of history, stands as one of the most
significant and momentous battles of World War II. This battle, fought between the Axis
forces led by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, was not just a military confrontation; it
was a crucible of unyielding determination, brutal conflict, and profound consequences. This
brief introduction sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the Battle of Stalingrad,
examining its origins, key events, strategies, human cost, and its lasting impact on the course
of the war and the world. It is a tale of epic proportions, revealing the indomitable spirit of
those who endured the crucible of Stalingrad.
BACKGROUND

1. Historical Context:
1. World War II (1939-1945) was a global conflict pitting the Allied Powers, including the Soviet Union, against
the Axis Powers, including Nazi Germany.

2. The Eastern Front, where the Battle of Stalingrad took place in 1942-1943, was a crucial theater of the war,
characterized by brutal fighting and immense casualties.

2. Cultural and Social Factors:

1. Cultural Diversity: Stalingrad was a melting pot of diverse ethnic and cultural groups. The battle brought
together people from various Soviet republics, emphasizing the multicultural nature of the Soviet Union.

2. Civilian Suffering: The battle led to the severe suffering of Stalingrad's civilian population, enduring
bombardments, hunger, and harsh living conditions. The resilience and sacrifices of the civilian population
became an integral part of the battle's cultural and social fabric.

3.Prevalence of Battle of Stalingrad:

"The Battle of Stalingrad witnessed a staggering prevalence of casualties, with an estimated 2 million people
killed, wounded, or captured during the brutal conflict. The city's landscape was left in ruins, symbolizing the
high human and structural cost of this historic battle."

4.Factors Contributing to the War:

Multiple factors contributed to the outcome and significance of the Battle of Stalingrad. Here are some key
factors:

1. Geographic Importance: Stalingrad's location along the Volga River and its status as a transportation hub
made it strategically crucial for both sides. Control of the city could influence the flow of resources and
reinforcements.

2. Urban Warfare: Stalingrad's urban landscape created a unique battlefield, with close-quarters combat in the
streets and buildings. This favored the defenders and negated some of the advantages of the German Blitzkrieg
tactics.
3. Harsh Winter: The battle extended into the severe Russian winter, which strained the German forces, ill-
equipped for the extreme cold, and played to the advantage of the Soviet defenders.

4. Soviet Resilience: The Soviet army and civilians showed remarkable resilience, defending the city
tenaciously. The determination of the Soviet people played a critical role in the battle's outcome.

5. German Overextension: Nazi Germany's commitment to capturing Stalingrad led to overextension of their
forces, weakening other parts of the Eastern Front and ultimately contributing to their defeat.

6. Supply Issues: Supply lines for both sides were stretched thin, and securing resources, especially during the
harsh winter, became a significant challenge.

7. Allied Support: The Allies' support of the Soviet Union, through the Lend-Lease program and other means,
bolstered Soviet resources and morale during the battle.

8. Leadership and Strategy: The leadership of figures like General Georgy Zhukov and the strategic decisions
made by both sides significantly influenced the course of the battle.

These factors combined to create a complex and pivotal battle that changed the trajectory of World War II.

Regional Variations
The Battle of Stalingrad's impact extended beyond its immediate military significance. It had a profound
regional variation, shaping the post-war dynamics of Eastern Europe. The battle's outcome contributed to the
Soviet Union's expansion and influence in Eastern European countries, ultimately leading to the establishment
of communist governments in many of them. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, it influenced the shifting balance
of power and the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Effects on Communities
1. *Devastation*: The battle left the city of Stalingrad in ruins, displacing and traumatizing the civilian
population. Communities in and around Stalingrad suffered immense physical and emotional trauma.

2. *Loss and Grief*: Families and communities across the Soviet Union and Nazi-occupied territories faced the
loss of loved ones who perished in the battle. Grief and mourning became widespread experiences.

3. *Resilience and Solidarity*: Communities, both military and civilian, displayed remarkable resilience and
solidarity in the face of adversity. The battle forged a sense of unity and determination among those affected.

4. *Post-War Changes*: The battle's impact on communities extended into the post-war period, as survivors
returned to rebuild their lives and communities, often in a vastly altered geopolitical landscape.
5. *Cultural and Social Change*: The battle's effects were deeply ingrained in the cultural and social fabric of
the Soviet Union, with Stalingrad becoming a symbol of valor and sacrifice, celebrated in literature, film, and
commemorations.

Conclusion
The Battle of Stalingrad, a crucible of unyielding determination and profound consequences, remains a pivotal
chapter in the annals of history. This battle's geographic, cultural, and social significance, coupled with the
sacrifices and resilience of the communities involved, forever altered the course of World War II and its
aftermath. Stalingrad stands as a testament to the enduring impact of human endeavor and the enduring lessons
of sacrifice and survival in the face of unparalleled adversity.

Recommendations
*Historical Education*: Encourage educational institutions to continue teaching the history of the Battle of
Stalingrad to ensure that future generations understand the significance of this pivotal event and the lessons it
offers.

*Preservation and Commemoration*: Support the preservation of historical sites in Stalingrad and the
establishment of museums and memorials to honor the memory of those who suffered and perished during the
battle.

*Interdisciplinary Research*: Promote interdisciplinary research that explores the battle's impact on culture,
psychology, and society, shedding light on its enduring influence on the huma n experience.

*Appendix A: Maps and Diagrams*

- Maps of the Stalingrad region, illustrating the battle's geographical context.

- Diagrams depicting the progression of key battles and troop movements.

*Appendix B: Primary Source Documents*
- Excerpts from historical documents, such as letters, diaries, and official reports, offering
firsthand accounts of the battle.
CLA Journal 4 (2016) pp. 199-217 “Stalingrad is Hell”: Soviet Morale and the Battle of Stalingrad Davis Liddil
History Faculty advisor: Dr. Vaughn Scribner September 25, 1942 “Over a month has passed since the fighting
at Stalingrad was first mentioned in the Soviet communique. Yet the Russians go on fighting in this hell filled
with dense clouds of acrid smoke -- bombed, shelled, and machine gunned continuously, but still resisting and
still counter attacking; sometimes single units have to repel ten tanks in a day. The nurses, after picking up the
wounded, take them across the Volga in rowing-boats, for there is no building in Stalingrad large enough or safe
enough to be used as a hospital. The wreckage of boats and ships, with dead soldiers and civilians, is floating
down the Volga.”1 September 26, 1942 “Our regiment is involved in constant heavy fighting…. You don’t see
them at all, they have established themselves in houses and cellars and are firing on all sides, including from our
rear -- barbarians, they use gangster methods...The Russians have stopped surrendering at all. If we take any
prisoners it’s because they are hopelessly wounded, and can’t move themselves. Stalingrad is hell. Those who
are merely wounded are lucky; they 1Yasnaya Polyana, “Diary,” in The Year of Stalingrad A Historical Record
and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies, ed. Alexander Werth (New York: Borzoi Books 1947),
258. Liddil _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016)
200 will doubtless be at home and celebrate victory with their families…”2 On September 25, 1942, Soviet
civilian Yasnaya Polyana described the atmosphere that had been created around the battle of Stalingrad. She did
not just reiterate the conditions of the battle, but made a point to say that the men continued to fight, even in the
hellish conditions that existed during the Battle of Stalingrad. The following day, September 26, 1942, German
soldier William Hoffman described some of the fighting styles that the Soviets used in an attempt to repel and
contain the Germans. He remarked, “You don’t see them (The Soviets) at all, they have established themselves
in houses and cellars and are firing on all sides, including from our rear -- barbarians, they use gangster
methods.” On such a harsh battlefield and with no promise of survival the Soviets kept fighting to the last man,
for the defense of their city. The Russians were willing to do whatever it took to defeat the Germans, even if that
meant certain death. Though Polyana and Hoffman painted a vivid picture of the hellish conditions that both
Soviet and German soldiers endured during the Battle of Stalingrad, these two examples only scratch the surface
of many different sources explaining the experience of fighting in a battle as gruesome as Stalingrad. As the
fight for Stalingrad raged on over the next few months the fighting became ever more gruesome. This paper
investigates how the different armies fought through seemingly impossible odds, arguing that 2 William
Hoffman, “Diary of a German Soldier,” in Marvin Perry, ed., Sources of Western History: Part Three: Western
Civilization in Crisis Ninth Edition (Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2014), 416. Stalingrad is Hell
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 201 morale
gave the armies the strength to continue the fight each and every day. Historians have investigated the Battle of
Stalingrad in a staggering variety of ways, but room remains for an in-depth analysis of the mentality of Soviet
and German soldiers. There are many different books that examine Stalingrad from Enemy at the Gates by
William Craig who begins to talk about the conflict at Stalingrad with some basic understanding, to Stalingrad
the City that Defeated the Third Reich by Jochen Hellbeck, the newest publication on Stalingrad that allocates
for many different viewpoints.3 In The Beginning of the Road, Vasili I. Chuikov, (who served as a general
during the Battle of Stalingrad) expounds upon Stalingrad from the perspective of an officer and his actions on a
day to day basis.4 John Erickson also contributed to the conversation on the Battle of Stalingrad with The Road
to Stalingrad (1975). Erickson studied Stalingrad from a military point of view, analyzing it strictly from a
Soviet perspective and continuing to dive into a detailed description of the Battle of Stalingrad.5 Yet another
addition to the conversation surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad came from Edwin P. Hoyt in 199 Days The
Battle for Stalingrad (1993). Hoyt carefully analyzes the Red Army’s impact on the Battle of Stalingrad and
argues that they had more to do with the outcome of the battle than was previously 3 Jochen Hellbeck,
Stalingrad: the City that Defeated the Third Reich (New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015). 4 Vasili I. Chuikov,
The Beginning of the Road, trans. Harold Silver (Worcester, UK: Ebenezer Baylis and Son LTD, 1963). 5 John
Erickson, The Road to Stalingrad Stalin’s War with Germany (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984). Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 202
thought.6 In 1998 Antony Beevor published Stalingrad The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943. Beevor was able to obtain
both Russian and German documents that had been concealed by their respective governments.7 These books
analyze the Battle of Stalingrad from a militaristic point of view and attempt to understand the greater impact
that the Battle of Stalingrad had on the war. Alexander Werth and Jochen Hellbeck, however, analyze Stalingrad
in a new light in an attempt to explain the mentality of the Soviets during the Battle of Stalingrad. In The Year of
Stalingrad A Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies, Alexander Werth
investigates the mentality of the Soviets during Stalingrad and the impact that it had on the battle rather than
taking a traditional military approach to the battle. Werth uses a variety of primary sources from civilians to
soldiers in the Red Army.8 The most recent addition to the examination of Stalingrad came in 2015 from Jochen
Hellbeck with Stalingrad The City that Defeated the Third Reich. Hellbeck attempts to humanize the defenders
of Stalingrad as he recounts diaries and other statements made by both citizens and soldiers at the Battle of
Stalingrad.9 This paper will investigate the mentality of the Russian and Germans soldiers during the Battle of
Stalingrad to gain a deeper understanding of how morale was central in the ultimate Soviet victory in such a
brutal engagement. 6 Edwin P. Hoyt, 199 Days: The Battle for Stalingrad (New York, NY: Tom Doherty
Associates, 1993). 7 Antony Beevor, Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 (New York, NY: Viking, 1998). 8
Jochen Hellbeck, Stalingrad the City that Defeated the Third Reich (New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015). 9
Alexander Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: A Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and
Policies (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947). Stalingrad is Hell
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 203 The
fight for Stalingrad was a grueling conflict that lasted from August 23, 1942 until February 2, 1943. Both the
Soviet Union and Germany stopped at nothing in order to achieve victory. As a result, the casualties amounted
to around 2.2 million, making it the bloodiest battle that had ever taken place. After the smoke cleared, the
Soviets stood victorious over the Germans. There were many different factors that played into the Soviet
triumph over the Germans, from logistical and environmental, to strategical. With all the death that occurred
during this battle, however, one of the most important factors proved troop morale, which would ultimately
determine the ability of each army to keep on fighting even in the midst of all the bloodshed. The leaders and
soldiers of both the Soviet and German attempted to maintain morale in a variety of ways, including inciting
fear in troops, appealing to soldiers’ humanity, encouraging the soldiers, and lying to the soldiers about the
reality of the situation to keep them fighting. The Battle of Stalingrad is viewed as a significant battle because of
the defeat of the Germans, and it is known as the bloodiest battle that ever took place. What is overlooked about
Stalingrad, however, is the question of how the Soviets were able to stand and fight against the strongest army at
that time. The fact that the Germans were able to continue fighting in the middle of the Russian winter with very
limited supplies, and never having been exposed to the Russian winter is often overlooked. Both the Germans
and the Soviets had to address the morale of their soldiers; but each army chose a different approach. Soon after
the Germans invaded, Joseph Stalin gave a speech on November 7, 1941 in an attempt to rally the people of the
Soviet Liddil _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016)
204 Union against the Germans. The overall goal of this speech was to mobilize the people and the soldiers and
give them hope as they continued pushing back against the Germans. At one point during his speech Stalin said,
“Can there be any doubt that we can, and are bound to, defeat the German invaders?” Here, Stalin expressed his
confidence and belief in the strength of the Red Army and their ability to successfully defeat the invading
German force. Stalin was not only assured in the ability of the Red Army but in Soviet society as a whole. He
showed this certainty again when he exclaimed, “Our country is now many times richer than it was twenty-three
years ago as regards industry, food and raw materials.”10 Stalin’s goal when he gave this speech was to
encourage both the civilians and the soldiers; he attempted to raise the morale and inspire the Soviet Union
despite the dark times that they were facing. Stalin knew that unless the morale of the people of the Soviet
Union remained stagnate, defeat was imminent. The citizens of the Soviet Union responded to Stalin’s charge
and wanted to take up arms against the Germans. They understood that the duty to defend the city of Stalingrad
did not simply fall to the soldiers, but to the civilians as well. Some of the citizens who remained in the city
during the attack were gathered together and placed into worker battalions. These battalions were armed and
sent to the front lines to help the Red Army defend against the German invasion. The worker battalions were
quickly sent to the front lines. As Ivan Fyodorovich Zimenkov, (Chairmen of Stalingrad Regional 10 Joseph
Stalin, “Speech at the Red Army Parade” (speech given on the Red Square, Moscow, November 7, 1941),
accessed February 5, 2016, https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1941/11/07.htm. Stalingrad
is Hell _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 205
Soviet of Workers Deputies) explained in August 1942, “It was during this brutal bombardment that the people
came together, took their weapons, and were immediately sent to the front line. We delivered these workers
battalions to Front HQ.”11 When these workers came to the front lines where they joined the Red Army their
mission was the same: repel the invading Germans and defend their homeland. These worker battalions were
willing to do whatever necessary to protect their home, but were no match for the superior fire power of the
Germans. As a result of the lack of supplies and support, the worker battalions endured great losses. Semyon
Yefimovich Kashintsev commented on the great losses experienced by these men, saying, “The 1st Destruction
Battalion returned from the front at the end of August with only twenty-two men…...Commissar Sazkov,
explained it like this: In those early days it was only our unit and the guys from the Tractor factory bearing the
brunt of the main strike, before the regular units arrived, and the destruction units were poorly equipped. The
only weapons they had were rifles.”12 Commissar Sazkov was not the only one who expressed his distaste for
the lack of equipment that was given to the worker’s battalions, Vladimir Kharitonovich Demchenko, a Major
Commandant during the Battle of Stalingrad also commented, “At that time there was a great shortage of
weapons. We didn’t even have rifles. I went all over the place to get rifles for these 11 Ivan Fyodorovich
Zimenkov, “Interview”, quoted in Jochen Hellbeck, Stalingrad the City that Defeated the Third Reich (New
York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015), 107. 12 Semyon Yefimovich, “Interview”, quoted in Jochen Hellbeck,
Stalingrad the City that Defeated the Third Reich (New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015), 107. Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 206
men...Wherever we came across captured enemy weapons, we used those to arm our detachments.”13 For the
men who were among these battalions the equipment was better than nothing, while at the same time it was
gathered from the enemy; this action both helped and hindered the creation of morale throughout the Red Army.
Though these new weapons helped Soviet morale because they were using weapons that were taken from the
Germans, it also obstructed morale because their own government was unable to arm them. In an attempt to
keep the morale of the people high during the invasion The Soviet Union ensured that the Russian Ballet
continued operating. In 1941, New York Times journalist Ralph Parker was stationed in Moscow. He noted,
“When the German Panzers were thundering past Mozhaisk and the Wehrmacht [German Army] and the Red
Army were locked in momentous battle about thirty miles distant the ballet like the annual chess tournament
went on.” For the citizens being able to go to the Russian Ballet during the midst of an intense battle was
another attempt to help increase the morale of the soldiers and the citizens themselves. The ballet was very
important to the people of The Soviet Union. In Parker’s words, “The ballet is near to the spirit of men and
writers of ballet naturally look for themes in works of famous and beloved writers or in tales all can
understand.” The ballet was more than just a way for the ordinary citizen to be entertained for an hour or so; it
was a way for them to escape the reality in which they were living. If for any reason the ballet was unable to be
performed, it was seen as a “direct loss to the 13 Vladimir Kharitonovich Demchenko, “Interview”, quoted in
Jochen Hellbeck Stalingrad the City that Defeated the Third Reich (New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015), 107.
Stalingrad is Hell _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4
(2016) 207 State.” A significant part of maintaining the homoeostasis of Soviet life was to keep the ballet going,
no matter what.14 The Soviet government did everything they could to ensure that their soldiers were
committed and willing to give up everything to drive the Germans back. A Soviet soldier had to understand that
his duty was to his country, his hometown, and his family. In the Soviet newspaper Pravda, Lidin addressed this
mindset further in his article, “They know at home how you are fighting” saying, “Whether your home is near or
far it doesn’t matter. At home they will always learn how you are fighting. If you don’t write yourself, your
comrades will write, or your political instructor (politruk). If the letter does not reach them, they will learn about
you from the newspaper. Your mother will read the communique, will shake her head and say: ‘My dear boy you
should do better than this.’ You are quite wrong if you imagine that the one thing they want at home is to see you
come home alive. What they want you to do is drive out the German. They do not want any more shame and
terror. If you die while stopping the German from advancing any farther, they will honour your memory for
ever. Your heroic death will brighten and warm the lives of your children and grandchildren. If you let the
German pass, your own mother will curse you.” The soldiers on the front lines were fearful of a meaningless
death, so they would have made sure that they fought to earn a heroic death to be honored by their children and
grandchildren. The mindset of the Soviet soldier was further twisted with the thought that, “If you let 14 Ralph
Parker, “Despite All, Russia’s Ballet Goes On: War has not changed an institution that deeply marks Russian
life. State schools constantly train new artists for the Ballet.” New York Times, January 24, 1943. Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 208 the
German pass, your own mother will curse you.” The thought that if the Soviet soldier could not keep the
Germans from taking Stalingrad, that their own mother would cure them would cause the soldiers to ensure that
not a single German made it through. In a sense, this was a scare tactic as much as it was an attempt to raise the
morale of the soldiers, with the hope that each soldier could be considered a hero gave them courage and as a
result, raised the morale of the Red Army.15 While The Soviet Union had to build morale, German morale was
high from beginning of the invasion and throughout their continued victories. An example of this high morale
can be seen in a diary entry from a German soldier named William Hoffman. On September 28, 1942 he wrote,
“Our regiment, and the whole division, are today celebrating victory. Together with our tank crews we have
taken the southern part of the city and reached the Volga. We paid dearly for our victory. In three weeks we have
occupied about five and a half square miles. The commander has congratulated us on our victory...” Hoffman
admitted that the German Army suffered significant losses during their attack but they were still able to
celebrate a victory nonetheless. As a result of the continued victories, the German morale was peaking and that
allowed them to fight harder and longer.16 One of the most effective ways to keep morale high is through
victories on the battlefield. For most of the 15 Lidin, “They Know at Home How You Are Fighting” Pravda
(September 1942): quoted in Alexander Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: A Historical Record and a Study of
Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947), 225. 16 Hoffman, “Diary,”
416. Stalingrad is Hell _____________________________________________________________ CLA
Journal 4 (2016) 209 Battle of Stalingrad, the Germans had a monopoly on that source of army morale. While
the Germans were celebrating the victory that they had achieved, the Soviets viewed the same day a little
differently. On September 28, 1942 a Soviet wrote, “Stalingrad is still holding out, and the impression is gaining
ground that it may well hold. The Germans, it seems, are no longer even trying to capture it at one swoop, but
simply trying to slice it up like a sausage -- and that will take some doing. A lot of people in Moscow think that
if Stalingrad holds for another six weeks, the Germans may have to pull out of the Caucasus.”17 The Soviets
began to believe that they had a chance to hold off the Germans and possibly win the Battle for Stalingrad. With
this mindset circulating, Soviet morale continued to rise as the Red Army did everything possible to hold the
Germans back as the invasion continued. Just a few days later, on the first of October, Hitler made an attempt to
bring the morale of the Soviet people down. October brought a lot of anxiety with it, as both the Soviets and
Germany were looking to the end of the battle and what that would mean for them. In the words of one Soviet
citizen, “October! What will it bring? Hitler yesterday announced that Stalingrad would fall in a few days.”18
Hitler had every intention of taking Stalingrad very quickly at the beginning of the battle, but the Red Army
continued to hold strong and deter the Germans at every turn. 17 Colonel XX, “More about Olga” (September
1942), quoted in Alexander Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947), 265. 18
Colonel XX, “More about Olga,” 267. Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 210 One
German soldier lamented, “Our battalion has gone into the attack four times, and got stopped each time. Russian
snipers hit anyone who shows himself carelessly from behind shelter.”19 Hitler had made it clear that Stalingrad
would fall to the Germans in a few days. In reality the Red Army was beginning to hold the Germans at bay,
deterring them every time the Germans attempted to make an advancement on the Soviet position. October
quickly became the crucial point of the battle, and this was felt all around, “The enemy [Germans] has brought
more reinforcements to Stalingrad, and his pressure is increasing daily. The most decisive stage in the Battle of
Stalingrad has been reached. But our men must hold out till the end; for there is nowhere left to retreat.”20
Whoever won October, ends up winning the Battle for Stalingrad. Both the Soviets and the Germans felt the
importance of winning the Battle of Stalingrad and as a result the intensity of the battle escalated exponentially.
As the fight for Stalingrad raged on the defense of the city was crucial, one Soviet journalist wrote, “Ever day
Rodimtsev’s men take it upon themselves to repel twelve to fifteen enemy attacks of tanks and infantry,
supported by artillery and aircraft…Not only with their brain, but with their heart, do these guardsmen know
that no further retreat is possible.”21 The Soviets had their backs against the wall, and had to hold their ground
at all cost, and that resulted in them repelling twelve to fifteen German 19 Hoffman, “Diary,” 416. 20 “The
Heroes of Stalingrad” Red Star (October 1, 1942): quoted in Alexander Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: A
Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf,
1947), 275. 21 “The Heroes of Stalingrad,” 275. Stalingrad is Hell
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 211 attacks
in one day. With no place to go but forward, the Soviets began pushing against the Germans, gaining some of
the ground back that they had a lost. Hoffman notes, “The Russians are so close to us that our planes cannot
bomb them...”22 The push that the Soviets made disrupted the plans of the Germans, and their use of air force to
provide support for the troops on the ground. As the Soviets began to gain some of the ground they had
previously lost to the Germans, a give and take in morale can be noted. As the Soviets obtained lost ground their
morale increased, while at the same time the German morale decreased as they gave up ground to the Soviets
and at the same time a new idea was introduced to the German mindset, one of defeat and that also played a role
in the receding morale from the German army. As October was coming to an end, there was a distinct shift in the
mentality and morale for the Germans and the Soviets. At the beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad the Germans
were certain that they would take Stalingrad in a few weeks, as a result of the resolve of the Red Army, the plans
of the Germans changed. Hoffman lamented, “We have lost many men; every time you move you have to jump
over bodies. You can scarcely breathe in the daytime: there is nowhere and no one to remove the bodies, so they
are left there to rot. Who would have thought three months ago that instead of the joy of victory we would have
to endure such sacrifice and torture, the end of which is nowhere in sight?...The soldiers are calling Stalingrad
the mass grave of the Wehrmacht [German army].” It is at this point where there is a distinct exchange of morale
from the 22 Hoffman, “Diary,” October 10, 1942, pdf, 416. Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 212
Germans to the Soviets. In the early part of October, the Soviets began to feel as though they were really going
to defend against the Germans. At the end of October, the overall feeling of the German Army was “the end of
which is nowhere in sight? . . .” The once proud, confident Germans were now waiting for the end of the battle
to come quickly so that they might escape their impending defeat.23 It was not long after the beginning of
November that the Soviets began to realize that they were able to defend against the Germans, and they were in
a position to win the battle. This idea came across when the realization that the Germans were having to reallot
their troops in order for continued attack, as a result many of the other positions that the Germans had
transformed from the offensive to the defensive due to lack of reinforcements. L. Gatovsky, a reporter for the
Red Star wrote about the reallocation of German troops. He said, “Their losses are great: dozens of their picked
divisions have perished in the Stalingrad meat-chopper. One notices a difference already: after every series of
big attacks the Germans need a long breathing-space, and since they have no reinforcements from elsewhere,
one sector after another of their front has to go over to the defensive.” With the continued rearrangement of
troops for the Germans and more sections were exchanged for offensive to defensive purposes the Soviets
grasped that the tides had turned in their favor, which resulted in the continued increase of Soviet morale.
Although the Germans were quickly coming to the face of defeat, they were not 23 Hoffman, “Diary”, 416.
Stalingrad is Hell _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4
(2016) 213 ready to surrender, and were willing to do everything to gain victory at Stalingrad, at whatever cost.
Gatovsky added, “The Germans, like desperate gamblers, are throwing in more and more of their troops to get
it, and are ready to pay any price for every single house in Stalingrad.”24 Hitler understood the necessity of
capturing Stalingrad and pulled reinforcements from the surrounding areas in an attempt to be victorious at the
Battle of Stalingrad. At the end of November, the morale scale had been completely tilted in favor of the
Soviets. In response to the German attacks the Soviets went on the counteroffensive in an attempt to be
victorious at Stalingrad. The Soviet counterattack was successful and the Red Army was able to completely
surround the Wehrmacht, which left the German soldiers in utter despair. After the Soviets had surrounded the
Germans, a German defeat was eminent. This was not only known by both the German and Soviet Armies, but it
was also felt, as expressed by Hoffman, “We shall obviously be seeing them [their families] next in the other
world.”25 The morale of the German soldiers had fallen drastically from where it was on the outset of the Battle
of Stalingrad. The final push of the Soviets to counter act what the Germans had acquired left the German Army
feeling defeated and hopeless, as the Soviets were closing in around them. While the German morale was
plummeting, the Soviet morale was beginning to peak. A diary entry from Misha expressed this peaking morale
when he wrote, “The tremendous news came to-night of a great victory at Stalingrad! 24 L. Gatovsky Red Star
(November 3, 1942): quoted in Alexander Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: A Historical Record and a Study of
Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947), 288. 25 Hoffman, “Diary,”
417. Liddil _____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016)
214 All Moscow is excited. For the first time to-night I was able to use a blue pencil to mark on the map the
German retreat!” 26 The Soviet counterattack being successful and forcing the Germans back had an extremely
positive impact on the morale of the troops and the people of Stalingrad. The Battle of Stalingrad was quickly
coming to a close, with the encirclement of the German forces in Stalingrad, which cut them off from all of their
supply lines, the remaining time of Stalingrad was a waiting game to see how long the Germans could hold out.
In the early half of December, the enclosure had its negative effects on the morale of the German soldiers.
Hoffman wrote, “Three questions are obsessing every soldier and officer: When will the Russians stop firing
and let us sleep in peace, if only for one night? How and with what are we going to fill our empty stomachs,
which, apart from 3%-7 ozs of bread, receive virtually nothing at all? And when will Hitler take any decisive
steps to free our armies from encirclement?” The Soviets surrounding the German soldiers in an attempt to win
Stalingrad was an endeavor to break the determination of Hitler to win, and dismantle the will of the German
soldiers to fight, which took place early in December. The Soviets goal was to be victorious at Stalingrad, and
they were willing to do whatever was considered 26 Misha, “Diary”, November 22, 1942): quoted in Alexander
Werth, The Year of Stalingrad: A Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and Policies
(New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947), 329. Stalingrad is Hell
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 215
necessary to achieve that victory. At the expense of starving the German soldiers out.27 As Stalingrad was
coming to an end, the scale of morale had fallen in complete favor of the Soviets. The counteroffensive and a
little over a month and a half of starvation left the German Army desperate, starving, hopeless, and defeated.
The only hope for many of the soldiers was to become a prisoner of war because Hitler had ordered the soldiers
to fight to the death, but many of the soldiers were malnourished and lacked the strength to take cover from
Soviet shells. In Hoffman’s last entry he wrote, “The horses have already been eaten. I would eat a cat; they say
its meat is also tasty. The soldiers look like corpses or lunatics, looking for something to put in their mouths.
They no longer take cover from Russian shells; they haven't the strength to walk, run away and hide. A curse on
this war!” Hoffman cried out about the conditions that they had to experience during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Not only were many of the soldiers already killed in action, but many more were also dying from starvation and
malnutrition. By this time the Wehrmacht was defeated, just not officially. Since Hitler ordered for them to fight
to the last man, it was not until the Red Army captured what was left of the German Army that brought the
official end to the Battle of Stalingrad. The Soviets had left the Wehrmacht in shambles; one of the ways that
took place was through the redaction of morale and at 27 Hoffman, “Diary,” 417. Liddil
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 216 the same
time increasing the Soviet morale so that they might be able to successfully defeat the Germans at the Battle of
Stalingrad.28 On the outset of the Battle of Stalingrad the Wehrmacht expressed overconfidence and arrogance,
with the feeling that they would take Stalingrad in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately for the Germans, that was
not the case. The Red Army mounted heavy resistance and did not fall as easily as anticipated. As the battle
raged on the Germans quickly began losing the confidence they once held while the confidence was transported
to the Soviets. The Germans did not just lose their confidence but also their morale with each defeat suffered at
the hand of the Red Army. These defeats for the Germans continued to feed the morale of the Soviets and give
them the impression that they had a chance to hold out against the strongest army at that time. The increase of
morale that the Soviets experienced in a variety of different ways gave them the strength to defeat the Germans
at the Battle of Stalingrad. References Beevor, Antony. Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943. New York,
NY: Viking, 1998. Chuikov, Vasili I. The Beginning of the Road. Translated by Harold Silver, Worcester, Great
Britain: Ebenezer Baylis and Son LTD, 1963. 28 Hoffman, “Diary,” 417. Stalingrad is Hell
_____________________________________________________________ CLA Journal 4 (2016) 217
Erickson, John. The Road to Stalingrad Stalin’s War with Germany. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984.
Hellbeck, Jochen. Stalingrad the City that Defeated the Third Reich. New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2015.
Hoffman, William. “Diary of a German Soldier.” In Marvin Perry, ed. Sources of Western History: Part Three:
Western Civilization in Crisis Ninth Edition. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2014. Hoyt, Edwin P. 199 Days: The
Battle for Stalingrad. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates, 1993. Stalin, Joseph. “Speech at the Red Army
Parade” (speech given on the Red Square, Moscow, November 7, 1941). accessed February 5, 2016,
https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1941 /11/07.htm. New York Times, January 24, 1943.
Werth, Alexander. The Year of Stalingrad: A Historical Record and a Study of Russian Mentality, Methods, and
Policies. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947.

*Appendix C: Statistical Data*

- Tables and charts detailing casualty figures, military assets, and other
relevant statistics.

REFERENCES

1. Beevor, Antony. (1998). "Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege 1942-1943." Viking.

2. Glantz, David M. (1995). "When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler." University
Press of Kansas.

3. Roberts, Geoffrey. (1995). "Victory at Stalingrad: The Battle That Changed History." Longman.

4. Craig, William. (1973). "Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad." Reader's Digest Press.

5. Forczyk, Robert. (2007). "Stalingrad 1942: Turning Point in the East." Osprey Publishing.

6. Zhukov, Georgy K. (1971). "Memoirs." Progress Publishers.