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CLASS SET: DO NOT WRITE ON
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The Battle of Stalingrad
Background to the Battle of Stalingrad:
By mid-1942, the German invasion of the USSR had already cost Russia over six million soldiers, half killed and
half captured by the Germans. Furthermore, a large part of its territory and resources were under German control. With
the help of an arctic winter, the exhausted Germans stopped just before Moscow. But, in the summer of 1942, when
Russia was still very weak from its tremendous losses, the German military was again ready to demonstrate its fighting
force.
In April 1942, Hitler issued "war directive 41", a plan to attack Stalingrad so that it could no longer be an
industrial center. While the German army had success the first day, it was Hitler’s desire to occupy the entire city that
cost him the battle. Later, he refused to retreat despite huge casualties.
The German attack in South Russia began on June 28, 1942, a year after the invasion of Russia began. The
Germans advanced rapidly in a Blitzkrieg. Despite their effort, the Russian armies could not stop the advancing Germans
before the city.
1. From your previous readings: Why does Hitler break the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?
Document 1: William L.
Shirer, The Rise and Fall of
the Third Reich (1959)
All through the summer,
bitter street fighting
continued in Stalingrad itself.
The Germans made some
progress, from building to
building, but with staggering
losses. The rubble of a great
city, as everyone who has
experienced modern warfare
knows, gives many
opportunities for stubborn
and prolonged defense and
the Russians made the most
of them. Though General
Halder warned Hitler that the
troops in Stalingrad were
becoming exhausted, the
Supreme Commander (Hitler)
insisted that they push on.
Fresh divisions were thrown in and were soon ground to pieces in the inferno (a fiery hell).
To Hitler [Stalingrad’s] capture was now a question of personal prestige (it reflected on his personal reputation). When
General Zeitzler got up enough nerve to suggest to the Fuehrer that the Sixth Army should be withdrawn from
Stalingrad, Hitler flew into a fury. "Where the German soldier sets foot, there he remains!" he stormed.
2. Why is it taking so long to capture the city of Stalingrad?
Document 2: Jochen Hellbeck, The Stalingrad Protocols (2008)
On July 28, 1942, in a desperate attempt to stop the collapse (of Russia), Stalin issued Order 227:
“Every grain of Soviet soil must be stubbornly defended to the last drop of blood."
The severe situation in Stalingrad was presented to Russian General Chuikov. When asked to restate his mission to
Stalin, his answer was:
"We will defend the city or die".
3. What does Stalin expect of his Russian soldiers? What does he expect of the citizens of Stalingrad?
Document 4: In the winter of 1942, German General Blumentritt was asked to visit the Eastern Front. His report
suggesting a step back from Stalingrad was rejected by Adolf Hitler.
I spent ten days in that sector and after returning made a written report that it would not be safe to hold such a long
defensive flank (hold the position near Stalingrad) during the winter. The railheads (train tracks) were as much as 200
kilometers behind the front, and the bare nature of the countryside meant that there was little timber (wood) available
for constructing defenses. There were no proper trenches or fixed positions.
…. To see the Fuhrer discussing plans with Halder was an illuminating experience. The Fuhrer used to move his hands in
big sweeps over the map - 'Push here, push there'. It was all vague and regardless of practical difficulties. There was no
doubt he would have liked to remove the whole German General Staff, if he could. He felt that they were half-hearted
about his ideas.
Finally, General Halder made it clear that he refused to take the responsibility of continuing the advance (attack) with
winter approaching. He was dismissed at the end of September, and Hitler replaced with General Zeitzler.
4. What did Hitler and General Halder argue about?
5. How do Hitler’s orders affect his soldiers?
Document 5: George Orwell, BBC radio broadcast (October 3, 1942)
"Hitler's latest speech was broadcast on September 30th, 1942. Although it mostly consisted of wild boasting and
threats, it made a surprising contrast with the speeches of a year ago. Gone were the promises of an early victory, and
gone also the claims, made more than a year ago, to have annihilated the Russian armies. Instead, all the emphasis was
on Germany's ability to withstand a long war.
Here for example are some of Hitler's earlier broadcast statements:
On the 3rd September 1941: "Russia is already broken and will never rise again."
On the 3rd October 1941: "The Russians have lost at least 8 to 10 million men. No army can recover from such
losses." He also boasted at the same time of the imminent fall of Moscow.
That was a year ago. And now, on 30th September, the final boast upon which Hitler ended his speech was: "Germany
will never capitulate (surrender)."
It seems strange to look back and remember how short a while ago the Germans were declaring, not that they would
never capitulate, but that they would make everyone else capitulate. "
6. Why did Hitler have to change the message he was giving to his people between 1941 and 1942?
7. What does this reveal about the situation his soldiers are in?
Document 6: Wilhelm Hoffmann, 267th Infantry Regiment, diary entry in Stalingrad on December 26, 1942.
The horses have already been eaten. I would eat a cat; they say its meat is tasty. The soldiers look like corpses or
lunatics. They no longer take cover from Russian shells; they haven't the strength to walk, run away and hide.
Document 7: Friedrich Paulus, radio message to Adolf Hitler (24th January 1943)
Troops without ammunition or food. Effective command no longer possible. 18,000 wounded without any supplies or
dressings or drugs. Further defense senseless. Collapse inevitable. Army requests immediate permission to surrender in
order to save lives of remaining troops.
Document 8: Vasily Chuikov, Russian General
Approaching Stalingrad, Russian soldiers used to say: "We are entering hell." And after spending one or two days here,
they say: "No, this isn't hell, this is ten times worse than hell."
Document 9 Jochen Hellbeck, The
Stalingrad Protocols (2008)
After German troops marched into the
city, Agrafena Posdnjakova, mother of
six children, was forced out of her
house. Posdnjakova and her family held
out in a ditch:
"On (September) 27, there was heavy
artillery fire. My husband and my little
girl were killed, and we were trapped."
She later described the struggle for
food: "Then, when the Germans were
surrounded, they themselves
(Germans) ate horse meat. They left us the legs, the head and the offal (internal organs). Towards the end there wasn't
even that anymore. They kept everything for themselves and left us just the hooves and the offal."
8. What kinds of hardships are both Germans and Russians facing in this battle?
Document 10: Adolf Hitler, radio message to General Friedrich Paulus (24th January 1943)
Surrender is forbidden. Sixth Army will hold their positions to the last man and the last round and by their heroic
endurance will make an unforgettable contribution toward the establishment of a defensive front and the salvation of
the Western world.
9. What does Hitler want his leader, General Paulus, to do?
10. Why is this such a bad idea for both Germans and Russian soldiers?
Document 11: Official German radio broadcast on 3rd February 1943.
The battle of Stalingrad has ended. True to their oath to fight to the last breath, the Sixth Army under the exemplary
leadership of Field-Marshal Paulus has been overcome by the superiority of the enemy and by the unfavorable
circumstances confronting our forces.
11. How is the characterization of the Russians in this message different than the other messages the Germans have
made public?
12. Why was a change made in how the Germans talk about the Russians?
Conclusion:
On February 2, 1943, the last German resistance ended. Hitler was furious, accusing his generals of the tremendous
losses, instead of accusing himself.
Deaths by country in the Battle of
Stalingrad
13. Who lost the most people in this battle?
In Stalingrad, in addition to its heavy losses, the German
army also lost its formidable image of being invincible. In
fact, with the loss of Stalingrad, the German army began to
lose battles all across the Eastern Front and in North Africa.
Russian soldiers everywhere now knew that they were
victorious, and this raised their spirits which remained high
until the end of the war, which was still 2 1/2 years away.
Statistics:
Germans Killed
Russians Killed
Major German territorial
losses in 1942
Major German territorial
losses in 1943
9
37
14. Why was this battle a turning point in the war?
Battle of Stalingrad DBQ
Name:
Per:
The BIG Question will be graded as a Critical Thinking Assignment.
1. From your previous readings: Why does Hitler break the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?
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2. Why is it taking so long to capture the city of Stalingrad?
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3. What does Stalin expect of his Russian soldiers? What does he expect of the citizens of Stalingrad?
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4. What did Hitler and General Halder argue about?
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5. How do Hitler’s orders affect his soldiers?
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6. Why did Hitler have to change the message he was giving to his people between 1941 and 1942?
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7. What does this reveal about the situation his soldiers are in?
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8. What kinds of hardships are both Germans and Russians facing in this battle?
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9. What does Hitler want his leader, General Paulus, to do?
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10. Why is this such a bad idea for both Germans and Russian soldiers?
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11. How is the characterization of the Russians in this message different than the other messages the Germans have
made public?
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12. Why was a change made in how the Germans talk about the Russians?
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13. Who lost the most people in this battle?
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14. Why was this battle a turning point in the war?
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Big Question: How were civilians and soldiers affected by the new urban warfare of WWII?
Please Print or type and double space your answer to this question. It must be less than one page.
Paragraph Requirements: C level Paragraph
 Level 2 Thesis answering the prompt question with a claim.
 Gives one reason to answer prompt.
 Evidence from at least 1 primary sources to support claim.
 Explanation to say HOW evidence proves your claim- Make clear with facts and details and answer How or Why.
 Typed or neatly printed
Paragraph Requirements: A level Paragraph
 All the C level work
 Correct grammar and spelling
 Organized and clear, without repetition
 Avoids filler, “you/I” and unneeded extras
 Gives more than one reason to answer Prompt.
 Refers to 3 or more primary sources as part of evidence
 Uses appropriate transitions and cause and effect language
 Includes a concluding sentence.
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DBQ Answer Key:
B level Answers:
Fighting was from house to house.
Bombed urban centers gave an advantage to the soldiers holding the city
Everyone was starving, soldiers and civilians
Resources (including food, weapons, medicine and clothing) were severely limited
Civilians were in constant danger
Children were targets
Many, many people died on both sides, but the Russians lost more people (both civilian and soldiers)
A level Answers:
Hitler only had one strategy, the Blitzkrieg and when it didn’t work, he had no other options
People (soldiers and civilians) were expendable to both leaders
Morale played a huge role in who won battles. While the Germans had it, they were almost unstoppable. When they
lost it, their whole war machine crumbled. Because the Russians had it, they were able to withstand enormous losses
and keep fighting.