The Battle. This month, three quarters of a century ago, the most famous battle of the Second World War began. More than four million combatants fought in the gargantuan struggle at Stalingrad between the Nazi and Soviet armies. This Battle was one of the bloodiest battles in history, with nearly 2 million deaths of troops and civilians. More than four million combatants fought in the gargantuan struggle at Stalingrad between the Nazi and Soviet armies. When the Stalingrad pocket began to form (19 November), Army headquarters was located at Golubinskaya on the Don River. The capitulation of the Sixth Army in the Stalingrad pocket on 31 January was the first major German surrender Select one of the criteria for historical significance that best applies to the battle selected and explain how it applies. The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War 2 in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943. It was among the largest on the Eastern Front and was marked by its brutality... During World War II, Germany worked to attack the Soviet Union as a pre-emptive strike to crush their Army and gain valuable resources. The most famous battle of World War II began a few days over three quarters of a century ago. Almost half – over 1.8 million people – became casualties. After his release by the Soviets in 1953, h… In November of that year, three Soviet armies counter-attacked from outside the city. Stalingrad was a major prize and strategic city in the plan to break the Soviets in the south and the Battle of Stalingrad began in August 1942 with a... See full answer below. During the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviet army had many advantages. How did the battle of Stalingrad start? Moreover, the Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point in World War II because it turned the tide of war in favor of the Allies. This tactic would turn the vast expanse of the Russian steppe against the Germans, and put huge strain on their supply lines. 26th November 1942: Armed with light machine guns, Soviet troops attack the German forces in the vicinity of the Red October plant in Stalingrad. Map of Stalingrad 3. The Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide in the war between Germany and the Soviet Union. January 31, 1943 German Troops Surrender at Stalingrad German Forces in Stalingrad The starving German troops at Stalingrad surrendered, after being surrounded since November. Over 90,000 German troops died of starvation or exposure, while close to 100,000 died in battle during the final month. General Zhukov, who had played such an important role in the victory, later led the Soviet drive on Berlin. It is thought to be the bloodiest battle of both World War Two and warfare in general. Over 1.8 million became casualties. It started as a brutal series of air raids from the Luftwaffe. Live. After months of fighting and finally nearly starving to death, the Germans surrendered on February 2, 1943. The Battle of Stalingrad was a battle of World War II between Nazi Germany and its allies and the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia.