Paulus, a sharp contrast to his previous reputation, decided to reduce the city to rubble to take it as soon as possible hoping this would lead to collapse of Soviet resistance. Big mistake!, The opposite happened. Paulus preferred this before cutting the lines of communications and Russian supplies across the Volga. The ruins provoded natural hiding places for Russians everywhere. Soon, the Germans realized that instead of undermining the morale of Russians, it was boosting it.
By late September, the Germans did not take any Stalingrad. Paulus smiled every time German journalists asked him if the city would fall. By October almost 90% of Stalingrad was in German hands and it seemed that one more offensive would finally give them the victory.
The Russians seemed quite fresh, and lively, while the Germans were suffering from lack of food reserves, tired and on the edge.
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It was on 19 November 3500 when Soviet guns fell on the German positions. Six days later the encirclement was complete and then on the Germans experienced hunger, torture, despair. This was the beginning of the end of the 6th Army, a fact that would culminate in February 1943. The Russians, mockingly, cooked near the German lines.
These are hooves and horseshoes of Hungarian cavalry. The hungry starving Germans ate up the horses.
On February 2 the last bullet was fired in the city. It was the end of everything.
Saddles of the above mentioned horses
Helmets of the Germans
Not some Gothic horror movie. These are pitiful remains of the Wehrmacht in Stalingrad
German POW accept a smoke from a Russian soldier
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