The terrain immediately surrounding the city of Stalingrad is a treeless, flat bleak steppe, which is hot and dusty in the summer and bitterly cold during the winter. By some fate, during 1942 this area covering some 60,000 square miles became the local point for one of the most decisive battles of World War Two between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, involving some one million or more men. 2.000 tanks. 25.000 artillery pieces, and 2.300 aircraft.
For both the Germans and the Russians, the name of the city alone implied a personal contest between Hitler and Stalin. Hitler had made Stalingrad the goal of his grand summer offensive and would not claim success until he had captured it. Stalin felt that holding Stalingrad would give the Soviet command its last chance to demonstrate to the world that Germany was not an irrepressible foe. despite its siring of victories. For both dictators, the battle at Stalingrad would decide the outcome of the war. Although the Red Army had suffered high casualties. Stalin called on every soldier and citizen alike to continue what he called the "patriotic war" and defend every brick and stone of the city until the invader had been vanquished.
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For both the Germans and the Russians, the name of the city alone implied a personal contest between Hitler and Stalin. Hitler had made Stalingrad the goal of his grand summer offensive and would not claim success until he had captured it. Stalin felt that holding Stalingrad would give the Soviet command its last chance to demonstrate to the world that Germany was not an irrepressible foe. despite its siring of victories. For both dictators, the battle at Stalingrad would decide the outcome of the war. Although the Red Army had suffered high casualties. Stalin called on every soldier and citizen alike to continue what he called the "patriotic war" and defend every brick and stone of the city until the invader had been vanquished.
Download (rapidshare.com)
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