The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II in its significance and nature:
* It marks the beginning of the uninterrupted retreat of the German army in Eastern Europe until the final defeat in 1945 with the conquest of Berlin by the Red Army.
* It is considered the bloodiest battle in history.
* It is remembered for the intensity of its urban fighting.
If the defeat of the Wehrmacht before Moscow in 1941 is the geopolitical turning point of the Second World War, the Soviet victory at Stalingrad is undeniably its psychological turning point. The Battle of Stalingrad was marked by brutality and a lack of consideration for civilian casualties. Unlike the “classic” siege, it consisted mainly of urban fighting in this southern Russian city (now called Volgograd) led by the Germans and their allies. The battle includes the German siege of the Soviet city, the battle inside the city, and the Soviet counteroffensive. The total number of deaths is estimated between 1 and 2 million people (between 4500 and 9000 deaths per day!).
The capitulation of German troops on February 2, 1943 to Soviet forces is considered the beginning of the end of the Axis forces, which lost a quarter of their armies and the initiative on the eastern front; "hope changed sides, the fight of soul".
This battle was, however, scathingly described by the columnist Delfeil de Ton:
“A million Germans, 90% of whom were not Nazis, killed each other with a million Russians, 90% of whom were not Communists. Some retort that the Soviets fought against an occupier, which is sufficient motivation. »