Context

The German invasion had already had a significant impact on Russia, over six million of its soldier captured or killed, and a large portion of its vast land and resources seized by the Germans, by the middle of 1942. The cold Arctic winter mitigated the Germans, pushing them back before Moscow. But by the summer of 1942, Russia was still considerably weak, and the German military had recovered and we're back with the same force.

June 1942, the Germans employed Blitzkreig, rapidly advancing and attacking South Russia from land and air. Their allies, Italy, Romania and Hungary followed suit, tasked to secure German lines. The Russian front collapsed, and the Germans moved on towards the Volga.

The background surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad

With the ensuing invasion, on July 28, 1942, Stalin issued "order 227" decreeing that men would fight to the last drop of blood. Secret police units were placed behind the Russian front units to shoot anyone who deserted or retreated, "betrayer of the motherland".

Despite this, the Russian 62nd and 64th armies West of Stalingrad could not stop the impending advance of the German force. August 23, 1942, the German sixth unit reached the Volga, North of Stalingrad seizing control of land by the river. German tanks and artillery sunk crossing ships and ferries. Bombers from the Luftwaffe's 4th air fleet began to heavily bombard the city.

And so, the battle of Stalingrad began.

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"In the Red Army it takes a very brave man to be a coward."

-Georgy Zhukov (General of the Russian army)