Stalingrad: The Hinge of History. How Hitler's Lubris Led to the Defeat of the Sixth Army

On 2 February 1943, the surrender of Field Marshall Friedrich Paulus to the Russians at Stalingrad was the turning point of World War II. After that, the Germans never advanced further east and, after the Battle of Kursk, were driven all the way back to Berlin. The origin of the Battle of Stalingrad started with Hitler's decision to invade Russia -Operation Barbarossa-even though there was no threat to the European territory he had conquered. Turned back at Moscow, Hitler decided to send a large force south to the Caucasus oilfields-Case Blue-with the Sixth Army commanded by Paulus. Then followed the most terrible battle in the history of war. Deprived of their blitzkrieg tactics, the Germans were forced to fight in the ruined city where the Russians were better adapted to the conditions. The fighting was terrible and the casualties horrendous. Although the Germans took 90% of the city, they were caught unaware by Operation Uranus, which trapped their forces in a kessel (cauldron). Hitler's insistence prevented Paulus from retreating, attempts to supply the army by plane failed to prevent them from starving and Manstein's attempt to break through was turned back. When the starved, frozen force was surrendered, the Russians took 91 000 prisoners, the largest defeat in German military history. The Battle of Stalingrad need not have occurred, and the war could have turned out differently. It was Hitler's hubris that made him determined to take the city named after his opponent. His constant interference and irrational decisions made defeat inevitable. Stalin, driven by paranoia, was hardly different. Like Hitler, he refused to let forces make tactical retreats and issued the terrible order: 'Not one a step back!'. However, Stalin eventually listened to his generals, which ensured the eventual success of the Russian army. The meaning and significance of the Battle of Stalingrad are assessed.