Why did the Russians try at all costs to win the Battle of Stalingrad?

Question

I know it was a massive battle and the Russians had triumphed over the Germans but how they won and why they risked everything to win?

Answer 1

Russia didn't risk everything. They didn't have anymore choises left. If they lost Stalingrad they would have lost the war.

Answer 2

It was the lastest battle of attrition in history. The Germans were a far better Military organization with far superior leadership. Russia had greater numbers and shorter resupply routes and didn't mind wasting soldiers to attrit the German forces.

To truely understand the Battle of Stalingrad you need to study:
Operation Barbarossa first. On June 22, 1941, the German Army poured across the borders of the Soviet Union, initiating nearly 4 years of the most savage and brutal warfare humanity ever experienced. Three Army Groups penetrated Russia on a front extending from the Baltic coast to the Black Sea. One and a half million soldiers of the Wehrmacht obeyed the Fuehrer's directive to destroy the Red Army and the Soviet Union. "The World will hold it's breath!", Adolf Hitler told his Generals. And as the world watched in amazement, the Wehrmacht rolled triumphantly across the Russian steppe, seemingly invincible. Caught by surprise, the bulk of the Russian Air Forces were destroyed on the ground. Under orders not to provoke the Germans, the Russian frontier armies were not given coherent directions to mount a defense of their borders. The Red Army fell back in disorder, surrendered in wholesale numbers, or died in a futile effort to halt the German advance.

the study Operation Blue: During the winter of 1941-42, the Russian front stabilized, with little more than skirmishing among both armies. The extreme cold of the Russian winter effectively immobilized both sides. The Germans struggled with logistical problems, and debate raged at OKW about how to proceed from this point. High ranking officers such as the Luftwaffe's Field Marshal Erhard Milch, argued that Germany needed to consolidate her gains in the East. He pointed out that enormous resources were now available to Germany, but it would take time to use these to their best advantage. The head of the German General Staff, Generaloberst Franz Halder, was of the opinion that the Wehrmacht had been bloodied badly in the opening phase of the campaign, and needed time to recuperate. He felt that under no circumstances should the German army resume the offensive. With over 850,000 casualties, the numbers seemed to bear him out. Other factions at OKW held that a partial withdrawal should be made, taking advantage of natural defensive barriers such as rivers. Let the Soviets beat their brains out trying to retake their own territory.

Even more devastating to the Germans than the Russian Army was the Russian winter, poor supply lines and poor decisions made by Hitler?

It was the turning point on the Eastern Front and probably the war. It was also the bloodiest battle in history.

Great reading, tons of sites. BUT don't just start at Stalingrad. Start at Operation Barbarossa

Answer 3

Well for one, Stalingrad was a city on the River Volga, Cities on rivers are always important, Two it was named after Josef Stalin, so it was probably personal for him, and finally, the Germans Were making a push Toward the Caucasus region, which was rich in the one thing the German army needed, Oil. and Stalingrad was what was stoping them from getting that. which is why the Russians defended it so fiercely

Answer 4

The germans had to be stopped. It was a do-or-die situation for them for if Stalingrad fell, the spirit of the Russian peole would fall as well

Answer 5

They didn't risk everything, they still had reserves but they saw that the germans had over-extended their supply lines and with winter setting in they knew that situation could only get worse.
Also the Volga was a good line of defence which stopped the germans outflanking them.
They knew that a crushing victory here could halt the german advance for good.

Answer 6

Only one reason, and one reason only, it bore the name of Stalin...the Iron Ruler. It was for that reason that Hitler wanted it at all costs, even sacrificing blitzkrieg tactics for urban warfare. Stalingrad was a battle of egos between two dictators. Stalin was no general and had poor strategical or tactical skills. Thanks to Zhukov, Stalingrad was a Russian victory.

Answer 7

1) The city bore Stalin's name. 2) Marshall Zhukov knew he could sap the Nazi's strength and supplies by putting up a stubborn defense, giving the USSR time to build up their man power and supplies for an all out offensive that eventually destroyed the Nazi army under Field Marshal Von Paulus.