The Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) was a crucial turning point in World War II between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Fought in the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), it was marked by brutal close-quarters combat and significant civilian casualties. The Germans aimed to capture the city for its strategic and symbolic importance, but the Red Army encircled and defeated them in February 1943. This victory halted the German advance into the Soviet Union, boosting Allied morale and marking the beginning of a series of Soviet offensives that would eventually lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany.