The Battle That Changed the Course of WWII: 80th Anniversary of the Soviet Victory at Stalingrad

In 1942, a large force of Nazi troops, including the 6th Army led by General Friedrich Paulus, marched upon the Soviet city of Stalingrad.

Photo: Sergeant Pavel Goldberg, commander of a submachine gun platoon of the Red Army's 95th Rifle Division participates in the Battle of Stalingrad.

The German offensive was part of the Nazis' plan to cut off communication between the USSR's central regions and the Caucasus, which would have allowed the Nazis to try and seize the oil fields located in the Caucasus region.

Photo: Refugees flee from the ruined Stalingrad.

The Nazis' plans, however, ended up being shattered by the resilience and tenacity of the Soviet troops.

Photo: The view of the burning city of Stalingrad from the Volga River.

Soviet soldiers in Stalingrad offered a fierce resistance to the advancing German troops, fighting for every street and every apartment block.

Photo: Red Army communications specialists at work during the Battle of Stalingrad.

During the course of the battle, Stalingrad was heavily bombed by the Nazis, with thousands of people being killed and countless buildings being destroyed by the German air raids.

Photo: View of the Railway Station Square at Stalingrad during a German air raid.

As the fighting continued, Soviet reinforcements moved across the Volga River to aid the city defenders.

Photo: Troop barge moves across the Volga River near Stalingrad.

The Soviet soldiers were eager to engage the Nazi troops at close distance so that the latter could not use artillery and air strikes without the risk of hitting their own troops.

Photo: Red Army soldiers share a meal during a lull in the fighting at Stalingrad.

Not all residents of Stalingrad managed to evacuate before the battle started and many of them perished amid the fighting.

Photo: Orphaned children at the city of Stalingrad.

While the Nazi advance into the city became bogged down, the Soviet command looked for a way to turn the tables on the enemy.

Photo: Wreckage of a German reconnaissance plane downed during the Battle of Stalingrad.

In November 1942, the Red Army launched a counteroffensive that allowed the Soviets to trap the Nazi German 6th Army in Stalingrad.

Photo: Red Army sappers plant explosives during the Battle of Stalingrad.

The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history, with tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides being killed.

Photo: A mass grave containing the remains of Soviet soldiers.

All attempts by the rest of the Nazi war machine to break the Soviet blockade and relieve the 6th Army were thwarted by the Red Army.

Photo: Fighting at a thin strip of land along the bank of the Volga River.

Seeing no other option, the Nazi troops encircled by the Soviets in Stalingrad surrendered.

Photo: Soviet flag being displayed at the liberated city of Stalingrad.

Thousands of Nazi soldiers, including their commander Friedrich Paulus who was recently promoted by Hitler to the rank of field marshal, were taken prisoner by the Soviets.

Photo: Nazi German POWs near the city of Stalingrad.

Although much of the city was reduced to rubble, Stalingrad's defenders were able to repel the Nazi onslaught and in doing so, change the course of World War II.

Photo: Soviet women help clear the rubble at the ruined houses of the liberated city of Stalingrad.