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Q: Why might Stalingrad have been so important to the Germans and Russians?
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Why did the Germans sink US ships even when they knew it might draw the US into the war?

Because they were mad and to them a blame.


Can US navy be defeated in a modern war?

Currently, there is NO such competition from any other nation. The Soviets (Russians) might be close competitors, but they mostly have subs.


Why might Germany face battles on both its eastern andd western borders?

Lets say when the Germans are helping 1 then 2 the 1 can turn over and start fight them, and then the Germans will have the numbers 2 to help them to win the fight!!


What were the consequences of D-day?

The Western Allies were able to reach Berlin at about the same time that the Soviets (Russians) did. Had the landing not been successful, the Russians (Soviets) may have taken the German Capital all by themselves. In which case, there might never have been a EAST and WEST Germany during the cold war.


When did the largest tank battle happened during ww2 and what was the battle about?

The Largest tank battle of orld war 2 was the Battle of Kursk with a total of 8,000 tanks involved The Battle of Kursk took place in July 1943. Kursk was to be the biggest tank battle of World War Two and the battle resulted in a severe crisis for Nazi Germany's war machine in Russia. Operation Barbarossa had shown the power of armoured warfare when Hitler unleashed Blitzkrieg on the Red Army. Together with aerial support, the Wehrmacht's tanks had torn swathes through the masses of the Russia Army. The Russian (Red) Army had little in reserve and the Germans nearly made it to Moscow before the infamous Russian winter set in at the end of 1941. However, after the defeat at Stalingrad, the German army on the Eastern Front had been in retreat. If this retreat west continued, it would prove to Germany's enemies that the nation's military power had been fatally wounded at Stalingrad. A continued retreat would also encourage the work of the Russian partisans massed in the west of their country - waiting to strike on a retreating army. Therefore, for the morale of the German Army, the German High Command had to organise a massive offensive against Russia - if only to prove that the German Armed Forces based in Russia were still mighty and a force to be reckoned with. A successful German offensive had obvious military consequences for the Germans. However, they also hoped to force through a political one. It was known that the Russians were becoming increasingly tired at the seeming unwillingness of Britain and America to open up a second front in the west. A defeat of Russia in the east might result in the collapse of any form of relationship between the Russians and the Allies in the west. This could only be to the advantage of the Germans. By the summer of 1943, the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe were increasingly well armed. The German industrial sector headed by Albert Speer, was expanding at a massive rate despite the bombing of Germany by the Allies. In 1942, Germany produced 5,700 medium and heavy tanks. In 1943, this had increased to 11,900. The production of planes had doubled between the two years; ammunition production had increased three-fold by 1943. By the summer of 1943, the Wehrmacht was also being equipped with new weaponry. The Tiger, King Tiger and Panther tanks were introduced as was the new Ferdinand self-propelled gun. The Luftwaffe received the Focke-Wolfe 190A fighter and the Henschel 129. The new equipment was matched by an increase in manpower. As there was no second front in the west - and the Germans predicted that there would not be in 1943 - men based in the west were moved to the Russian Front. By the summer of 1943, two-thirds of the German Army was based in Russia. By the summer of 1943, the Russians had steadily advanced east. However, a bulge had occurred south of Orel and north of Kharkov. At the centre of this bulge was Kursk. It was here, and to eradicate this bulge in preparation for a push east, that the Germans centred their attack in what was called 'Operation Citadel'. If this bulge was not taken out, then there was every chance that the Russians would use the troops they had stationed there to launch an attack on the Germans at Orel and Kharkov - but attacking behind them, thus trapping the Germans between two Russian forces. For the attack on Kursk, Germany had grouped 900,000 soldiers in the region, 10,000 artillery guns, 2,700 tanks and 2,000 aircraft. About 1/3rd of all Germany's military strength was concentrated in the area. Elite Luftwaffe units were ordered there. Hitler ordered that "there must be no failure". Reconnaissance planes photographed all the defensive systems that the Russians had built. However, Russia's military leaders had not been sitting idly by. Their intelligence had alerted them to a massive German offensive; they knew where it would be, the numbers involved and near enough when it would start. They decided on a defensive strategy to allow the Germans to wear themselves out. The defence of Kursk was put into the hands of two generals - Rokossovsky and Vatutin. In preparation for a massive counter-offensive (and also to be used if the Germans were initially successful) a huge force of reserves was based in the rear led by Koniev. In charge of all these men was Marshall Zhukov. The Russians had also placed vast numbers of men and equipment in the Kursk bulge. 1.3 million soldiers were based there, 20,000 artillery pieces, 3,600 tanks and 2,400 planes. The Russians had guessed where the Germans would try to use their tanks in depth - and placed a large number of their anti-tank artillery guns there. Trenches and other anti-tank traps were dug. The depth of defences included the laying of 400,000 mines, which equated to 2,400 anti-tank and 2,700 anti-personnel mines every mile - more than at the Battle of Moscow and the Battle of Stalingrad. By June 1943, 300,000 civilians were helping the Russians build defences around the Kursk salient. They repaired 1,800 miles of road and dug thousands of miles of trenches. German prisoners captured by Russian shock troops before the battle actually started, told the Russians that the attack was to be on July 5th. To pre-empt the attack, the Russians launched a massive artillery bombardment at 02.00 on July 5th. This had an impact on the morale of the Germans as it was clear that their plan had been compromised. After the bombardment had finished, it took nearly two hours for the Germans to reorganise themselves. Germany started her attack at 04.30 with an artillery barrage. A tank and infantry attack started at 05.30 once air cover had arrived. The main thrust contained 500 tanks; heavy tanks at the front, supported by medium ones behind with infantry behind these. The Germans tried to break through on four occasions. They gained 6 miles of land in the first 24 hours of fighting but at a cost. 25,000 men had been killed or wounded, 200 tanks and self-propelled guns had been lost and 200 aircraft. A similar pattern occurred over the next few days. Ferocious German attacks were met with ferocious Russian defence. By July 10th, the German IX Army had lost 2/3rds of its tanks. Even the mighty Tiger tanks were falling victim to the Russians anti-tank guns. Russian tank commanders also quickly learned that if they attacked a Tiger side-on, its armour was thinner and more vulnerable. The greatest tank battle of World War Two place on July 12th. In total, 1,500 tanks were involved at Prokhorovka, some 50 miles to the south-east of Kursk. By nightfall, the Germans had not achieved the desired breakthrough. They had lost another 350 tanks and 10,000 men. The strength of the Germans in the south of the Kursk salient had been broken and the Russians launched a major counter-offensive. By July 23rd, the Germans had been pushed back to where they had stated their attack. The initiative now lay with the Russians who had a forward momentum to their advantage. The Germans were literally on the back foot. On July 12th, the Russians launched another counter-offensive in the north of the salient in an effort to relieve Orel. They outnumbered the Germans two to one in all areas. Unable to call in reinforcements from their men fighting in the south, the Germans were unable to hold off the Russian offensive. By July 19th, the Russians had pushed forward 45 miles. The Russian Air Force ensured that the Luftwaffe was incapable of giving the army the support it needed. Faced with the collapse of its forces in Orel, General Model asked Hitler's permission to withdraw to the Hagen Line. Model warned Hitler that the Wehrmacht faced another Stalingrad if the withdrawal was not allowed. The German Army in and around Orel pulled back 60 miles in an effort to regroup. However, by the time the withdrawal had occurred, German troops were exhausted after constant harassment from the air by the Russian Air Force. By August 5th 1943, Orel was back in the hands of the Russians. The German retreat was severely hindered by partisans who destroyed many miles of rail line which ensured that train engines piled up at rail heads, making them an easy target for the Russian Air Force. A similar situation occurred in the southern sector of the salient. Here the German Army was facing a formidable enemy that had the advantage of being on the offensive. In this sector, the Germans had 300,000 men and about 600 tanks. The Russians had nearly 1 million men in the region, including reserves, and many more tanks. Their counter-offensive in this sector started on August 3rd and two days later Russian forces entered Belgorod. The partisans who operated in this area derailed more than 1,000 train loads of troops in August - a major factor to explain why the Germans could not move their men around with ease. Morale among the German troops who fought in this sector plummeted. On August 13th, the Russians had broken through the outer defences of the city of Kharkov and by August 23rd, the city was liberated. The retaking of the city of Kharkov is seen as the end of the Battle of Kursk. The Battle of Kursk was to have major consequences for the Germans. It was the last major offensive they launched in Russia. Now, their forces only faced retreat and attempting to stop the onslaught of the Red Army. The material damage done to the German Army was massive - 500,000 men were killed, wounded or missing; 1,000 tanks were destroyed and 840 aircraft were destoryed.

Related questions

What battle led most directly to Germany's final collapse in WW2?

The battle of moscow Both el Alamein & Stalingrad might be seen as turning points in WW2. The battle of the Bulge was the last throw of the dice for the Germans in the west. In the east the Russian advance is steady & determined. Finally the Allies cross the Rhine at Remagen & in Operation Varsity & eventually meet the Russians on the Elbe river.


What battle led to most directly to germanys final collapse?

The battle of moscow Both el Alamein & Stalingrad might be seen as turning points in WW2. The battle of the Bulge was the last throw of the dice for the Germans in the west. In the east the Russian advance is steady & determined. Finally the Allies cross the Rhine at Remagen & in Operation Varsity & eventually meet the Russians on the Elbe river.


Site where soviet army launched massive counter attack that stalled the German army?

Probably Kursk, in the summer of 1943. The Soviets had complete intelligence of German attack plans, and prepared defenses in depth, up to fifty miles in depth actually. After absorbing the German attack the Russians went over to the counter-offensive, and never stopped rolling until they reached Berlin. The Germans never again had the strength to mount another massive offensive, or regain the initiative. But your question would also describe Moscow, in December, 1941. The Germans had reached the outskirts of Moscow, could hear the clock bells downtown. After learning from spies that the Japanese had no plans to attack in the east while the Germans savaged them in the west, the Soviets moved hundreds of thousands of troops from the east and counterattacked, and the Germans were never again anywhere near Moscow. Losing Moscow might have been the end for the Russians. If you're asking for school your teacher might be wanting Stalingrad, but that was more an epic defense by the Soviets, not a true counter-offensive.


Who was an important Sniper during the Battle of Stalingrad?

The best known sniper at the battle of Stalingrad was Vasily Grigorevich Zaytsev, he killed 225 Axis troops during the battle of Stalingrad, and many before and after Stalingrad. He was blinded by a mortar round during the battle of Stalingrad, but was able to have his sight restored. Zaytsev was given the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" and was eventually promoted to the rank of captain. You might also find this list at http://www.wio.ru/galgrnd/sniper/sniper.htm interesting to look at. It does not specify whether these snipers were at the battle of Stalingrad, but I would lay money on a guess that most of them were at some point.


What if US had not entered war with Germans in World War 2?

Its hard to say. The Russians and the British might still have beaten the Germans, but it would have been much more difficult and bloody, and taken much longer. As it was the Germans left the US no choice, since Germany declared war on the US on December 11, 1941, three days after the US declared war on Japan.


Was Britain in the Battle of Stalingrad?

While there might have been support coming to Russia at the time of the battle of Stalingrad, the battle was fought entirely by Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, in short, no.


Were the Germans in America hated during World War 2?

Probably most Germans were hated. But them USA Germans might not have!


What kind of tree do Russians use for Christmas?

Russians used the classic Christmas trees. They Might have differant Decotations and such... But it is still a plain Christmas tree.


Which battle was the most important El Alamein Stalingrad Battle of Britain Battle of the Atlantic or D-Day?

Choosing the most important World War II battle out of the group of El Alamein, Stalingrad, the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, and D-Day is not easy. The Battle of Britain is arguably the most important, however, because without Great Britain's success in it, none of the other battles would have taken place; moreover, Germany's might would have grown terrifyingly, as a result.


What was the most decisive battle of World War 1?

There were many battles in WWII that might merit the status of the most decisive. Being a decisive battle means that if the outcome of the battle was different, the chances would be in favor that the outcome of the war would be different as well. As said, many battles have been called the most decisive, such as Battle of Midway, Battle of the Atlantic, Battle of the Bulge, Normandy/Operation Overlord, Kursk, and El Alemain. While all these battles were important, The Battle of Stalingrad was by far the most decisive of World War II. Stalingrad was were the Russians turned the tables on the Germans and started to push them back. It was the bloodiest battle in history, and more men were killed here than the rest of the Allies casualties put together. Think about it, if Germany had defeated the Soviets at Stalingrad Russia would have suffered a catastrophic defeat and would have lost millions more lives as well as the war in the east. With Russia out of the way, those millions of German soldiers could have made their way to the West and so D-Day could not have happened - too many Germans. All in all, with this battle the Russians pushed the Germans to the wall and defeated them. In Russia was the real war, the war where over 80% of the German casualties were. It was Russia that defeated Germany, D-Day just hastened the inevitable.


Why might life have been difficult for Germans who lived in the lost territories from the Versailles treaty?

Because the Germans that lived had to move.


What are three main cause of war world 2?

1) the peace treaty concluded after WW 1 which was so unfavorable for the Germans that many correctly predicted that it would only lead to the next war. 2) the invasion and occupation by the Germans of Poland. Britain and France had promised Poland that they would guarantee its independence and fight for it. 3) The Russian/German treaty called the Ribbentrop Pact, that ensured the Germans that they could safely invade Poland and Western Europe without fear that the Russians might attack them in the back.