As the Germans advanced into Russia they were able to push back Russian defenses. The Russians began to feel hopeless as if this was a war they were going to lose. Late into the advancement of Stalingrad the Russians began to make strides to push back German forces and win small key victories. The key component of those battles were the Russian generals inspirational leadership, order 227, and the soldiers morale. Michael Jones, the author of Stalingrad: How the Red Army Triumphed places the majoring turning point on October 14th with the Russians forces pushing back the German forces in the battle of the Orlovka Salient. The soldier’s morale and the slogan “ there is no land beyond the Volga” is what he claims was the reason for Russian victory …show more content…
over the Germany. Michael Jones discuses how the Russian army was on the brink of losing the city of Stalingrad to the Germany army and focuses his attention to the date of October 14th. The Germans success in moving directly into Stalingrad undertook the Russian army by storm. This was due to the Germans plan to send group A to Capstan sea for Russia’s resources and group B to Stalingrad. The Russians were not prepared for such a powerful defense from the German army. They had very little firepower, guns, aviation and artillery. The civilian population and some of the Russian solders didn’t think the city would hold against the Germans because of their limited armory and soldiers. Thus leaving their morale and willingness to fight this battle depleted. The traditional focus usually points to a later date in November. However Jones argues that the turning point of the war was the red October month. The Germans began pushing the Russians back to its last line of defense in Stalingrad the Germans thought the Russians were beat and would confidently seize Stalingrad. Hitler gave the order to unleash a full attack on the Orlovka Salient. The German army than pressed forward pushing back the Red army with the goal in mind to reach the Volga River by October 14th. Consequently, the Russians slogan “there is no land beyond the Volga for us” motivated them and boosted their morale. The Russians ability to fight inside the city demonstrated their will of not giving up their city. The Russians also noticed that the Germans were on a schedule and were, “method fighters” resembling their commander Paulus. It is to assert that the Generals leadership, order 227 and morale was the turning point in the battle. General’s Chuikov and Gorokhov as well as other Russian commanders came and restored the defeated morale of the soldiers by having discussions with them, visiting with the troops, eating with them and showing there is no difference between the solider and officer. Also great leadership by Chuikov contributed to this new sense of morale he was believed to be relatable, very open to ideas and innovative, which inspired the troops. Similar to Chuikov, Gorokhov also inspired his troops to protect the north suburb of Stalingrad after the Germans attempted to take it. He also uplifted his troops by his great courage to fight. Order 227 the “ Not a Step Back order “ played a very defining role in the solders decision not to retreat and fight for Stalingrad, after the immense territory gained by the Germans. 227 was an order from Stalin informing the red army that there was no further retreat, and they must stand against the enemy, or they will be shot. According to Jones this was the rally call to the red army they desired something or someone to build their confidence and morale. This was inspiring to the soldiers it gave them a reason to fight because, if they retreated then they are essential giving up their land, freedom and lives. The red army realized that giving up isn’t an option and began to believe that they still had a fighting chance. To fight was to fight for their country, for the love of their country, which appealed to the emotional side of the soldiers. Patriotism also began to create a change in mindset of the red army soldiers. Another factor to look is the morale of the soldiers, which is what allowed them to hold off the German army for the final two strides to seize Stalingrad. The morale of the troops was similar to a flow chart it was depleted as the Germans advanced further into Russia and Stalingrad. The battle at the Orlovka Salient is a great example, the Russians loss a lot of territory, troops were retreating, a loss of casualties, and being outnumbered by troops and tanks. However, the building of morale came from the commanders of the red army and the 227 orders. The troops brought into the notion of never giving up and fighting for your “ Motherland” which spread throughout all of the red army and uniting them which propelled them to victory. Leadership was key they needed a great leader to trust in, inspire them and create a plan that would put up a defense against the German army. Commanders such as: Chuikov, Gorokhov, and Rodimtseu stimulated the morale of soldiers and lead with high expectations of there soldiers. The contributing factors of the red army being able to hold the Germans from taking Stalingrad was their morale it continued to increase by winning counter-attacks, small battles within the city and pushing back the Germany army with the little armory they had. Stalingrad held against all doubt, fear and the Germany’s powerful aviation and armory, because of their morale. The Russian army had a difficult time defending their country throughout the invasion, they were hopeless.
The main words that I noticed reoccurring in Jones’s book is courage, morale, inspiration, leadership and pride for their country. Overall, out of all those great qualities morale is most significant. Jones makes the argument that morale was the factor that the Russians the boost to push back the Germans and sustain their city. I believe those were all contributing factors for the final stand and victory of the Russian army in Stalingrad. Moreover, a series of battles lost or won can deplete an army rather quickly especially if you don’t have the available resources such as tanks, guns or troops. At that point what do you have? Hopefully your comrades or a commander that you believe can inspire you by his great leadership and bring your fellow comrades together. However, the red army had more than that they had a brotherhood, a love for their country and the will to never give up or retreat. It is nearly impossible to have those types of characteristics still standing after seeing the amount of casualties continuing to raise and your city dwindling away. In order for the Russians to make a stand their mindset had to change. As the Germans continued to push the Russian forces back and surround them the Russians soldiers had to make a choice give up or fight. Often times the Germans told the Russians soldiers to surrender and there is no way they will win, but the Russians refused to give in. Thus, referring to the three reasons they never gave up the slogan “ there is no land beyond Volga “, soldiers morale and great commanders that cared for their
soldiers.
“In Stalingrad, in addition to its heavy losses, the German army also lost its formidable image of being invincible,” Document 8 reveals.” In fact, with the loss of Stalingrad, the German army began to lose battles all across the Eastern Front and in North Africa”(Document 8: Graphics). The men did not lose their lives in the Battle of Stalingrad did lose the image that had been built for themselves. The following loses after that battle prove that the German army was weakened and could no longer keep all of their word and the image Hitler had built up for them. Without pushing the soldiers to stay at Stalingrad, Hitler and the Germans could have salvaged the war and their reputations. Although the end of World War II was 2 ½ years after the Battle of Stalingrad, the result of the battle influence who won the war. Because the Germans lost at Stalingrad, they began to lose other battles and suffered questioning and disbelief of their previous reputation of being invisible. The biggest mistake Adolf Hitler made was how he conducted the Battle of
Throughout the battle, you see numerous Army Values and Warrior Ethos being used. “I will never leave a fallen comrade”, was the etho used the most, to reach the separated platoon. The battle also shows that not all tactical orders are effective, but as a leader you must never second guess yourself.
The Red Army was a massive and strong army, but they had no intellect or skills. Stalin of course had many who had animosity towards him, and the generals of the Red Army sure did. They betrayed him during World War II, and he had them all imprisoned. He wanted them to be tortured and feel pain because of their
and Russian losses were appalling; Stalin began exhorting Churchill to open a second front at the
This operation started on June 22, 1941. By the time December of 1941 came around, Germany 's troops had reached the gates of Moscow. Germany believed they were going to be successful, so they were pretty confident. For a short time in the spring of 1942, the Germans regained the military scheme, and by June, the Germans were making their way toward the city of Stalingrad.
There was a a massive turning point in the war. This is very important to me. Up until the autumn of 1919, the Whites had been successful. They were starting to look close to victory for Trotsky’s liking. General Colchacks forces were closing in around the Eastern front and Yudenich was on.
The Soviet Union’s massive success in this battle marked the war turning in favor of the Allies. The Battle of Stalingrad was fought from July 1942 to February 1943. On 19 November 1942, the Red Army launched a carefully planned counteroffensive led by General Georgy Zhukov. By the time of the counteroffensive, the Germans were outnumbered 1,011,000 to 1,103,000.
Westwood, J. N., “Endurance and Endeavour: Russian history, 1812-1980”. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 1981.
After a two year stalemate, both the Russians and Germans awaited major confrontations that would define the momentum for either side. Up until this point in the war, although the Germans had captured many European countries and were victoriously advancing with their keen tactics, such as the blitzkrieg and their cogent weapons, battles on the Eastern front seemed impossible to win. Upon a dismal loss at the Battle of Stalingrad earlier in 1943, German morale was greatly lowered and the German forces finally apprehended the strength of the Russian troops. The momentum would finally be settled with the decisive battle near the town of Kursk, a town on the Moscow-Rostov railway, in Southern Russia. The goal of the Battle of Kursk was to regain German morale and to pinch off a large salient in the Eastern front, which would make Russians much more vulnerable to German attack. Being such an important battle to the overall success of the Germans, they formulated several unique plans; however, due to the lack of good judgement, these plans were doomed from the very start.
“Stalingrad is the scene of the costliest and most stubborn battle in this war. The battle fought there to its desperate finish may turn out to be among the decisive battles in the long history of war…In the scale of its intensity, its destructiveness, and its horror, Stalingrad has no parallel. It engaged the full strength of the two biggest armies in Europe and could fit into no lesser framework than that of a life-and death conflict which encompasses the earth”
The next year, in 1943, another German offensive was launched especially around the approaches of Stalingrad. Stalingrad was almost completely destroyed by the German sixth Army. That was the near end for Germany, but it took several months of destruction and desperate fighting, and millions of millions of deaths for that to happen.
The battle of Stalingrad may have very well been the most important battle over the course of World War II. Not necessarily remembered for its course of fighting, the battle is more known for its outcome. Not only did the battle turn out to be a major turning point in the war, it may have saved most of Eastern Europe from incomparable destruction. The battle included two of the biggest political and military icons of their time, Stalin and Hitler.
Being a good soldiers also required you to, follow the rules, follow orders, obey the code of conducts, look out for your fellow comrades, fulfill your duty requirement, being honest and fight for your country. In other words, a soldier must be committed. Committed to their work, the nation, the mission, their fellow servicemen and their unit. With these characteristics, a soldier can become successful.
It was the unity of action and the unity of mind that was the ultimate triumph in defying the Germans. It wasn’t each prisoner fighting for his own memory. It was each prisoner fighting for the memories of all prisoners.
"The core of a soldier is moral discipline. It is intertwined with the discipline of physical and mental achievement. Total discipline overcomes adversity, and physical stamina draws on an inner strength that says drive on." - Former Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge