The Battle of Stalingrad: Stalin's Greatest Victory?

In the winter of 1942, the armies of Hitler and Stalin went head to head in the bloodiest battle of the Second World War.
Fought over five months through the bitter Russian Winter, the Battle for Stalingrad would serve as a turning point in the course of the Second World War and would mark a drastic change in the fortunes of the two dictators and the men who fought for them.
But how did an industrial city on the banks of the Volga come to play such a decisive role in the course of the Second World War?
In this series (‘Hitler vs Stalin’), historians James Holland, Guy Walters, author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad Iain MacGregor and Research Fellow Sarah Ashbridge explore the personalities behind the battle to uncover the key moments, decisions and motivations that lead to this decisive moment.
In this episode 1, we uncover the personalities and psychology of the two Tyrants, Hitler and Stalin and their Generals Paulus and Zhukov as they enter a new season of campaigning against the backdrop of a global war.
In episode 2, after four months of heavy fighting, German commander Paulus and his troops had succeeded in pushing the Soviet's from out of the centre of the city and to within 800 metres of the Volga.
Victory seemed within their grasp, but what Paulus and Hitler didn't know was that Zhukov and Stalin were planning something that would change the battle, and the war - Operation Uranus.
Re-join our team of experts James Holland, Guy Walters, Iain MacGregor and Sarah Ashbridge as they continue to explore the personalities behind the battle and uncover the key moments & decisions that led to Stalin's ultimate victory over Hitler.
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[@marekbrodowski7225]

Stalin didn't, millions of unnamed soldiers who died did it

[@robt400]

And stalin

[@thatbeme]

Yes

[@marekbrodowski7225]

@@robt400 Stalin killed more soviet citizens than Hitler did

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

@@robt400 no

[@SimonAshworthWood]

The soldiers who survived also achieved that victory.

[@BigBlue1026]

My Dad was a Merchant Marine during the war and told me horror stories of the convoys of liberty ships delivering supplies through the N Atlantic up into Russia. When they weren't dodging U-boats they were busy chopping ice off the decks to keep the ships from capsizing. The ships were loaded and even had equipment tied down on the deck. In one case I remember him telling about a railroad locomotive strapped down on the deck. One time he was so tired when they arrived in port at Russia that he slept through a attack on the port by German bombers and woke up to find that the pier they were tied to was burning.

[@jamesheath7596]

My father too.

[@userfile007]

Very brave man, you must be very proud of him.

[@thebagelsproductions]

Those convoys allowed Leningrad to withstand the brutal 2 year siege

[@sonsofisaacs1091]

I my self service on WW1 WW2 and now ready for WW3.. No one thanks me,eh..😁😁😅

[@nudaveritas6322]

Funny, the opposite force of Russia delivering Weapons to them...............

[@admiralyisoonshin4995]

The battle of Stalingrad was the greatest turning point of WW2 in Europe. I read the book of it when I was 13 years old. Very impressive and unforgettable war history in WW2.

[@rifekimler3309]

The greatest turning point was the battle for Moscow in 1941. Fritz Todt told Hitler the war was lost in mid-November 1941 and he was correct.

[@antoniodavi5392]

Stalingrad was largely useless as Germany had lost the war even before Moscow

[@loganrieck4750]

​@@rifekimler3309Nah, it was Stalingrad, which decisively changes the orientation of the Eastern Front from a German advance to a retreat and a continuingly high morale Soviet advance. Moscow was important but wasn't able to wear down the Germans as much as Stalingrad to effectively change the orientation of the war.

[@xne1592]

@@loganrieck4750 nah, it was Moscow...

[@berobujanovi4331]

Nah it was Leningrad

[@MrMike-oc6dr]

I am totally addicted to these stories of the Eastern front. They are put together very well and with the diary included it enhances the experience. Very well done!

[@shawnastephens1536]

I am to. My husband thinks I'm 🤪 crazy. I tell him he's crazy 🤪 over his addiction to ⛳ golf.

[@TedBoyRomarino]

Watch Soviet Storm. Most complete documentary about it.

[@jesperFrost]

Have you watched Battlestorm Stalingrad by TIK History?

[@American4UAF]

Check out blood red snow

[@khizani]

Fun fact: Stalin was a successful bank robber in his early career :). He organized and led few robberies including (at the time) famous 1907 Tbilisi center bank robbery, making away with 350,000 rubles (a lot of money in 1907!) and leaving 6 people dead and 40 wounded.

[@HistoryHit]

Very interesting fact! Thanks!

[@khizani]

@@HistoryHit Thank you so much for responding! Love your channel!

[@muscuut]

True

[@bloodrave9578]

I wish there was a Stalin mask on Payday 2 as reference to that fact

[@kpaxchocho3327]

He also secrificed the lives of his own people to save the world from NAZIs.

[@robertmendick3195]

The Americans in the late 1944/early 1945 Ardennes offensive copied the German mistake by not providing adequate winter clothing. Many frostbite injuries. Six years later the same happened at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.

[@annoyingbstard9407]

How many?

[@bjornsfather]

No winter clothes or galoshes for those troops in Italy as well. Ardennes one example same with comparable weapons for the Marines in the Pacific at the start of the war

[@yoyyoy6376]

Crazy how we still managed to control the world regardless of your claims 😂

[@garyhill2740]

The weather in the Ardennes that year was the coldest in living memory at the time. It was not normally THAT cold there. And major operations were not expected until the first of 1945. Not really the same thing as launching THREE of the largest armies in history into Russia with no provision for winter fighting. Lol.

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

It's the weight of heavy clothing that's the most precient factor

[@bigbadladnamedalasad7071]

All of these historians tend to leave out the part where Manstein told Hitler not to let Paulus break out. Manstein believed he could break the sixth army out himself. Manstein had the benefit of surviving the war therefore he was able to rewrite history.

[@davidjackson2179]

TIK history shows that Pauli’s probably could not have broken out even if he had decided to do so early in the encirclement

[@jamesemis7376]

From my readings, Manstein asked Paulus to break out, but paulus forces doesn't have the strength to break out at that moment.

[@capoislamort100]

@@jamesemis7376he waited too long.

[@davidobriend8560]

​@jamesemis7376 Paulus asked manstein multiple times about the status of the breakout prior to manstein giving the go ahead. Manstein directed Paulus to wait. Manstein needed more troops, which he couldn't get. Hitler had already written off 6th army (probably rightly so). Hitler had to deal with Russian attacks on the eastern front (operation Mars near moscow was bigger than Uranus). Also Goering deputy told Hitler that they could do the airlift, however, his deputy came back about 36 hours later saying that they couldn't maintain the pocket.

[@AndthenthereisCencorship-xc6yi]

Well, Von Paulus survived the war too, my friend.

[@brucemacmillan9581]

When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, he found himself playing tennis on a football field.

[@jamesemis7376]

He nearly won, most other nation would have already crumbled, only the Russian people have the endurance and tenacity, second only to the Japanese

[@userfile007]

@@jamesemis7376 Also due to superior soviet strategy (eventually!) and Hitler’s daft decision of a war on 2 fronts!

[@shhinobii]

@@jamesemis7376And the Vietnamese

[@jordanthomas4379]

More like foosball on a rugby field.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

​@@shhinobiiAnd the Finns and Brits.

[@edvinboskovic9963]

Absolutely excellent documentary by historians James Holland, Guy Walters, Sarah Ashbridge and Iain MacGregor. Such a detailed and accurate description of the circumstances related to Stalingrad, in just one documentary. One of the questions , that raise from documentary is question , what's really happened with German high command between AH orders No.41 and 45. It is so contradictory, that it is very difficult for generals and the army to act in the circumstances of issuing such diametrically opposed orders. Very few historians talk about it, because probably the answer to that is impossible to get any more today.

[@mickymally1]

shite and shite from you

[@stephendavis6066]

It is not such an accurate narrative, most seems just conjectured. Do you want real information real history see TIK history, the level of detail there makes this look like tiddlywinks...

[@writtenplague88]

🤔 I wish that HBO would make a mini series Stalingrad with all the battles beginning to end. With all these historical details, I would love to see that!!!!

[@pinboy81]

I find it hard to believe that someone will be able to do such a miniseries, taking into account the political situation in the world (with Russia's invasion of Ukraine), maybe in 15-20 years, who knows

[@Kanovskiy]

I would not. They'll cram some nonsense there, they'll probably make Chuikov a woman and Paulus will be played by a dwarf etc.

[@ivanivanovich5121]

I'll recommend you the series SOVIET STORM !

[@meanstarfish]

tik history battlestorm stalingrad, is a very good one and with a lot of details

[@marlkarx1757]

​@@pinboy81the US always whitewashed in past and current crimes so it should be no problem.

[@ranhat2]

A+. The first hour was even better. Rich. Many insights, smart views. Somehow I had not learned that Zhukov offered those generous terms! Details on the attempted relief force was handled well by you, incl that taller parts of Stalingrad were visib to them, and that Kessel could see fireworksk/flares of relief force. Refreshing view, rating, analysis of G forces' quality, generally minimized by most in fear of idolizing or too much praise.

[@voraciousreader3341]

Gee! If you had read history instead of watching it, you could have known lots of things about Stalingrad years ago, lol! A great book on this subject is Antony Bevor’s, _”Stalingrad: the Fateful Siege, 1942 - 1943.”_ This was the most devastating battle in history, and deserves being read about. Anyway, it sounds as though these guys aren’t the first to report this to the world….imagine that! Seriously, though, the *Armageddon* KZbin channel has so much information about Stalingrad, because their history is mostly accurate. They also have translated some fairly recently released Soviet documents of the period which include translated meetings and conversations, including that which took place at FM Friedrich Paulus’ surrender at Stalingrad.

[@kimwarfield1587]

Why are you blurring all the pictures of death? Show these images to really show the horror of war to everyone.

[@neal.karn-jones]

It's so when the next war comes we will have forgotten how bad they are and happily fight.

[@FrederickTheGrt]

It may effect funding for the Ukrɐine war.

[@FuckGoogle2]

Nanny KZbin rules.

[@Teebone211]

You Tube blurs these vids out.....

[@petr416]

The phrase uttered by Marshal Zhukov to Rokossovsky back in 1945, immediately after the capture of Berlin: “We liberated them, and they will never forgive us for this“................. He knew...

[@furiacabocla2furiacabocla589]

Knew what ??? How many lies a nazi lover can say as you are saying now ?? Thanks to USSR to win the nazis, because the Ocident would not manage the task.. They were nazi too. In US and England there were well stablished a great bunch of Adolf minions and servants.

[@scottmartin7042]

He knew............ What? What exactly did he know?

[@petr416]

@@scottmartin7042 He knew west will attack Russia again in the future...

[@jerrymartin4450]

​@@scottmartin7042 yeah bruh. The f he talking about? He knew what......

[@mito88]

that they will never forgive us for this ​@@scottmartin7042

[@ambition112]

0:00: 💥 The battle for Stalingrad played a defining role in World War II, resulting in the deaths of nearly 2 million people and paving the way for Stalin's victory over Hitler. 10:43: 🔥 Hitler orders an attack towards Stalingrad and the wider offensive in southern Russia, despite doubts and the misconception that the Soviets were finished. 19:40: 🔥 Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union was driven by his hatred for bolshevism and his theories of racial superiority, envisioning it as a war of annihilation to give himself more living space for the Third Reich. 28:19: 🔥 The intense fighting in Stalingrad between German and Soviet forces, with the Soviets hanging on by their fingernails. 36:30: 💥 The battle for Stalingrad intensifies as German forces face heavy casualties and Soviet resistance in the city, while Hitler remains optimistic about victory. 48:05: 💥 Operation Uranus was launched by the Soviets, led by Zhukov, to surround and annihilate the German sixth Army in Stalingrad. 59:48: 😢 German troops trapped in Stalingrad face a hopeless battle as Hitler refuses to allow a breakout. 1:08:38: 💔 The Battle of Stalingrad was a devastating defeat for the German army, resulting in the surrender of the Sixth Army and the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. 1:20:07: 💔 The fall of Stalingrad marks a turning point in World War II, leading to a psychological blow for Hitler and a transition in the war. Recap by Tammy AI

[@johneiden7208]

Thanks!!

[@mirquellasantos2716]

Wow, that was a great summary- thanks.

[@mohammed-tg5ci]

Thanks mate That a good summary

[@Yasser.Osman.A.Z.]

Thank you sir

[@julioaranton461]

two tyrants; one w/1/2 brain?

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

Battle of Stalingrad the bloodiest battle in eastern front . Soviets fought back and after this victory they ended their advance after they occupied berlin. Brilliant doc. We always appreciate your time and dedication towards these videos. Love from Sri Lanka ❤️🇱🇰🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

[@davidcolley7714]

Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle not just on the eastern front, but in all of history

[@fpscanada3862]

they only stopped advancing because the anglo-american army was right in front of them

[@dopaminedreams1122]

@@fpscanada3862”Anglo American” is not a real term, the Americans are a mix of Germanic, Celtic, French and Saxon etc. calling them, Canadians or even British “Anglos” is beyond stupid and straight up racist

[@fpscanada3862]

@@dopaminedreams1122 honestly i couldn't care less. It is in no way racist. the term anglo is originally used to refer to people who speak english, and has since been used to describe people of english descent. Amazing how people will use the term racists for anything they don't like. anglo-american aka british and american. (obviously french, canucks, poles, and whoever else was fighting in western europe for allies) "bEyOnD sTuPiD aNd StRaIgHt uP rAcIsT"

[@jrmckim]

​@dopaminedreams1122 It is a real term..... and extremely valid. I think you need to learn more about American heritages. Saying Americans are only from Western Europe is "straight up" racist. Its hilarious that you called someone racist while saying the most racist thing about Americans. Not only racist but also ignorant.

[@reorioOrion]

It was very interesting and made me look at the event from a new perspective. Thanks for the speakers.

[@abranisdz34]

Stalingrad defines the whole WW2 not just the war in the east front.

[@stevenschnepp576]

Only Soviet revisionist historians consider the Eastern Front actually important to anyone but the Soviets. The only thing accomplished there was the loss of life; one does not win a war by killing alone. Germany was doomed from the get-go, because they were never going to get Roosevelt to join the Axis.

[@ChuckNorrisIsNothing]

Actually upset about the severe lack of Uranus jokes…

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

49:46

[@jackwaschbusch2419]

The fact that this is free on KZbin is awesome great video 👍

[@toolman9081]

This is the best channel on YT!

[@markprange4386]

0:50 In Sarepta, downriver of Stalingrad. The building (N 48.5169°, E 044.5219°) is still standing in 2023. The building & tower at right are also still standing.

[@craignedoff991]

Battle of Moscow showed the war wouldn't be short, or easy. Battle of Stalingrad that Russia wouldn't lose. Battle of Kursk that Germany couldn't win, no matter the effort. Operation Bagration that Germany would lose, soon, and decisively. Within 9 months Germany was a defeated heap of rubble.

[@neal.karn-jones]

I agree with that summary

[@patrickstephenson1264]

Battle of Berlin: Shit's fucked.

[@j.dragon651]

I have been listening to Germans soldiers diaries. 1941 and 42 on the Eastern front, regardless of the seasons, are not the cakewalk for the German military many a documentary might lead one to believe. The Dec. 6th, 1941 Russian counteroffensive north of Moscow isn't even mentioned in this video. No mention of Khrushchev's role in the battle of Stalingrad.

[@jamesemis7376]

Initially it looks like a cakewalk for the germans...later on their lines becomes too extended and the russian stiffen their backs

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

Hitler stalled the Sixth with the world's biggest traffic jam at Rostov-on-Don. Lost precious weeks which allowed the Soviets to regroup.

[@1974charlatan]

why would a documentary about stalingrad {AUG 42-FEB43} have a need to mention the counter attack in moscow {DEC41} it has no relevence also Khruschevs role as a political commisar would mean nothing if he had not later became the leader of the soviet union

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

@@1974charlatan He is talking about the Rzhev meat grinder which was in parallel with Stalingrad. Kind of a strategic setback or dead end for USSR, due to extreme casualties.

[@janiceduke1205]

"The German invaders want a war of extermination with the peoples of the U.S.S.R. Well, if the Germans want to have a war of extermination, they will get it.” (Loud and prolonged applause.) Joseph Stalin 6 November, 1941.

[@savy1917]

Absolute chad

[@AsphaltCowboyUSA]

In the Russian revolution and during the early 2 decades of the SU more people were killed and ended up in Gulags. Stalin is the same criminal like Hitler, no difference.

[@kenhart8771]

Yeah it was war and atrocities on both and all sides of the war. Don’t forget the Russia/USSR war with the Ukrainians in 1917/21 and the Holodomor 1932/33 killing between 3 - 10 million Ukrainians. Beside invaded neighboring countries. Another mass killing sociopath.

[@Occident.]

Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, because the Soviets were planning to invade Western Europe in the July of 1941. Spies tipped off Hitler. Operation Barbarossa, the Germans invasion of the Soviet Union was a pre-emptive strike!

[@michaelgeraghty3989]

The fall of Stalingrad in early 1943 kicked off 6 very bad months for Adolf. The Allies finally win the Battle of the Atlantic, ending the U-boat threat and unleashing America's war materials flow to England and the USSR. The Allies defeat the Nazis in North Africa, and then successfully invade Sicily. The Nazis lose the Battle of Kursk, biggest tank battle in history. This is the last major Nazi offensive action on the eastern front.

[@MsFoland]

Excellent film, a big thank-you to the historians!

[@ngandosambalundula8183]

Very comprehensive and crystal clear historical account presented by well read seasoned reporters! Thnx for sharing this educative if scary video. My subscription assured henceforward.

[@cezaryrak-ejma2436]

If you're thinking that this was a comprehensive presentation of the battle of Stalingrad, then prepare for a mind-blowing experience kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHde2OihdZki7csi=zrlHhYk4YL3umYJI

[@ngandosambalundula8183]

@@cezaryrak-ejma2436 Am grateful to you for having sent me this equally scary war documentary! How I wish human civilisations were proactively peaceful and utterly devoid of violent bloodletting, for both parties involved do suffer irreparable and indicible human and infrastructure losses!

[@christopherjohn4073]

Want to thank you people for providing us these tales,lest we forget war is a horrible thing. Thank you providers of this channel for sharing the historical facts.

[@Dabski97]

Great watch, I learnt so much from this video

[@HistoryHit]

Glad to hear it!

[@wyattbolt4971]

It sucks that this doc doesn’t include any mention of the German holdouts in the ruins of Stalingrad. Some held out until March in basements, sewers and anywhere a person could hide amongst the rubble.

[@annoyingbstard9407]

I don’t think an idiot hiding in a sewer made much difference to Stalingrad or the war in total.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

Like covering Saipan without mentioning Japanese who held out for decades after? 😂

[@Mr47jz]

I truly believe I have an addiction to everything A-Z, all aspects,and everything to do with WW1&2/Cold war I’ve run out of documentaries lately which has led me to start watching old docs on ww2 and audiobooks but I can say without a doubt history hit always comes in clutch like my fix for these extremely informative and well put together documentaries. It all started with the book solider x in 2006 when I was 14. Anyone else have this addiction too?😂

[@jjm4371]

have u checked out the day by day series by timeghost?

[@supertiger1979]

🤚

[@hernaneagias1063]

Absolutely for me, because those wars never happened just because of humanity's struggles for superiority, but were the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies, precisely as decreed by God

[@antonyjkeenan]

Me too my friend are you a fan of secrets of war by Charlton Heston lol its an addiction

[@Mr47jz]

@@antonyjkeenan yessir! Probably one of the top 10 series ever. Currently trying to finish listening to gulag archipelago which is absolutely phenomenal if you haven’t read/listened to. Generation War is also a great TV series portraying WW2 from the Wehrmacht pov.

[@NjK601]

If your combining Stalingrad with Uranus, it is definitely up there, but if we're lumping things together, wouldn't the series of counteroffensives around Rzhev, including Zhukov's Operation Mars, be the bloodiest? The Soviets downplayed it as best they could, in the history but that section of the front had more men/equipment dedicated to it, then Uranus.

[@j.h.1328]

True . I think Battle of Kursk was also not the biggest tank battle . The soviets downplayed these battles because of the big losses , some due to tactical failures.

[@teamrecon2685]

Those attacks at Rzhev tied up German forces that could have been shifted south.

[@NjK601]

@@teamrecon2685 They definitely had a value, even if terribly gained, I was just taking issue with the videos title, about the "deadliest battle", though understand they are just aiming for the widest audience.

[@mikeagate]

On the 31st January 1968 my father passed away. A mere 25 years to the day when Stalingrad was liberated!

[@shamilabdullah9996]

😢

[@bobkonradi1027]

One of the ironies was that several German Generals, including Rommel and Guderian, told Hitler that Stalingrad was just a place on a map, and was not that important of a conquest for the Germans. It became important to Hitler because it was named Stalingrad. If it had been named "Jonesville" it would not have been attacked.

[@waynerobert7986]

Myth. There were reasons to advance to the Volga and Stalingrad that were nothing to do with its name. 6 Armee was to secure the city and protect the flank of Army Group A which were advancing into the Caucasus.

[@wingedhussar1453]

​@waynerobert7986 why didn't nazis just encircle stalingrad

[@waynerobert7986]

@@wingedhussar1453. It's really not that simple. Once the 6th Army had arrived on the outskirts of Stalingrad. They'd been much weakened by by the fighting in the Don bend. The Soviets had a strong front facing south along a line running through Kotluban from the Don bend to the Volga. Paulus was forced to conduct defensive operations here on his left as the Soviets launched a series of offensives against his flank. 16 Panzer Division which had reached the Volga to the North of the city was actually cut off and had to be rescued. The Germans were not in a position to just encircle Stalingrad because they couldn't cross the Volga and the Soviets were able to use ferries to maintain the Soviet defenders throughout. The Germans needed to take the city and quickly but they were hampered by a poor logistical situation and also lacked the strength to land a knockout blow.

[@wingedhussar1453]

@waynerobert7986 thanks yea Germans should have known if they can't encircle the city it would be a long while it would be taken over. They should have stabilized a front and only sent their main troops to the south

[@jamesemis7376]

Yes, The germans should have simply masked the City and turn their manpower and resources on other areas that have more strategic values like the south Russia (Oil Feilds)

[@zingingcutie8421]

whats the name of this documentary and of what series is it ?

[@Brooklyn-yx7xu]

Great documentary ❤it's very entertaining 👏 👍

[@MrDaiseymay]

really? get it set to music.

[@BlackPantherFTW]

Saying stalin won over hitler completely ignores the millions of lives lost

[@Reignor99]

its just a title

[@user-nx5ks3tl6w]

Но не отменяет этот факт!

[@michaelhenry8890]

It was the bloodiest battle in the history of the world. Not just the bloodiest of ww2.

[@thomasshelby1922]

Checkout TikHistory’s Battlestorm Stalingrad you get to walk through the lead up to Stalingrad and then day by day every decision and troop movement & what the reality was and why decisions were made not just these sweeping narratives.

[@lemon_j]

@@thomasshelby1922Yes, good call. That channel is very detailed. I've watched his vids.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

It wasn't even the bloodiest of 1942-43. Rzhev Meat Grinder.

[@AlesAmazigh]

I'm so used to the reaction genre that the thumbnail made me think they brought back Stalin to react to the battle. "Expert dictator reacts to the battle of Stalingrand."

[@ckh2815]

It's hilarious to think of two dictators signing any kind of "agreement". Any two dictators, anywhere, anytime.

[@hj8750]

Буквально каждый американский президент или британский премьер министр совершили столько преступлений сколько не сделали диктаторы, но ЭТО ДРУГОЕ!🤡

[@smashakarah5102]

James Holland: My favourite historian

[@aesop8694]

@smahakarah5102. Why??

[@allghilliedup21]

I LOVE how when he talks about Hitler's blunders, he's so condescending (in a good way). Almost like "You're so stupid, Hitler."

[@innercynic2784]

Good archival film footage marred by projection on a brick background. World at War series from the 70s was much more impactful with narration by Lawrence Olivier and a tremendous score

[@waynerobert7986]

This documentary is a superficial view of what really happened. It's almost mythology. In part 2 regarding the Soviet offensive. Operation Uranus. STAVKA and Zhukov actually believed it was unlikely to succeed and more faith was given to Operation Mars at Rzhev near Moscow. When the Uranus Operation succeeded. It was beyond their wildest dreams. They had no idea that they'd just trapped over 300,000 men. The Soviets thought it was less than half that.

[@vladavuksanovic310]

absolutely

[@drbrainstein1644]

I still get sickened to this day every time I hear the words the 6th army.

[@samuelg1172]

“The law is to die for Germany” Yet when things got tough, he took his own life. Coward

[@MrDaiseymay]

Arse licker Goebells did the same, just after that speech to thousands, ( old men and young Boys) asking them if they want ''Total War'' to a massive heil Hitler, and salute. After he said, It was sickening, if I'd ask them to jump out the window they would do it.'

[@tbay1959]

He didnt take his own life. he fled to Argentina which was also facist at the time.

[@jackieratcliff8266]

He lived another life by the name of Walt Disney.

[@bananaempijama]

He even said, during Nuremberg trials, "in the future there will be statues of me all over Germany " Coward and delusional.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@tbay1959 and build a space ship to fly to moon.

[@Pintopeter2n4]

I've read articles on the house of Pavlov, a sergeant who commanding a platoon held out for approximately 58 days, it would have been interesting to add that.

[@dmitryletov8138]

This one house lasted longer than France in 1940

[@MJ-it8ru]

Pavlov's house is a propaganda story, not a specific event

[@dmitryletov8138]

​@@MJ-it8ru it is a specific event, not propaganda story, read US historians or watch them.

[@ms1535]

It was common for the Russians to embellish or create heroic acts to boost morale. TIK History cuts thru the propaganda and gives the most accurate events surrounding Pavlov’s House. BTW, many battle actions were staged by Russian filmmakers. Such as the celebration by the soldiers when they finally linked up surrounding the Germans. The storming of the ReichStag was also redone for the cameras. And the raising of the flag over the building was staged. Their are several different pics and film versions of that event.

[@vafkamat]

Great video

[@garysavala665]

Don’t forget the Russian victory at Kursk .

[@williamtell5365]

It all depends on how you crunch the numbers but really the Battle of Moscow was the biggest (and most important) single battle in WW2, I'd argue even surpassing Stalingrad and Uranus in importance. So much so that the Germans nearly lost it all at the end of 1941.

[@maximtyo2625]

Agree! Importance of Battle of Moscow - It was shown to world that "Unbitable" Wehrmacht can be deffited. It was a downhill for Hitler since then.

[@williamtell5365]

@@maximtyo2625 yes more than that the Wehrmacht suffered appalling casualties

[@teamrecon2685]

Agreed. The Eastern Front was lost December 1941

[@jupitercyclops6521]

Not my anis. Maybe uranus, not mine

[@stevenschnepp576]

If you think numbers alone make a battle important, you probably think America uncategorically won Vietnam.

[@jayaramansundaramoorthy1248]

It is no use downgrading the phenomenal role played by STALIN not only in the battle for Stalingrad but also in the entire WW II. He stood like an immovable rock between victory and defeat and ensured that his country came out as Victor, and drove Hitler back to Berlin. In fact the erstwhile USSR suffered the most, and STALIN made sure that the real credit went to his Marshals who fought in the battlefield and ensured the survival of the Motherland. The Victory Parade stands witness to what I am saying. If you still want more proof go to the Memoirs of great Commanders like Marshal Zhukov and others.

[@simonbeck8579]

To be most accurate, Iosef Stalin always made sure that the Soviet people knew that it was he who won the victory. He moved Zhukov out of the lime light so that he could not steal any of Stalin's glory. Zhukov's memoires were redacted so as not to offend Stalin, until after the latter's death.

[@jcmarkalegre6204]

My assessment is final; if Hitler didn’t attacked USSR and kept the armistice in tack, socialism would have won its way; love of neighbor socialist Jesus’ doctrine and peaceful coexistence became global moral value.

[@jcmarkalegre6204]

What made Hitler changes his mindset is his accord with Pope Pius Xll.

[@jcmarkalegre6204]

Hitler was crazy to punish Edwin Rommel to commit suicide

[@michaelmallal9101]

Goring promised to supply Paulus but failed. Beria apparently thought Stalin was going to eliminate him but maybe beat Stalin to it? Beria failed to neutralize Khrushchev et al.

[@stephendocal2208]

We can either have the documentary for free on KZbin with blurring or you can pay to watch uncensored elsewhere. KZbin’s TOS doesn’t allow for certain things to be shown. It’s that simple.

[@userfile007]

Excellent, one of the best documentaries I've seen on Stalingrad.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

The Brits win the documentary front every time.

[@cezaryrak-ejma2436]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGHde2OihdZki7csi=zrlHhYk4YL3umYJI

[@phillip6500]

I've studied this subject quite a bit. It wouldn't have mattered if Stalingrad fell or not. The German army lost the ability to support their people in the field in this area. They would have died there anyway

[@scorpiong0]

Yes i came to that conclusion too. Even if they captured Stalingrad even if they had stopped the counterattack of Zhukov, eventually they would retreat because of the constant counterattacks of the Soviet troops. Soviets had at that point way more troops and equipments/rations etc.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

The war was decided by August 1941 The panzer strength was already down to the nub. Hitler lost it all in the aftermath of France when he downshifted production and mobilization out of hubris.

[@johngorman5245]

The Germans greatest intelligence failure was, the massive build-up on the eastern Volga. I wonder if anyone would have believed.

[@HistoricalAnalysis12]

great video

[@alexhayden2303]

I would dearly love to find that someone has written a comprehensive record of the unbelievably massive effort to move industries out of reach, beyond the Urals! Nice subject for a Thesis?

[@anab0lic]

I think the book you are looking for is called : Fortress Dark and Stern: The Soviet Home Front during World War II

[@stevenkramer1975]

There could not be a more appropriate score for this battle than Mozart's Requiem.

[@tomwilsonkeys]

Wow great documentary!

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-fi2ix7mr6i]

Viewed several videos on the Stalingrad battle. One in particular was the disintering of one mass German grave site in Russia to be reburied on German soil. The massive injuries, amputations,mangled skeletal remains were horrific. It must have been pure *ell for them.

[@clarkewi]

Good analysis

[@djkonkon101]

Greatest battle in mankind history so far at stalingrad Russia aka the USSR won ww2 the battle of Normandy looks like a walk in the park compared to this battle wow

[@FrederickTheGrt]

The Russian people fought hard and sacrificed so much to help beat the Nazis. They are heroes. 🇷🇺🎖️

[@scaredy-cat]

No Russian people were pawns, like the Russian military

[@photo_n_art]

Except the fact that they have helped Hitler to start the WWII by invading Poland in September 1939 hand in hand with the nazis.

[@texajp1946]

@@photo_n_artwrong rewriting history of Molotov pact, it was to buy time because all the capitalists were teaming up against him, Polish government in exile declared war on Germany but not on ussr

[@1201777A]

That flag you put it here had been a flag of hitler's servants in ww2. The true flag is Soviet Union flag. It is not russia but 15 Republics and nations. Soviet people are heroes!!!

[@photo_n_art]

@@texajp1946and murdering over 20 000 Polish officers in Katyn with a shot in the back of the head was just Soviet friendly gesture? 🤔

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

Zhukov was coordinating both Rzhev and Stalingrad, and was more optimistic about the former over the latter. The outcomes were opposite of bis expectations.

[@user-nx5ks3tl6w]

🤡

[@h2energynow]

The many horses which came with the German Army, were eaten during Stalengrad. So not all the food was gone.

[@ronnib4294]

They were eating the horses bc the food they had was already gone. They had no choice but to eat horses or starve

[@clamcrewcarclub6017]

@@ronnib4294horse meat is delicious tho

[@clamcrewcarclub6017]

@@ronnib4294 it’s pretty good, just tastes like a burger with less fat

[@waynerobert7986]

Most of 6 Army's horses were left well outside the city and when encirclement was affected in late November 42. Most of the horses were outside the pocket.

[@capoislamort100]

Some of the “food” was their own fellow soldiers inside the pocket.

[@leeroylita637]

I'll never forget reading about the kessel in the book "Stalingrad". Absolute hell on earth what those German soldiers went through.

[@Teknotion]

Antony Beevor's book? Yeah, it nearly brought me to tears that one. The suffering of so many for so little gain.

[@leeroylita637]

​@@Teknotionyeah, a masterpiece.

[@user-yk4yh5sn5m]

Also absolute hell what those poor Jewish children went through in those concentration camps ran by german soldiers.

[@seancooney297]

​@@user-yk4yh5sn5mwhat does that have to do with it.

[@Le42975]

Aaah! Those poor Nazis. Smh

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

A true history lesson, even today! Many thanks & Best regards from Bucarest ROMANIA 🍀☀️👏🤝

[@markprange4386]

1:18:00 This building with the balcony is still standing. So is the building across the intersection 1:18:32 [(N48.6941, E 044.4949) of Ogareva & Raboche-Krestyanskaya]. This is about a kilometer northeast of the grain silos. Also, the buildings a block away 1:18:39+ along Barrikadnaya Ulitsa are still standing.

[@Ealdorman_of_Mercia]

9:51 It is also worth mentioning, Hitler knew what he was doing, the reason why he left his generals compete against each other was very deliberate. The goal was to avoid one of them becoming too powerful and popular leading to Hitler's potential overthrow. Throughout history this has happened many times. Considering the massive success the Reich had on the battlefield for first part of WW2, maybe that strategy wasn't so bad.

[@Veedon7]

He lost the war and Germany was utterly defeated .He lost 9 million men .Do you consider that to be a good strategy. he was a courageous soldier but a terrible leader .

[@Ealdorman_of_Mercia]

@@Veedon7 Read again what I said..

[@craignedoff991]

Very true. Kaiser Wilhelm was sidelined by the very popular Hindenburg, and his partner, Ludendorff, during the first world war.

[@borismuller86]

In fact Stalin was worried Zhukov would do just that!

[@anupkumarmajumdar3997]

Stalin was undoubtedly the hero and saviour of mankind

[@flashgordon6670]

Another dose of History thanks! Nothing sets me up for the day, quite like watching the Germans, getting crushed at Stalingrad.

[@richardwhitfill5253]

Excellent documentary

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you think so!

[@xxdoubleburgerxxnoscope4494]

The best stalingrad doc is voices of stalingrad HANDS DOWN. Like the only one i could find with actually veterans and not just dudes in nice clothes

[@geordiedog1749]

You often get these comments that are essentially saying ‘if Hitler just stopped being Hitler he’d have been victorious!’

[@borismuller86]

Honestly even someone of Napoleon or Alexander The Great’s caliber couldn’t have won the war for the Axis.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@borismuller86 …..but would they have started it in the first place?

[@CaseyChesshir]

@@geordiedog1749 as luke skywalker said, "your overconfidence is your weakness"

[@scottguy5452]

The idea that they could have broken out successfully is pretty debatable. Just as likely if they had tried they would have been destroyed. So either way they lose.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@scottguy5452 This is true!

[@bonniethompson2019]

War should not be glorified! Nothing honorable about war. There is honor in peace.

[@DonMarquez-wj7ir]

Your opinion duly noted.

[@stevenschnepp576]

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice, - is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other." - Some dead guy probably sick of cowardice masquerading as virtue.

[@shannonmonroe5873]

Having weak leadership always results in wars because unfortunately tyrants and authoritarian regimes see weakness and pacifism as a opportunity to strike and take control of what they want. Pray for peace but train for war.

[@louisburke8927]

47:18 what is that weapon?

[@otrada8925]

USSR was as much ally of Nazi Germany as UK. Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was nothing more than political expediency caused by British-German pact signed year earlier in Munich. While purges of 1937 had negative effect on Soviet armed forces, it was not the main reason of major looses of 1941. Same goes for ‘executed marshals’ who still had ‘cavalry attack’ perception of modern warfare while other countries experimented with aircraft carriers. German initial success was due to Stalin’s slow reaction to intelligence information and desperate attempts to avoid confrontation while Soviet army was in process of reorganisation and modernisation. Famous BM-13 MLRS was accepted for service 24 hours before invasion.

[@Maks-xg2fd]

It's pure true. But our politicians need that to be forgotten and buried. USA and UK must be only who defeated Hitler. That's why what you said is unwanted knowledge. Absolutely true and because of that - unwanted.

[@louisglen1653]

Lots of information, but the music in the background was very annoying. I would prefer jut to hear people talk rather than someone trying to add drama to the video by adding music.

[@ronanflynn8690]

I loved it

[@louisglen1653]

@@ronanflynn8690 I have PTSD so my tolerance is not the greatest when it comes to trying to listen to a person speak when there is music in the background.

[@ronanflynn8690]

@@louisglen1653 sorry to hear that fella

[@ibstrd]

KZbin is so embarrassing with it's censorship.

[@alpineai]

The soundtrack was as enjoyable as the documentary itself! And the voice over artist was an added treat ;)

[@rrussell9731]

"The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." Carl Sagan

[@Yusheesan]

My grandfather was in Stalingrad. The fact that I am alive today is a fcken miracle.

[@RuheAgir]

which side was he on

[@Yusheesan]

@@RuheAgir Soviet.

[@rupertledge7704]

I do worry about the romanticisation of individuals when so many people died who most, I imagine, had fascinating stories to tell themselves if they weren’t essentially put to death.

[@Twalha]

45:56 at that moment that's where you start to fathom how much dazzling and huge the Soviet union army was😮. Anyway big props the British storyteller

[@tombergins8215]

They got one BIG thing very wrong here IMHO They called Zhukov "a chip off the old block" WRONG Zhukov is literally the only that stood up to Stalin Time & time again & he's the only one Stalin never did anything to.

[@kennethlauer4735]

48:18 "Operation Uranus was vast" Yall couldn't help yourself, huh?

[@alantaylor353]

The only battle Stalin himself won against Hitler was the battle of the mustaches.!!!

[@abranisdz34]

At least Stalin was not stupid as hitler.stalin won because he trusted his generals unlike Hitler who thaught that he knows everything not trusting his generals.hitler's close circle was stupid as him too

[@dragonsdynamite6403]

Thanks for reminding me why I seldom enjoy in person narration, by various ‘historians’, such as this compared to your phenomenal video ‘~Battle of Eastern Front, operation Barbarossa.’

[@garyhill2740]

I don't know if I would characterize any of Stalin's decisions as "good". But he did finally learn to utilize the talent he had at his disposal, to listen to those people many times when it counted, and he motivated his people to victory. What he did worked.

[@EternalSearcher]

Russia/Ukraine: "Hooray we captured Stalingrad!" "Hooray we captured Berlin!" Russia 2023: "We captured a village this year" Ukraine 2023: "We captured a settlement this year"

[@priestsonaplane2236]

warefare is ALOT different these day. Not to mention ww2 was the deadliest war in mankind, there's nothing like it throughout history

[@michaeltovey02607]

The smartest thing that Stalin did was give his name to the city that had little strategic significance. It drew Hitler like a moth to a flame. If the Germans had gone all out for the Baku oil fields it could of been a very different war.

[@thomasshelby1922]

Go watch TikHistory & his Battlestorm Stalingrad if interested in really knowing what happened day by day

[@keithcitizen4855]

Not quite that simple

[@thomasmcmahon4881]

Volgograd / Stalingrad was a vital transport hub, particularly for rail. You can have all the oil in Baku but it’s no use if there’s no transport infrastructure or workers to extract it.

[@davidcollins2648]

​It had to be taken to secure supply lines as you say. The big mistake Germany made was having 3 major objectives instead of 1 - the oilfields.

[@kapica1738]

Yeah, the ruskies would let them have it undamaged that's for sure, it didn't change anything, if they took Stalingrad they would only prolong war, russians would destroy oil fields anyway, and it would be the same at the end... 🤷‍♂️

[@xx133]

It should be noted that the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed prior to WWII starting. A non-aggression pact was also signed by the UK during this period prior to the war. Characterizing the USSR as a German ally, is like characterizing the UK as German allies. It should be noted that the U.S. supplied Germany with supplies well into WWII.

[@TwoWheeledExplorer955]

Does anyone know yhe name of the piece used at 14:00 ?

[@paulmerritt418]

Outstanding documentary!

[@troyott2334]

Stalin defeated no one here, Hitler is too blame solely for this debacle. Von Paulus found Stalingrad nearly undefended in June of 1942 but instead of taking and holding it, Hitler divided his forces and sent him towards Baku which only clogged the roads and mucked up the advance by Von Kleist and his armies towards Baku, upon returning Von Paulus took the city against great odds but tragically lost the battle in the end.

[@willkanoff]

"Tragically"? Where are you from, nazi fan?

[@flippy66]

56:19 - but it wasn't a strategically important place to be...that's the whole point of the story of this battle. 1:02:30 - Paulus is "kind of being let down". What an understatement. Why include so much footage you're just going to blur?

[@borismuller86]

I’m guessing it’s KZbin’s fault.

[@TallulahB58]

Please, what is the musical piece playing at about 9 minutes in?

[@xjr13john]

A concise view of what happened at Stalingrad but why the blurred images??

[@timthejanitor9027]

I'm assuming they think the photos of dead bodies could cause the video to be flagged. I also imagine they maybe uploaded this video to other platforms where they images uncensored.

[@exharkhun5605]

The documentary is well made and I like the historians very much, but this Great Men angle on which this narrative is based bothers me. It simplifies everything to the point of dumbing it down. Ooo! There's 2 great men, where will they'll inevitably clash? The historiography about this battle, and the war in general, has come a lot further than this. If anything Stalingrad shows the limitations of Great Men Theory. Hitler couldn't WILL the Germans to victory (nor his generals to care for the oil fields) and Stalin came out of it much more able to trust his generals.

[@thomasshelby1922]

TikHistory Battlestorm Stalingrad Exactly what your looking for brother.

[@exharkhun5605]

@@thomasshelby1922 Thank you my friend. That would be an amazing gift and I'd sit here stunned, looking ahead to watching all 40+ hours of it. If I wasn't already a long time Tik fan and had watched every episode as it came out, and re-watched some of them already. But you didn't know that and it's the thought that counts. Instead I had a few minutes of fun considering how I would have felt if I had discovered Tik right now as per your suggestion. Stunned wouldn't be half of it. What did you think of this one? I stopped watching when James, of who I normally have nothing but praise, started about Stalingrad bearing Stalin's name. It just bothered me that a current historian came with that stale old trope. So many crucial factors came to a head at Stalingrad: oil, distance, reserves, generalship, transport by rail and air, events at other fronts affecting this one. And there's no evidence that either man ever cared about the name other than in superficial thought or two. Wishing you the very best.

[@johnmoorefilm]

“195,000 men, specifically for Uranus…” I’m a big enough man to admit i giggled. 53, and I giggled….ah well😅

[@Danielsangoh]

Where can I watch the uncensored footage

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

"One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic." -- Joseph Stalin

[@pt-7890]

He never said that. There is no evidence , just attributed to him by Western reporters. This was actually written by German Journalist, satirist Kurt Tucholsky.

[@neal.karn-jones]

I heard he actually said "if one death is a tragedy, is one million just a statistic?" not sure which quote is correct but they sure are different.