The Battle of Stalingrad
Russia’s victory at the Battle of Stalingrad was crucial to the Russians’ war effort. Russia’s army had been decimated in the purge of the armed forces and Stalin, leader of Russia, was compelled to enter the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact for security, The Battle of Stalingrad became a war of attrition. Stalin, in a broadcasted speech to the nation rallied his people to fight for the motherland. Consequently over one million Soviet men and Woman died to defend Stalingrad. Proving that patriotism played a big part in The Battle of Stalingrad.
Perhaps, one of Stalin’s first mistakes leading up to the Battle of Stalingrad was the Purge of the Armed Forces. In 1937 he had felt threatened that someone in the military would overthrow his power. The various purges were aspects of Stalin’s way of gaining absolute control of the Soviet Union. The 1937 to 1939 purge of the armed forces was one of Stalin’s ways of instilling terror into the Soviet people, by it creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. During this time, Stalin had 35,000 Soviet soldiers arrested, exiled or executed – over 50% of them were officers. All 11 war commissars were removed from office, 14 out of the 16 army commanders and 91 of the 101-man supreme military council were arrested. Russia’s military was left poorly equipped, poorly trained and poorly led, effectively leaving the Soviet military ill-prepared for enemy aggression, including the unforeseen Battle of Stalingrad; Stalin had no choice but to sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
On 23 August 1939 Stalin made his second mistake, which helped cause the Battle of Stalingrad. The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed by Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Minister, and his German counterpart, Ribbentrop. The main reason for the pact was that war in Europe was imminent, its indirect effect was that Stalin was lulled into a false sense of security. With the signing of the pact, Germany and Russia were promising not to invade each other for
Perhaps, one of Stalin’s first mistakes leading up to the Battle of Stalingrad was the Purge of the Armed Forces. In 1937 he had felt threatened that someone in the military would overthrow his power. The various purges were aspects of Stalin’s way of gaining absolute control of the Soviet Union. The 1937 to 1939 purge of the armed forces was one of Stalin’s ways of instilling terror into the Soviet people, by it creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. During this time, Stalin had 35,000 Soviet soldiers arrested, exiled or executed – over 50% of them were officers. All 11 war commissars were removed from office, 14 out of the 16 army commanders and 91 of the 101-man supreme military council were arrested. Russia’s military was left poorly equipped, poorly trained and poorly led, effectively leaving the Soviet military ill-prepared for enemy aggression, including the unforeseen Battle of Stalingrad; Stalin had no choice but to sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
On 23 August 1939 Stalin made his second mistake, which helped cause the Battle of Stalingrad. The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed by Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Minister, and his German counterpart, Ribbentrop. The main reason for the pact was that war in Europe was imminent, its indirect effect was that Stalin was lulled into a false sense of security. With the signing of the pact, Germany and Russia were promising not to invade each other for