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Russian soldiers fighting from the city's ruins
Leading the Soviet force was General Vasily Chuikov. The Germans were led by General Friedrich von Paulus. By late September, things looked grim for the Soviets. The city was nearly under Nazi control. The rubble, however, provided perfect fighting positions and cover for the defending Soviets. The fighting was brutal. The Soviets made the Nazis fight for every inch. General Chuikov told his men to be their own general and defend their homeland as ferociously as possible. The Germans were not prepared for this difficult resistance, as the Soviet army was half their size. By October, both generals were suffering from medical issues from the stress of the battle. Chuikov had painful eczema on his hands and von Paulus developed an uncontrollable tic in one eye. The Nazis launched a final "Blitzkrieg" attack on the city, but lost to the newly reinforced Soviet army. The Germans were weakened more and more by the frigid Russian winter, for they were ill prepared for the weather. Then, the Soviets launched a powerful and strategic counter attack. First, they struck the armies that were not as driven as the Nazis. The Soviets captured the armies of Hungary, Romania, and Italy. They took an Italian battalion without receiving one shot of counter fire. Hitler finally ordered one of his best, Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, to open up a direct route to supply the depleted von Paulus army. Von Manstein made his move on Dec. 12, 1942. With the Soviet army diverted, von Paulus asked for permission to break out, Hitler declined. By Dec. 23, it was clear even Germany’s best, von Manstein, had failed. Desperate to get supplies to von Paulus’ army, Luftwaffe leader Hermann Goering’s plan was to fly supplies out to two separate airfields where the army was camped. Unfortunately for the Nazis, this plan failed. Only half the supplies needed were delivered because Soviet anti-air guns were shooting down the planes en route. Von Paulus’ army was doomed. On Christmas day, 1942, 1,300 Germans died from various causes such as frostbite or injury. Hitler promoted von Paulus to Field Marshal. This was a strong indication from Hitler that von Paulus should commit suicide because no Field Marshal had ever been captured. He didn’t and was captured on Jan. 31, and his army surrendered on Feb 2, 1943.
“We did not fire back because we thought it would be a mistake,”- Italian sergeant, explaining why there was no counter fire from Italy, 1942