Stalingrad

A group of German soldiers is sent into the meat grinder of Stalingrad, experiencing brutal urban combat, dwindling supplies, and the disillusionment of a doomed campaign. As the Soviet encirclement tightens, the soldiers face starvation, cold, and despair. The film portrays the human cost of the battle from the German perspective.

The Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943) was one of the deadliest battles in history, ending in the destruction of the German Sixth Army after Soviet forces encircled and starved out the trapped troops, marking a decisive turning point on the Eastern Front.

Praised for its unflinching, grim realism reflecting the documented suffering of German troops, though centered on fictional characters.

Urban fighting of unprecedented intensity ended with the encirclement and destruction of the German Sixth Army.

The Sixth Army fought house by house to the Volga. On 19 November Operation Uranus struck the weaker Romanian flanks and closed a ring around some 250,000 men. Paulus surrendered on 2 February 1943.

Directed by Joseph Vilsmaier

Cast: Thomas Kretschmann, Dominique Horwitz, Jochen Nickel

Positioned at August 1942 – February 1943 within the World War II phase of the war, as part of the Battle of Stalingrad. This is entry 76 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Stalingrad
• Eastern Front
• German army
• urban warfare
• encirclement

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  Stalingrad

  September 1942 – February 1943

• 

  Enemy at the Gates

  September 1942 – February 1943

• 

  The Dawns Here Are Quiet

  Spring 1942

• 

  Attack on Leningrad

  September 1941 – early 1942

• 

  Panfilov's 28 Men

  16 November 1941

• 

  The Ascent

  Winter 1942