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The Battle of Stalingrad is often cited as one of the turning points of the war. The battle was the bloodiest in modern history, with combined casualties estimated at nearly two million. The battle involved more participants than any other in history, and was marked by brutality and disregard for military and civilian casualties by both sides.

After three months of slow advance, the Germans finally captured 90% of the ruined city and splitting the remaining Soviet forces into two narrow pockets. Nevertheless, the fighting continued as fiercely as ever. While Soviet soldiers defended their positions, factory workers repaired damaged Soviet tanks and weapons close to the battlefield, sometimes on the battlefield itself. These civilians also volunteered as tank crews to replace the dead and wounded, though they had no combat training.

The German offensive to take Stalingrad was the first large-scale German land defeat of World War II.