A Day That Shook The World: Fall of Stalingrad

On 31 January 1943 the German army surrendered Stalingrad to the Soviets, a major turning point in the Second World War being fought on the Eastern Front.

The conflict began in the summer of 1942 when the German army invaded and was one of the bloodiest battles claiming nearly 2 million lives and destroying the city.

The Germans were not prepared for the harsh Russian winter and as their supplies dwindled and they were forced to eat their horses, their stronghold weakened.

With 15 Generals captured by the Red Army, the Germans were forced to disobey Hitler’s orders and retreat.

Watch original footage of the retreat in this British Pathé newsreel: