January 31
German Field Marshal Paulus Surrenders at Stalingrad
Summary
The Battle of Stalingrad had raged since August 1942 as German forces sought to capture the city on the Volga River and cut Soviet supply lines. Harsh winter conditions, fierce Soviet resistance, and overextended German supply lines turned the campaign into a costly stalemate. On January 31, 1943, after weeks of encirclement by Soviet troops, German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered his Sixth Army headquarters to the Red Army. Approximately 90,000 surviving German soldiers were taken prisoner. The surrender came two days before the remaining pockets of resistance capitulated. It represented the first major defeat of a German army in the field during World War II.
Why It Matters
The Stalingrad surrender shattered the myth of German invincibility on the Eastern Front and marked a strategic turning point in favor of the Allies. It led to the loss of an entire German army and boosted Soviet morale while forcing Nazi Germany into a defensive posture for the remainder of the war. The battle's outcome influenced subsequent campaigns and contributed to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.
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US Military Atlas: German Field Marshal Paulus Surrenders at Stalingrad connects to military history, war consequences, or postwar diplomacy.
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Sources
- Battle of Stalingrad - Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed 2026-07-08.