Leadership
General Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov was an exceptional leader, heading the defense against the German invasion during 1941-1942. His popularity was perceived as a threat to Soviet leadership and he was consequently removed from his rank by Stalin... twice.
In November of 1942, his Operation Uranus succeeded in surprise-attacking the Germans. After two more months of brutal fighting, the Germans were forced to surrender. In the summer of 1943, Zhukov readied defenses in anticipation of an attack at Kursk. The Germans attack as expected and the Soviets fought their tank columns to a halt, before the Soviet counterattack drove the invaders back several hundred miles. |
In July 1942, General Vasilii Chuikov assumed control of the entire Stalingrad front. On September 13th, a German attack came within 800 yards of Chuikov's post until it was pushed back by a different division.
Though battered and weakened, the soldiers under his leadership played an active role in expelling the Germans. On May 1, Chuikov was present to accept the Germany's surrender of Berlin. He was also recognized for writing a series of military memoirs, which are now considered the most accurate and objective accounts of fighting on the Eastern Front. |
Friedrich von Paulus was the famous German general associated with the disastrous defeat at Stalingrad, forbidden by Adolf Hitler to retreat and forced to watch the Sixth Army collapse at the hands of the Soviets.
By October of 1942, Paulus commanded nearly 90 percent of the desired city (mostly rubble at this point), while the Russians persisted to fight back. Dangerously low on supplies and ammunition, the German army had dropped to only 90,000 by its surrender on February 2, 1943. Hitler attempted to prevent Paulus from surrendering by promoting him to field marshal on January 15, 1943. No German officer of this rank had ever dared to surrender, but he did so anyway out of fear of annihilation. |