Hitler had three reasons to strive for the capture of Stalingrad:
Stalin had sufficient reason to be panicked over the possible consequences of losing the city and ordered anyone with enough strength to hand a rifle to be conscripted into battle. In his advantage, the location of the battle minimized the Soviet Army's disadvantages.
- It was a major industrial city, placed on the Volga River. This would serve as an essential route of transportation between the Caspian Sea and Northern Russia.
- The left side of German forces would be secure and able to cut off Stalin's fuel supply.
- The city was named after Stalin himself (in honor of his defense during the bloody Russian Civil War), therefore making it the perfect ideological catch to spread propaganda of German's superiority and triumph over Russia.
Stalin had sufficient reason to be panicked over the possible consequences of losing the city and ordered anyone with enough strength to hand a rifle to be conscripted into battle. In his advantage, the location of the battle minimized the Soviet Army's disadvantages.