If the Red Army did not defend Stalingrad

Discussion in 'The Eastern Front' started by chipm, Sep 1, 2022.

  1. chipm

    chipm Well-Known Member

    Sorry if this is too big of a "What If" question.....

    The counter-offensive in November, was that Uranus.?
    Anyway.........The Red Army put up that stiff defense that allowed all the men and equipment to be assembled that would defeat The Wehrmacht in Stalingrad.

    But what was the plan if The Red Army had retreated across The Volga.?
    Was Germany going to keep pursuing deeper into Russia.?
    Or would they have just held there and pursued the oil further south.?

    Thank You
     
  2. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    The long term strategic goal of OP Barbarossa was the occupation of the USSR up to the Arkhangelsk - Astrakhan line including the oil deposits in the Caucasus

    About the historical reasons of the high symbolic value of Stalingrad:
    Battle of Tsaritsyn - Wikipedia
     
    chipm likes this.
  3. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    At the start of Operation Blue, Stalingrad was not seen as a major objective, it was the oilfields at Grozny and Maikop that had Hitler's Eye. Stalingrad gradually increased in importance as they reached it.
     

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