On this day in 1943, the remaining Nazi forces in the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered to the Soviets. The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War Two in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad, now known as Volgograd.
Marked by consistently close combat and a complete disregard for military and civilian casualties, it is among one of the most bloody battles in the history of warfare. It was also a turning point in the European theatre as German forces never regained the initiative in the East and withdrew a vast military force from the west to reinforce their losses.
By the beginning of February 1943, Axis forces had completely exhausted their ammunition and food and surrendered on this day. The battle lasted five months, one week and three days.