Changes in Red Army tactics during the Battle of Stalingrad

Importance. The topic of the Battle of Stalingrad is investigated, the relevance of which is beyond doubt, since any study in our country devoted to the Great Patriotic War was and remains important both for preserving historical memory and for educating the younger generation. The relevance of the study is enhanced by the fact that the stated scientific problem – the peculiarities of the tactics of the Soviet troops in the autumn-winter period of 1942 – is practically not disclosed in the scientific literature. The purpose of the study is to show how the Wehrmacht characterized the changes that occurred in the tactics of the Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.Materials and Methods. The research and its source base are captured documents from the funds of the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense (CAMO). Research methods: attribution of captured documents from the CAMO funds, comparison, content analysis, microhistoric analysis. The object of the study is the tactics of offensive and defensive battles of the Red Army in autumn– winter 1942.Results and Discussion. The specific author’s results of the study are that it shows how Stalin’s order No. 306 on improving offensive combat tactics and combat formations was characterized in the General Staff of German Ground Forces; data on the main changes in the tactics of defensive combat of Red Army are given; it shows what importance artillery was assigned in offensive and defensive battles, what changes occurred in the tank forces.Conclusion. The changes in the tactics of the offensive and defensive battles of Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad were timely, it was constantly improved and adapted to specific combat conditions, which eventually ensured the final transition of the initiative to the Soviet troops at the front.

Red Army, Wehrmacht, tactics, artillery, tank forces, Battle of Stalingrad