The Battle of Stalingrad was a major military conflict on the Eastern Front of World War II, fought between the Axis Powers and Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now renamed Volgograd). Fighting began on August 23, 1942 and ended with a Soviet victory on February 2, 1943. Axis forces in Stalingrad were the first of the Nazi field forces to surrender, having suffered heavy losses in the bloodiest battle of World War II. Soviet forces also suffered heavy losses, but after nearly six months of fighting, maintained control of the city.
