Today in 1943, one of the most important moments of WW2, the final, terrible defeat of German forces in Stalingrad.

Today in 1943, one of the most important moments of WW2, the final, terrible defeat of German forces in Stalingrad. 

What was arguably history's biggest and most destructive battle to that point finally petered out as pathetic gaggles of German troops surrendered. 

In the summer of 1942 had seen German forces sweep all before them until they got bogged down in the streets of Stalingrad in September.

 What followed was a titanic urban conflict as men fought room to room throughout the city. 

The Soviets launched a massive winter offensive that cut the city off from the rest of the German front and defeat was only a matter of time. 

Around 90,000 men surrendered today. 

The Soviets marched them through horrific winter weather to camps which the vast majority would not survive. 

After the war they were forced to rebuild Stalingrad and only released in 1955. 

Only 5,000 made it back to Germany.