Today in 1942, southwest of Stalingrad, Russia

German forces began Operation Winter Storm, the last ditch and ill fated attempt to relieve the encircled 6th German Army under the command of General Von Paulus.

With significant panzer forces and the highly-motivated if exhausted and underfed motivated soldiers of the 6th Army waiting to attack rear elements of the Russian forces facing the relief columns, Army Group Don was destined to fall short in their desperate gambit.

Ultimately, the Germans were unable to link up, the Russians bled their Eastern Front opponents even further, and the 6th Army resigned itself to eventual capitulation and ignominious destruction.