Battle of Stalingrad By samkalino Jul 17, 1942 Battle begins The Luftwaffe begins to bomb the city and Soviet shipping on the Volga River. Aug 23, 1942 Panzer column reaches Volga River just north of Stalingrad Sep 13, 1942 German ground offensive starts in the city Nov 19, 1942 Red Army begins Operation Uranus to encircle German 6th Army. Nov 23, 1942 Encirclement is complete trapping roughly 290,000 Axis troops. Dec 12, 1942 Field Marshal von Manstein's army group launches an attack to relieve the 6th Army in Stalingrad. German advance is pushed back by the Soviets. Feb 2, 1943 German troops trapped at Stalingrad surrender.