Street Fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad — Autumn 1942

July 20, 2025 - Reading time: 6 minutes

Soviet infantry in street fighting with Wehrmacht forces during the Battle of Stalingrad, autumn 1942.

This dramatic photograph captures the intense street fighting between Soviet infantry and Wehrmacht forces during the Battle of Stalingrad in the autumn of 1942. As German forces attempted to capture the city, Soviet defenders fought desperately to hold their ground in the ruins of Stalingrad. The battle, which became one of the bloodiest in World War II, was a turning point in the conflict on the Eastern Front.

In this image, Soviet troops are seen engaging German forces amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings. Stalingrad, once a thriving industrial city, was reduced to a battlefield, with its civilian population caught in the crossfire. The fight for each street, each building, was brutal, and Soviet forces, including regular infantry, militia, and snipers, turned the ruins into strongholds. The Soviet resistance in Stalingrad symbolized their determination to defend the city at all costs.

This iconic photograph, taken by Georgy Zelma, serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the Red Army in one of the most pivotal battles of WWII.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Stalingrad, USSR
📅 Date of photo: Autumn 1942
📷 Photographer: Georgy Zelma

• Street fighting

• Battle of Stalingrad

• Soviet resistance

• Red Army

• Wehrmacht

• Eastern Front

• Soviet infantry

• German forces

• WWII urban warfare

• Stalingrad ruins

• Fall of 1942

• Georgy Zelma