... secure their position tightly. It was also the case that the Germans had underestimated their enemy. Their indoctrination of being the superior race placed the regard of 'untermensch' which meant 'sub-human' on the Russians. As they began to realize, they were already beleaguered deep inside the encirclement. The Russians, as defenders, fought courageously under patriotism - unlike the deteriorating Germans. The two examples are the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. In Stalingrad, the German 6th Army was surrounded as a result of operation Uranus which was devised by General Zhukov who led the Stalingrad defense successfully. They surrendered in February 1943. The glorious 300,000 men army had been reduced to 90,000 at the time of surrender. When this news reached Germany, it was not so pleasing. The Allies celebrated their success; the Axis fell into abysmal gloom. As they were retreating from Russian soil, they launched a counter-offensive at Kursk, which ...

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