Stalingrad

Stalingrad was a Russian city in the Soviet Union. It was later known as Volgograd. (PROSE: Happy Endings)

During World War II, after the Germans suffered a setback on the Eastern Front when the winter halted Operation Barbarossa, (PROSE: Just War) they began reorganising their forces at the beginning of 1942 and began amassing a huge army north of Stalingrad. The Night Witches attempted to resist their advance towards the city. (AUDIO: The Night Witches) Mikhail Popov lived in Stalingrad at one point, but left it for London in 1942 at the Doctor's insistence. (PROSE: Happy Endings)

In the autumn of 1942, the Germans launched the attack on the city. The besieged civilians (on Stalin's orders) were not permitted to escape across the Volga, so they had to endure starvation, bombardment from the Luftwaffe, and freezing to death when the winter arrived. Erimem and Andy Hansen travelled to besieged Stalingrad in late 1942 where they encountered the Drofen. (PROSE: The Beast of Stalingrad)

One million Russians died defending the city (PROSE: Happy Endings) The Sixth Doctor told Hitler that the events at Stalingrad were "key" to victory in the war. The victorious Red Army gained valuable experience from Stalingrad which was put to use when they invaded Berlin in 1945. (PROSE: The Shadow in the Glass)

Debbie Castle saw a picture of the Eighth Doctor in Stalingrad from 1951. (PROSE: Endgame)