Had it fallen, Soviet Union could not relocate its troops like it did and logistics would be, well, a nightmare. But it was a main transportation hub for the whole southern Soviet Union and it was a gate through which 86% of all oil came through.Īs far as Moscow goes, it was a main transport hub for the whole east-west and north-south routes. that came through Murmansk in the north, Kamchatka in the East and Iran in the south (again going through Stalingrad).Īs oil was a main thing in the war if you wanted for your Air Force, tanks and logistics system to work, cutting the 86% of Soviet oil would have been a disaster.Īnd that is what most people forget - Stalingrad was no military target, that is true. If Stalingrad falls, 86% of Soviet oil is cut off and Soviet Union is dependent on USA imports of oil.
The thing is, oil from Caucasus came through Stalingrad by rail and Volga by boats.
