On November 19, 1942, the Russians launch their counteroffensive and eventually surround the 6th Army in Stalingrad. After about nine weeks, the Germans are forced to capitulate.

Into captivity

A column of German troops on parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Parade in Paris

Masrhall Ivan Stepanovich Konev
He was one of Stalin's favourite generals and one of the few senior commanders whom even Stalin admired for his ruthlessness. Konev, according to Beria's son, had "wicked little eyes, a shaven head that looked like a pumpkin and an expression full of self-conceit."
According to Milovan Djilas, Konev openly boasted of his killing of thousands of German prisoners of war:"The cavallary finally finished them off. 'We let the Cosaks cut up as long as they wished. They even hacked off the hands of those who raised them to surrender' the Marshal recounted with a smile." 