Stalingrad in Ruins but the People Resist Hitler's Invasion

In late July, of 1942, Stalin had issued an order (Number 227).  Its main message was short and firm:

Not one step back!

But:

• He didn’t need to say that to convince the people of Stalingrad to do their best to hold their city. 

• He didn’t need to say that to convince the military, fighting in Stalingrad, to do their best to throw-out the invaders.

As Germany’s bombs fell on Stalingrad, decimating the city and turning-off its power, editors of a local newspaper used a hand-cranked printing press to defy the odds against them and their town.  They produced a special one-page issue of Stalingrad Pravda with this rallying banner:

We Will Smash the Enemy at the Gates of Stalingrad!

Although it took some time, that is exactly what the people of Stalingrad and the Red Army did.

The image above depicts a photogaph taken after the Luftwaffe (Germany's air force) commenced air raids on Stalingrad (which started in August, 1942).