The outcome of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II was a decisive Soviet victory. Fought between August 23, 1942, and February 2, 1943, this battle marked a significant turning point in the war on the Eastern Front. The German army, led by General Friedrich Paulus, suffered a catastrophic defeat, with hundreds of thousands of troops killed or captured. This loss halted the German offensive into the Soviet Union and began a significant Soviet counteroffensive that eventually pushed German forces back. Stalingrad's defeat shattered the perceived invincibility of the Nazi regime and boosted Soviet morale, laying the groundwork for further Allied successes.