Battle of Stalingrad, (July 17, 1942–February 2, 1943), was successful Soviet defense of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Russia, U.S.S.R., during World War II. Russians consider it to be one of the greatest battles of their Great Patriotic War. It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favour of the Allies.