In the summer of 1942, the Germans advance to seize the rich oilfields of the Caucasus. In their path, the city of Stalingrad, its Soviet defenders personally ordered by Stalin to "take not one step back." The Nazis fail to take the city. The Soviets counter-attack, forcing the encircled Germans to surrender. Throughout, the fighting pays no heed to the laws of war or the fate of civilians. Stalingrad is the turning point of the war, and the grave of 1,000,000.