In the first three days , the Soviets lost 26,000 men and over half their tanks .
The operation was launched on 10 January 1943 with a mass artillery bombardment of the German positions outside the city by the seven encircling Soviet armies .
In the first three days , the Soviet lost 26,000 men and over half Soviet 's tanks .
The operation was launched on 10 January 1943 with a mass artillery bombardment of the German positions outside the city by the seven encircling Soviet armies .