I read the book, “Stalingrad” (Viking, 1998) by Antony Beevor several years ago. What the Soviet troops and civilians endured was nearly unbelievable. It was as bad as the Battle of the Bulge, but lasted for six months. Nearly a million Germans were captured (less that 5,000 returned after the war) and 150,000 died.
I couldn't imagine having to consume the flesh of another human being-let alone, that of a close, family relation-in order to merely subsist.
It truly is remarkable that this city was able to survive the onslaught of the German army for such an extended period of time.