From the Volga to the Don

Although massively outnumbered and lacking effective anti-tank weapons, the Romanians managed to beat back the first Russian assaults, inflicting heavy casualties. Despite enormous casualties some units held their ground for multiple days, only surrendering after spending all ammunition. Second line troops who were thrown into the fight because of the great losses but proved to be unreliable, and fleeing masses of such troops led the Germans to believe that the Romanian front-line troops had been routed quickly by the Soviets.

The 1st cavalry and 20 infantry division were badly mauled and had to retreat into the Stalingrad Kessel, where they continued to fight until the German surrender in February 1943. Other remnants of Romanian divisions joined Hoth's attempt to lift the siege.