There was no strategic goal for taking Stalingrad. Initally the southern part of operation Barbarrosa was to capture the Caucus oil fields. Hitler split this Army in two and had one attack Stalingrad. From what I understand personally Hitler wanted to sack the city because it was named after Stalin. Who knows what would have happen if the whole army would have concentrated only on the oil fields. Hitler got what he deserved. A total humiliating defeat.

Goal was 2 capture the oil fields there cause it fuels its tank(nazi tanks or panzer tankers)and the red army heated the whole sixth army(nazis).all the captured ones were send 2 a russian labor camp. only 2000 germans survived the labor.