Volgograd renames itself Stalingrad

[Larry1]

But only on Victory Day and four other days that commemorate the Battle of Stalingrad.

MOSCOW (AP) -- The southern Russian city where the Red Army decisively turned back Nazi forces in a key World War II battle will once again be known as Stalingrad, at least on the days commemorating the victory.

The city was renamed Volgograd in 1961 as part of the Soviet Union's rejection of dictator Joseph Stalin's personality cult. But the name Stalingrad is inseparable with the battle, in which at least 1.25 million people died.

Russia on Saturday plans extensive ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the battle's end.

The Volgograd city council passed a measure Thursday to use the name Stalingrad in city statements on the commemoration day, on Russia's May 9 Victory Day and on four other days connected with the battle, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
 

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_RUSSIA_STALINGRAD?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-31-06-54-20

[mendeleyev]

After Stalin's death there was a period of de-Stalinization and the city was named Volgograd. It was during the 2nd Putin term that the Kremlin wall monument to Volgograd as a hero city was renamed to Stalingrad. That was entirely appropriate as Stalingrad had been the city's name from 1925 and thru the war of Nazi aggression.

For those interested in history the original city name had been Tsaritsyn, taken from the word "Tsar."

Сталинград = S-t-a-l-i-n-g-r-a-d

[jone]

After Stalin's death there was a period of de-Stalinization and the city was named Volgograd. It was during the 2nd Putin term that the Kremlin wall monument to Volgograd as a hero city was renamed to Stalingrad. That was entirely appropriate as Stalingrad had been the city's name from 1925 and thru the war of Nazi aggression.

For those interested in history the original city name had been Tsaritsyn, taken from the word "Tsar."

Сталинград = S-t-a-l-i-n-g-r-a-d

Probably the only ones on this forum who can't respect such a decision is Eduard's German Shepards.  They get a little nervous at the name.

[mendeleyev]

www.mendeleyevjournal.com

Should the southern Russian city known today as Volgograd be returned to it's Soviet era name of Stalingrad? Originally named as Tsaritsyn (Царыцын) when the area was established in the mid 1500s, Tsaritsyn was named for the Tsaritsa River which met the mighty Volga River nearby. Readers will recognize the term "Tsar" in the original name and it wasn't until 1925 when the city was renamed as Stalingrad for the supposed accomplishments (exaggerated) of Josef Stalin in defending Tsaritsyn during the Russian Civil War.


Царыцын (Tsaritsyn) is highlighted at the annual city day celebration.

The recent celebration of the 70th anniversary of victory over the invading Nazi army in the Battle of Stalingrad has reawakened an internal debate inside Russia, asking the question of whether the city should be called Волгоград или Сталинград, Volgograd or Stalingrad?


City light show on Volgograd Hotel displays Stalingrad, Сталинград.

In recent years Russian authorities said the city of Volgograd could regain its wartime name but for now only for six days a year when celebrating wartime victory events. However lawmakers in Russia's Parliament have indicated that a nationwide referendum could be organized to rename the city permanently. Russia Today television has reported that Russia’s Central Election Commission Chief, Vladimir Churov, is ready to organize a vote if instructed to do so by lawmakers.

Newspapers and websites across the country are asking readers to respond in straw poll fashion and so far the trend seems to be widely in favour of changing the name back to Stalingrad, but such polls are neither scientific nor are the results an indication that the country is slipping back toward a more Soviet model.




This newspaper poll although not scientific indicated that the name change idea clearly leads those who oppose.

Not everyone is in favour of the idea and some fear it will signal that Russia is seeking to reclaim her Soviet past. Others don't think a change necessary and would just like to leave things as they are without changing the city's name, yet again.


Caption reads: "I Love Volgograd."

If you are a Russian citizen, have an opinion on the matter and would like to participate in the poll here is a link: http://www.nr2.ru/moskow/325874.html

[lordtiberius]

Whenever I see something honoring Stalin from Russia, I get angry, then I think about the Germans after WW2 and when the libs in this country talk about football teams named the Redskins or the Braves.

Let Russia be Russia . . . ?

[Eduard]

Probably the only ones on this forum who can't respect such a decision is Eduard's German Shepards.  They get a little nervous at the name.

No they are OK... just had puppies (10)! 

[Stirlitz]

I would be happy to see the city renamed even though I detest Stalin. But this has nothing to do with that person. The name of Stalingrad is a symbol of the mightiest blow an army had ever dealt to Wermacht before 1943, a blow that became the beginning of the end. This name is an honor to everybody who fought there and died for Stalingrad. I believe it was an act of disdain to rename Stalingrad to Volgograd.

For those interested in history the original city name had been Tsaritsyn, taken from the word "Tsar."

Taken from the name of the river. But the origin of the river’s name is unclear and might not have been the word "tsar".

[mendeleyev]

Stirlitz,

He could be mistaken, but my friend Vasily Sergeyevich Novakovsky who taught Military History until his recent retirement from the Army sent the following email after reading our article in the Mendeleyev Journal on the renaming of the city:

History of the name Tsaritsyn--the place for many centuries was a transfer across Volga river. There is a hill called Tsarev hill. On this hill was standing the Khan (Tsar) of Tatars and Mongols at the times of their invasions of Russia. Here they were moving across Volga. In the end of the XVI century Russia had colonised all the lands and Tatar states along the stream of Volga. Our Tsar Boris Godunov fixed the process by installation of the town around this hill showing who is the master. Tsaritsyn means the property of his wife - the queen (Tsaritsa). Our kings used the Tatar title Tsar as form of Caesar.

[onus]

Wonderful move.

The defense of Stalingrad and reversing the German advance is legendary.

I don't think they teach us much of this in schools but i used to be history buff.

I'll be in Red Square in a few days. I'll be sure to get pictures of all the hero cities. We owe a lot to the Russians and the outcome of WWII / the Great Patriotic War.

[lordtiberius]

I would be happy to see the city renamed even though I detest Stalin. But this has nothing to do with that person. The name of Stalingrad is a symbol of the mightiest blow an army had ever dealt to Wermacht before 1943, a blow that became the beginning of the end. This name is an honor to everybody who fought there and died for Stalingrad. I believe it was an act of disdain to rename Stalingrad to Volgograd.Taken from the name of the river. But the origin of the river’s name is unclear and might not have been the word "tsar".

I wonder if history teacher and parents will be so nuanced in their explanations to their children.  The world needs men like those who defeated Paulus in Stalingrad not another Stalin.