70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad

[Larry1]

VOLGOGRAD, Russia - The Russian city once known as Stalingrad is marking the end of one of modern warfare's bloodiest battles with a military parade, a concert and a visit from President Vladimir Putin.

 The city 900 kilometers (560 miles) south of Moscow suffered six months of intensive fighting, beginning with massive air strikes, as Nazi forces tried to push deep into the Soviet Union and reach its Caucasus oil fields.

At least 1.2 million people are estimated to have died before the fighting ended on Feb. 2, 1943. The Red Army's defeat of the Nazis after house-to-house fighting was a decisive turn in World War II.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130202/API/1302020609?Title=Russia-marks-70th-anniversary-of-Stalingrad-battle

If you have cable TV you can often find documentary films about the battle, but if not there is an American film set during the battle.  It's called "Enemy at the Gates" and stars Jude Law as the famous Red Army sniper Vasily Zaitsev and Bob Hoskins as Nikita Kruschev.

The Telegraph has a short video in which two veterans of the battle are interviewed.

Former intelligence officer and marine Alexei Stefanov is a veteran from the Battle of Stalingrad.
Now 90 years old, he praises the heroism of his fellow soldiers who risked their lives to save children and women from the ruins of the city.

"When buildings started to fall apart, with women and children in the basements, wounded soldiers rushed to the basements, carried the children out, and if they could find their mothers, told them to get to the ferry," he recalled.

89-year-old Pavel Yakin was an infantry man armed with a tank machine gun during the Battle of Stalingrad.
He said what he saw then has never left him. "Death, dead bodies, those are the things you're life is about. Planes, bombing, artillery and trench mortar fire, machine gunfire and so on. And, most importantly, is the obscurity. You don't know when all this lethal danger is going to happen," he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9843068/Stalingrad-anniversary-war-veterans-recall-battle-70-years-ago.html

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:
http://russianreport.wordpress.com/russias-great-patriotic-war-wwii/the-battle-for-stalingrad-of-mistakes-and-blunders/



The Battle for Stalingrad documentary:




From Battlefield Detectives:

[Larry1]

Thanks for the material on Stalingrad, Mendy.

I remember seeing at least that second documentary.  They made an interesting comparison between the two sniper rifles at Stalingrad: the Russian rifle, the Moisin-Nagant model of 1891 and the German rifle, the Mauser 98k.  One would think the German rifle would be a superior sniper rifle because it had a famously robust action and usually had the peerless Zeiss scope.  But the Moisin-Nagant had a superior scope mount that could be adjusted without tools and could be zeroed far more quickly.

[jone]

Watched the first one through to completion.  It actually is a commentary on the historical analysis that already exists.  Which makes it even more appropriate.  It was interesting to have Kruschev's son participating in the discussion. 

Thanks for the find.

[mendeleyev]

I've been busy but just posted some additional information and photos on the past two days anniversary commemorations in Moscow and in Volgograd with President Putin in connection with the Battle of Stalingrad:

www.MendeleyevJournal.com

[calmissile]

I've been busy but just posted some additional information and photos on the past two days anniversary commemorations in Moscow and in Volgograd with President Putin in connection with the Battle of Stalingrad:

www.MendeleyevJournal.com

Thanks for the informative post Mendy.  I wish we in America had the same reverence and respect for our fallen heros.

Did I miss it somewhere?  Why was the city's name changed in the first place?

[mendeleyev]

Thanks, Doug. It was originally Tsaritsyn and then changed to Stalingrad in 1925 in honour of Stalin after the civil war was concluded. Stalin is credited (over rated) for the defense of the city against the White Army.

In 1961 it was changed to Volgograd during the days of deStalinization as the country was riding itself of the cult of Stalinism.

[calmissile]

Thanks, Doug. It was originally Tsaritsyn and then changed to Stalingrad in 1925 in honour of Stalin after the civil war was concluded. Stalin is credited (over rated) for the defense of the city against the White Army.

In 1961 it was changed to Volgograd during the days of deStalinization as the country was riding itself of the cult of Stalinism.

Thanks, that clears up the mystery.

I am still impressed with all the memorials and patriotism that is shown by Ukrainians for their war heroes.  It is nice to see a nation that remembers those that gave their lives to the great wars.  Unfortunately I have not been to Russia, but I see a lot of this in Ukraine.

[mendeleyev]

Yes, it is nice. It is common in any of the CIS countries and good to see that veterans are appreciated and honoured.