![]() ![]() The city is steeped in nostalgia for the former Soviet Union, fuelling a brisk business in historical tourism. 2, to commemorate the Nazi surrender, and May 9, to mark the final Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. In 2013, lawmakers in the city voted to revive the name Stalingrad for ceremonial purposes six days a year, including Feb. ![]() Originally called Tsaritsyn, the city became Stalingrad during Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule in 1925.Īs part of the "de-Stalinization" process launched by his successor Nikita Khrushchev, the newly rebuilt city was renamed Volgograd in 1961. In January 1943, the Soviets launched a final offensive, retaking the ruined city district by district until the last German troops capitulated on Feb. The 6th Army of German general Friedrich Paulus managed to gain control of 90 percent of the city.īut in November, the Red Army staged a forceful counter-offensive, overcoming the enemy troops who were trapped and left to starve in the Soviet winter. ![]() The Soviets were under strict orders from Stalin to stand their ground. "Not a single step back," he ordered, warning that troops who retreated would be shot. ![]() The battle began in July 1942 and lasted for 200 days of grinding aerial bombardments and house-to-house fighting between the Germans on one hand and Soviet soldiers and civilians on the other. Stalingrad also acted as a gateway to the oil fields of the Caucasus as well as to Central Asia and the Caspian Sea.įor Hitler, who had in June 1941 pulled out of a German-Soviet non-aggression pact, its name alone made it a tantalizing target and worthy of an epic fight. Located some 900 kilometers (559 miles) southeast of Moscow, pre-war Stalingrad was a crucible of Soviet industry with factories in the city of 600,000 people churning out military hardware. Today, some of the most enthusiastic supporters of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine are to be found in Stalin's so-called "Hero City" of Stalingrad, now called Volgograd. ![]()
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