Stalingrad: The Greatest Battlefield of All Time - Renamed Volgograd Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Today Volgograd saw large-scale celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad victory.
The heroic battle on the banks of the Volga continued for 200 days and nights, and turned the tide of WWII. Thousands of people came to the Mamayev Kurgan to honor the fallen heroes. President Vladimir Putin laid flowers by the Eternal Flame.
Our special correspondent, Salim Azariv, reporting from Stalingrad, which is called by its historic name on this day.
Under the dazzling sun, honor guard soldiers are going up the steps of the Mamayev Kurgan. 75 years ago the most terrible battle in the history of mankind ended here. In the hall of military glory Vladimir Putin bends down on his knee and straightens the ribbons, there's a long minute of silence.
A non-stop deadly battle raged on the Mamayev Kurgan. Hitler understood that if he won the high ground, he would dominate the city and the Volga.
The Mourning Square is at the foot of The Motherland Calls monument. The President puts red roses at the grave of Vasily Chuikov, Marshal, and twice Hero of the Soviet Union, the legendary commander of the 62nd Army, who held the city.
During the time of the most difficult battles, the enemy had a five-fold advantage, and 12 times as many tanks. There was no time to sleep, eat, or bandage wounds. And there was nowhere to retreat.
The heavy uniform rings like a chainmail. But age matters to Vladimir Panenko neither now, when he's 92, nor then, when he was 16. The orphan-boy was enrolled in a communications military company. He was in the city the whole 200 days, and witnessed the worst street fighting in the autumn of 1942. Then, the enemy was no longer at the gates but tried to take over the house. The ground became slippery with blood. Not a single intact house was left in Stalingrad. Paulus' 6th field army and Hoth's 4th Panzer Army pressed our fighters against the Volga. Then, they crossed the line beyond which people no longer fear death.
Vladimir Panenko: "And after the order 'Not one step back!', from that time to the end, there was a big comeback and confidence in our victory".
In a day that's holy for every Volgograd resident, veterans receive congratulations and gratitude from the President.
President Vladimir Putin: "Our country was an invincible stronghold before our enemy. Stalingrad rose up, unyielding. Soviet soldiers seemed to have grown in into the wounded land and turned every street, trench, house, and firing point into an impregnable fortress. The city's inhabitants fought for their city with the same courage. This united resistance, readiness for self-sacrifice and strength of spirit were truly invincible, unimaginable, incomprehensible, and terrifying to the enemy. The fate of the motherland, and of the whole world was then being decided in Stalingrad. And here, the unyielding character of our people manifested itself in full force. The most elite Nazi divisions perished in Stalingrad. Nazi strategic plans were ruined, and a way was opened for the enemy's complete and utter defeat".
At the parade, all the veterans wore white sheepskin coats, worn by the Soviet officers when they met victory in the Battle of Stalingrad in the winter of 1943.
Today a real holiday is in the city. A day off is declared, and Volgograd residents with their whole families come to the Square of Fallen Fighters, so that the children could see the parade to see and remember the veterans with their own eyes. And Volgograd has a tradition to return its former name once a year on February 2.
In the skies over Hero-City Stalingrad, formation of army helicopters and crews of operational-tactical aviation are flying. Aviation is taking part in the parade here for the first time. Colonel Osyaykin, Strizhi group leader, speaks directly to the residents from the plane: "I want to congratulate you on this anniversary, and wish you happiness, good luck, and peace."
The parade groups are in step. Iskanders and S-400 follow the legendary T-34. There's pride in the eyes of the veterans.
Afanasy Demchenko, the Great Patriotic War veteran: "Great parade, this is the first such parade in size".
Alexander Medkov, the Great Patriotic War veteran: "It's impressive. We are strong and invincible. Steel doesn't melt, but triumphs".
Alexander Kolotushka, the Great Patriotic War veteran, attendee of the 1945 Victory Day parade: "And the girls, too! Wonderful! I won't be able to sleep tonight".
She's with her comrades with all her heart. Yevgenia Tyukina is watching the parade in Rostov.
Yevgenia Tyukina: "It's as if the war has just ended, and now there is a triumph!"
She shows a Stalingrad medal, she has 5 combat awards, she was 17 then. In the fall of 1942 in Stalingrad walls were on fire and metal was warping, but the fighters continued to fight.
President Vladimir Putin: "The whole generation of victors performed not just a military feat, they left us a great legacy the love for our country, and readiness to defend its interests and independence, to stand firm in any trials. To care for our country and work for its prosperity. In these simple and understandable truths is the meaning of our lives, and we have no right to underperform, to show cowardice and indecision, we must look up to the accomplishments of our fathers and grandfathers. We must go towards our goals like them, achieve more than we already have. We have been proud and will be proud of what has been done before us, and, supported by this foundation, we will go forward, only forward. We will be strong and honest. We will lead new generations, pass on to them the great traditions of our great people. Thank you and a low bow to you, for Stalingrad and the Great Victory".
More than 2 million dead on both sides, 1.5 million Red Army soldiers. The numbers are approximate, the fallen are being found until now. In the Russia – My History Museum in Volgograd the President is shown photos of Soviet soldiers found in the summer by the searchers.
Pressing the button together with the activists of the Victory Volunteers movement, the President launches a virtual reality, in which events of the Battle of Stalingrad are recreated.
President Vladimir Putin: "We can't just admire what was done before us, for this many thanks to our ancestors, without this there would be nothing. But if we want to be on their level, we must achieve our results, our own victories, and strive for them, to overcome difficulties that are ahead of us. And there are always many difficulties on the way forward"
The victory was determined here, in Stalingrad. It was a battle for the world we now live in.
Salima Zarif, Veronika Bobma, Denis Bezlakovsky, Ruslan Abubekerov, Pyotr Rovnov, Tatyana Stepovaya, Irina Kharlamova Vesti from Hero-City Stalingrad.