The hero-city of Volgograd

Stalingrad
Stalingrad (Volgograd) is one of the most famous and significant hero cities. The most serious shock in the history of the city was the Great Patriotic War. Battle of Stalingrad.

Battle of Stalingrad
July 17, 1942 began one of the greatest battles of World War II - the Battle of Stalingrad. It lasted 200 days and nights. The Nazis sought as soon as possible to seize Stalingrad.

Battle of Stalingrad
The first attack on the city took place on August 23, 1942. Then, just north of Volgograd, the Germans almost approached the Volga.
Volga Fleet sailors, cadets and other hero volunteers were sent to defend the city. On the same night, the Germans made the first airstrike on the city, and on August 25 a siege was introduced in Stalingrad.

Battle of Stalingrad
At that time, the people's militia enrolled about 50 thousand volunteers-heroes from among ordinary citizens. Despite the almost continuous bombardment, the factories of Stalingrad continued to work and produce tanks, Katyushas, cannons, mortars, and a huge number of shells.

Battle of Stalingrad
September 12, 1942 the enemy came close to the city. Two months of fierce defensive battles for Volgograd caused significant damage to the Germans: the enemy lost about 700 thousand people killed and wounded, and on November 19, 1942 the Soviet counter-offensive began.

Battle of Stalingrad
The offensive operation lasted 75 days. The population of the Stalingrad region provided great assistance to the troops in preparing a counteroffensive. The Volga military flotilla played an important role in the battle of Stalingrad. In September-November alone, the flotilla transported 65 thousand soldiers to the right bank of the Volga, up to 2.5 thousand tons of various cargoes.

Battle of Stalingrad
In January 1943, the enemy at Stalingrad was surrounded and completely defeated. The fascist invaders were surrounded, and field Marshal von Paulus with the remnants of the army surrendered. On February 2, the last German-fascist units capitulated. For the entire time of the offensive and defense, the German army lost more than 1.5 million soldiers and officers.

Battle of Stalingrad
For military distinctions, 44 formations and units were given the honorary names of Stalingrad, Kantemirovsky, and Tatsin. 55 formations and units were awarded orders, 183 became guards, 112 of the most distinguished soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad" has become a symbol of the courage of the defenders of the city. It was awarded over 700 thousand participants in the battle.

Hero city of Stalingrad
Stalingrad was one of the first named hero cities.
On may 8, 1965, Volgograd was awarded the title of "hero City".

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
In the hero city of Volgograd there are many monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The main attractions of today's Volgograd are mainly related to the history of the Battle of Stalingrad. This is primarily due to the fact that in two days, August 22 and 23, 1942, as a result of the bombing of the city by Nazi troops, more than 90 percent of the northern part of the city was destroyed.

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
Mamaev Kurgan - "the main height of Russia." During the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the most fierce battles took place here. On Mamaev Kurgan, approximately 35 thousand hero warriors were buried. Today on Mamaev Kurgan a monument-ensemble “To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” was erected. The central figure of the composition is the sculpture "Motherland".
Among the monuments of the Battle of Stalingrad, the following stand out:

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
Panorama "Defeat of the German-fascist troops at Stalingrad" - located on the Central embankment of the city. It was opened in 1982.
The old Gergardt mill (Grudinin's mill) is another silent witness to the courageous struggle of the defenders of the hero city of Volgograd. The ruin of the old mill is the only remaining building in the city that has not been restored since the war.

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
The "house of soldiers 'glory" or, as it is popularly called, "Pavlov's House" is a brick building that dominated the surrounding area. For 58 days, the small garrison of the house repelled German attacks, until the Soviet troops launched a counterattack. In 1943, after the victory in the battle of Stalingrad, the house was rebuilt. In 1985, a memorial wall was opened on the end wall.

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
Alley of Heroes is a small pedestrian street connecting the Volga river embankment and the square of Fallen fighters. On September 8, 1985, a memorial monument dedicated to the Heroes of the Soviet Union and full holders of the order of Glory, natives of the Volgograd region and heroes of the battle of Stalingrad was opened here.

Monuments of the battle of Stalingrad
The monument to Mikhail Panikaha — monument-a sculpture of the battle of Stalingrad, installed in the place of death of Mikhail Panikahi. October 2, 1942 in a battle near the factory "Red October’’ the ordinary 883 infantry regiment and a former Pacific fleet sailor Michael Panikaha, their lives were destroyed by German tanks.