Notifications. Monuments to the Battle of Stalingrad Photos of monuments dedicated to the memory of the Battle of Stalingrad

08.03.2020

There was one "outstanding political figure", one of "builders of democratic Russia" - Anatoly Alexandrovich Sobchak. Now the glory of the father has been eclipsed by the glory of the daughter, but maybe someone else remembers the father. So he, already the mayor of St. Petersburg, promoted the idea of installing a memorial to the German soldiers who died near Leningrad. According to the plan, the memorial was supposed to stand in the city of Pushkin.

And he was not alone. Several years ago in Volgograd they wanted to erect a monument to the Germans who died in Stalingrad. Germany allocated money, the authorities gave consent... and only threats to blow up this monument emanating from ordinary people, forced me to abandon its installation...

The list is, of course, incomplete, but the picture is general outline clear, right? Which monuments now need to be erected and which ones need to be demolished.
A little more time will pass and the world will quite reasonably say that the Germans did not commit atrocities in the USSR during World War II: "You see how they are still respected - they erect monuments to them and take care of them. How can this happen if we are talking about villains?..."

Upd. :
I am not at all annoyed by the monument to the fallen French on the Borodino field. And a monument to the dead Germans in World War I would not irritate. I don't know, maybe there is one somewhere.
I am not a historian and I know history at school level, as well as according to the stories of its direct participants and therefore I believe that with the Second World War the situation is fundamentally different: firstly, in previous wars the aggressors had no plans to exterminate people simply because they were born of the “wrong nationality” and secondly, there were no attempts to implement these plans. And I consider it blasphemous to erect monuments to the dead for the sake of realizing this idea.

A memorial monument with the inscription: “In memory of the Romanian prisoners of war of the Second World War who died in Russia” was opened in the Krasnoarmeysky district by a delegation from Romania together with officials of the Volgograd administration and Volgograd region.

The installation of the monument is connected with Romania’s initiative to perpetuate the memory of its soldiers and officers who died in the Battle of Stalingrad, the administration of the Volgograd region told the site.

Between Russia and Romania back in 1995, agreements were concluded to ensure the safety and order of maintenance of Russian military graves abroad and foreign military graves in Russian Federation, - the administration reported. - As part of these agreements, in 1996, at the request of the War Memorials association, the Volgograd administration provided a plot of land in the village of Sacco and Vanzetti in the Krasnoarmeysky district for indefinite use. It was transferred for the arrangement of the cemetery for foreign prisoners of war of the 1st department of the 108th Beketovsky camp. In 2005, an agreement was concluded between the governments of Russia and Romania that military personnel, including those captured, and people killed or died during the First and Second World Wars and in the post-war period, buried on the territory of the two countries, have the right to a worthy place of rest, the creation and maintenance of which must be properly ensured. On this basis, the Romanian side and “War Memorials” expressed a desire to erect a memorial sign in the period from May 10 to 15 of this year.

Photo: Maria Chasovitina

Representative of the association of international military memorial cooperation “War Memorials” Sergei Chikhirev told the site that the installation of a memorial stone in the Krasnoarmeysky district is due to the fact that the remains of 35 Romanian prisoners of war rest on the territory of the cemetery.

The initiative for the installation belongs to the Romanian consulate and authorities, as well as organizations involved in the care of war graves. It is difficult to single out just one. It was more of a general idea. The monument was prepared in advance and brought to Volgograd,” explained Sergei Chikhirev. - From Romania, the ambassador and his family, the consul from Rostov-on-Don, and embassy workers were present at the opening of the monument. There are about 10 people in total. Representatives from Volgograd were represented by employees of the international relations committee of the regional administration and the deputy head of the Krasnoarmeysky district. Everyone met at the cemetery, and the Romanians thanked the Volgograd authorities for the opportunity to install the monument and constructive cooperation. The whole event took 20-30 minutes. The ambassador mentioned in his speech that there are about 300 graves and monuments to Soviet soldiers on the territory of Romania. They guarantee to take care of them.

Then the Romanians went to Astrakhan to unveil a small monument. In the near future, they plan to open a prefabricated cemetery in the city of Apsheronsk, Krasnodar Territory. There they are going to perpetuate the memory of not only soldiers and prisoners of war, but also civilians who lived in the south of Russia. In Romania, there is a special program that allocates funds for the installation of such monuments.

According to a representative of War Memorials, the opening of the monument at the combined Hungarian-German-Romanian cemetery is explained primarily by pragmatic reasons.

Photo: Maria Chasovitina

Mostly Germans are buried in the cemetery in the villages of Sacco and Vanzetti. There are about 120 of them and 35 Romanians. There are fewer Hungarians there. The installation of the monument there is due to the fact that it is easier to care for the graves and the monument. The opening of the monument will help preserve the memory of prisoners and soldiers, so that contemporaries can see who is buried in this particular place. If Romanian soldiers lie here, then it is logical to indicate this with a memorial sign. Nothing more. The reason is simple - 35 Romanian prisoners of war are buried here. Therefore, the inscription on the stone speaks about this. Another monument has stood for many years in the old cemetery in the city of Uryupinsk, Volgograd Region, where there was a hospital for prisoners of war during the war.

“War Memorials” have long been engaged in the Volgograd region in the search, exhumation and establishment of the fate of foreign soldiers who fought at Stalingrad.

For recent years It was possible to discover and rebury the remains of more than 1,000 Romanian soldiers,” said Sergei Chikhirev. - They are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Rossoshki. Two monuments have been erected to Romanians in Russia and one prefabricated cemetery has been opened in Rossoshki. There are about 300 monuments and two prefabricated cemeteries to Hungarian soldiers and prisoners of war on Russian territory. Our state takes care of them. As part of a parity partnership, the same Germans and Romanians maintain the proper burial of Soviet soldiers in their countries. Our organization provides funding and finds people who take care of foreign graves.

Photo: Maria Chasovitina

The opening of the monument in the village of Sacco and Vanzetti was carried out quietly, without the involvement of television cameras and journalists. According to Sergei Chikhirev, this is due to the difficult political situation and difficult relations with the Volgograd authorities.

Our main goal was to open the monument, not to make a fuss. Our goal was not to make this widely public. We wanted to do it quietly and calmly so as not to cause negative reaction in society. Although for for many years work, people are calm and understanding, unlike those who are trying to stir up a scandal for their own mercantile interests.

Maybe this is due to the scandal last year. Then, the Deputy Ambassador of Romania invited the governor of the Volgograd region to the reburial, where he used official letter the wording "our heroes". People were outraged. From the outside, this may seem like blasphemy, but for Romanians, naming their soldiers this way is a normal practice in their vocabulary. In Romania, this is what they call all dead soldiers, no matter in what period historical era they died. Romanians treat their military personnel with respect. We warned the diplomats, but they did not listen to us. As a result, a scandal arose. This whole story was blown out of proportion, and no one wanted to look into it. But there are agreements between countries, legal frameworks for interaction.

According to a representative of War Memorials, misunderstandings also occur on the part of local administrations.

We often encounter negativity local authorities. More more problems with the military registration and enlistment office. For example, I wrote a letter to one of the districts near Volgograd and asked them to coordinate the exhumation and search of Romanian and German military personnel on the basis of the country’s legislation. “I get the answer that this is impossible,” Sergei Chikhirev is perplexed. - The law “on perpetuating the memory of those who fell in defense of the Fatherland...” states that it is necessary to conclude an agreement between the military registration and enlistment office, “War Memorials” and the district administration. I call the administration and ask whether German and Romanian military personnel are defenders of the Fatherland or not? They are silent on the phone. They refer to the military registration and enlistment office and refuse.

Volgograd – large city on the Volga with a rich history. Stalingrad withstood the fascist pressure during fierce battles. The city was practically destroyed, but soviet army turned the tide of the war. This event affected the monuments of Volgograd. Most of them are dedicated to the Second World War: the Motherland, Mother's Sorrow, other sculptural compositions of Mamayev Kurgan, a monument in honor of the civilians of Stalingrad, a composition dedicated to Michael Panikakhe. There are also modern monuments: the bunny Agnia Barto, a sculpture of the first conductor. Among the pre-war monuments, the monument to V. S. Kholzunov has been preserved.

Monument-ensemble "Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad"

Better known as Mamayev Kurgan. This is a symbol of Volgograd, a tribute to the memory of the Battle of Stalingrad and the tens of thousands of soldiers killed while defending the city. The complex was founded from 1959 to 1967. The author of the project is Evgeniy Viktorovich Vuchetich. Since 2014, the memorial has been included in the list of candidates world heritage UNESCO. Large compositions are located on Mamayev Kurgan. The basis of the complex is the statue of the Motherland. Other sculptures are also known: “Mother’s Sorrow”, “Stand to Death”, ruin walls and high relief memory of generations. The bodies of 35 thousand soldiers rest on the mound in mass and individual graves.

Motherland

This sculpture is the compositional basis of Mamayev Kurgan. Tourist pilgrimage center. It stands at the top point of the historical complex. The figure of the Motherland can be seen from almost every part of the city. The authors of the project are sculptor Vuchetich and engineer Nikitin. The height of the statue is 85 meters, without a pedestal it is the tallest sculpture in the world. The height including the pedestal is 87 meters. The sculpture is made of stressed reinforced concrete. 5,500 tons of concrete and 2,400 tons of iron structures were used in the manufacture. The statue represents a woman holding a sword in her raised hands. Symbolizes the Motherland, calling its sons into battle.

Sculpture "Mother's Sorrow"

The monument is located on Mamayev Kurgan, on the Square of Sorrow. A bowed female mother figure holds her dying son in her arms. The eleven-meter sculpture is made of reinforced concrete. According to the author's plan, the figures of mother and son are not completely carved. This creates a feeling of monolithicity and aching melancholy. Next to the monument is the Lake of Tears swimming pool. It symbolizes the pain of mothers and wives who lost their loved ones in battle.

Sculpture “Stand to the Death”

This is one of the main monuments located on Mamayev Kurgan. It stands in the center of a round pool, rising out of the water like a rock. The warrior-liberator, 16.2 meters tall, holds a grenade in one hand and a machine gun in the other. The man is not completely carved, only upper part bodies. The facial features are reminiscent of the commander of the 62nd Army V.I. Chuikov. The sculpture is positioned so that its back covers the Motherland standing in the distance.

High relief “Memory of Generations”

This is the central element of the Entrance Square of Mamayev Kurgan. The multi-figure bas-relief represents stone wall. The figures of men, women and children are carved on it. They all carry wreaths of flowers and flags at half-staff. In this way, people pay tribute to the memory of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Stalingrad. The high relief symbolizes the memory of descendants; they will never forget about the feat.

Ruin walls

This sculptural composition, leading up the stairs. Located next to the "Stand to the Death" square. The length of the memorial wall is 46 meters, height 18 meters. The ruins represent the heroic chronicle of the Battle of Stalingrad. Figures of soldiers, banners, and battles are carved into the wall. Walking up the stairs, you inevitably find yourself back in time during the Second World War. Because the place is voiced by information bureau reports and songs of the war years.

Monument to Mikhail Panikakha

The sculpture was unveiled in 1975. The authors were sculptor Kharitonov and architect Belousov. The monument is dedicated to Mikhail Panikakha, the hero of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1942, he sacrificed his life and jumped on a tank with a Molotov cocktail. The six-meter monument depicts Mikhail Panikakha in a jump. The sculpture is made of copper and stands on a reinforced concrete pedestal.

Gerhardt's Mill

This is a monument to the terrible Battle of Stalingrad. Gerhardt's mill is located not far from Pavlov's house and from the embankment. This is a building left over from the Second World War. It was not deliberately demolished or restored; it symbolizes the memory of the bloody events of the battles for Stalingrad. It is a box of a once full-fledged building, the walls of which are riddled with bullets, the windows are broken, and there is no roof at all. The steam mill building itself was built in 1907 – 1908.

Monument to Tank Destroyer Dogs

In 2011, a monument to demolition dogs was erected on Chekist Square in Volgograd. They were trained specifically to blow up fascist tanks. The author of the project is Nikolay Karpov. There is a figure of a dog on a granite pedestal. She looks like an East European Shepherd, but the author did not intentionally make obvious similarities. The height of the monument is 2 meters, weight is just over 200 kilograms.

Monument to civilians of Stalingrad

Stalingrad was subjected to terrible bombing during the war. On August 23, 1943, the most powerful bombardment of the city took place, when two thousand German aircraft carried out combat missions. Over 40 thousand civilians died. The monument is dedicated to these victims. It was installed on May 9, 1995. Authors: N. Pavlovskaya and V. Kalinichenko. A five hundred kilogram fascist bomb froze above the figures of women and children.

Floating monument to fallen river workers on the Volga

In 1980 it was opened in Volgograd unusual monument. It is located opposite Mamayev Kurgan, in the fairway of the Volga. A huge anchor, 15 meters high, occupies a floating platform. It is dedicated to the courage of the rivermen who transported thousands of wounded, and many sections of the Volga were often mined. Every year on the eve of Victory Day, a floating buoy takes its place on the Volga.

Monument to Konstantin Rokossovsky

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, a monument to Konstantin Rokossovsky was opened in Volgograd in 2015. The military leader hosted the Victory Parade on Red Square and participated in most military operations. The authors were sculptors Vladimir Surovtsev and his son Danila. The marshal is depicted in military uniform and riding a horse. The sculpture was made in classic style, located on a high pedestal.

Guardian Angel Statue

In 2005, the opening of the monument “Guardian Angel of Volgograd” took place. The author of the project is sculptor Sergei Shcherbakov. A bronze angel stands on a granite hemisphere. His gaze is fixed on the Volga. Hands folded in prayer. The height of the monument is just over two and a half meters. Weight – 600 kilograms. A capsule with the wishes and dreams of Volgograd residents is buried under the monument.

Monument to Alexander Nevsky

In February 2007, a monument dedicated to the Novgorod prince was inaugurated. The author of the project was sculptor Sergei Shcherbakov. Nevsky was the first to talk about the need to build fortifications on the Volga, so a monument to him was erected in the city. The monument is cast from bronze. The figure of Alexander Nevsky is made in full height. He is dressed in armor and holds a banner in right hand. The height of the monument is 7 meters including the pedestal.

Monument to Lenin

The monument to Vladimir Ilyich is located near the entrance to the Volga-Don shipping canal. Considered one of the most tall statues peace. Construction of the monument and pedestal lasted from 1969 to 1973. The authors are E. V. Vuchetich and L. M. Polyakov. Until 1962, a monument to Stalin stood on this pedestal, then it was removed. The Lenin monument is made of stressed reinforced concrete. The total height is 57 meters, of which the height of the pedestal is 30 meters.

Monument to V. S. Kholzunov

The sculpture was installed in 1940. Its authors are sculptors M. G. Belashov and E. F. Alekseeva-Belashova, architect V. E. Shalashov. The monument stands on the embankment and is included in the list of objects federal significance. One of the few surviving pre-war monuments. On a granite pedestal stands a bronze figure of Hero of the USSR Kholzunov. The total height of the monument is 8.35 meters. Viktor Stepanovich was a bomber pilot. Proven himself in Civil War in Spain.

Monument to the first governor of Tsaritsyn Zasekin

In 2009, on the Day of National Unity, a monument to the first governor of Tsaritsyn, Grigory Zasekin, was inaugurated. The voivode is considered the founder of the city. The authors of the project are V. Seryakov and S. Shcherbakov. Grigory Zasekin sits on horseback, he is dressed in a 16th century uniform. The gaze is directed into the distance, towards the Volga. The height of the monument including the pedestal is six and a half meters.

Monument to the founding fathers of the city

The monument opened in 1989, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the city of Volgograd. It symbolizes eternal memory generations. The authors of the monument: sculptors Yu. Yushin and A. Tomarov, architect O. Sadovsky. At the site where the monument was founded, the Tsaritsyn-Volgograd line once began. The monument represents two figures of an archer holding in their hands a letter with a covenant for future generations.

Monument to Peter and Fevronia

Monuments dedicated to married couple Saints are located in many cities of Russia. Volgograd was no exception. The composition was opened in 2001. The author was the sculptor Konstantin Chernyavsky. Peter and Fevronia stand on a low pedestal, in their hands they hold a dove - a symbol of love and peace. Eight rules for creating a strong and friendly family are carved next to the monument.

Monument "Cossack Glory"

Known as a monument to the Russian Cossacks. It was opened in 2010, on National Unity Day. Author: Vladimir Seryakov. The monument was placed next to the ancient Church of John the Baptist, where Stepan Razin was baptized. The monument represents a brave Cossack who is sitting on a horse, preparing for a military campaign. He is accompanied by a Cossack woman with an icon in her hands. The sculptural composition is cast from bronze. Height – 2.85 meters, width – 1.3 meters.

Monument to Zheglov and Sharapov

In 2015, a sculptural composition in an urban style dedicated to criminal investigation was unveiled. Gleb Zheglov and Vladimir Sharapov stand in front of the Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Both figures are cast in bronze and copied in the likeness of the characters from the film “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed.” The sculptures stand leaning on street lamp. The monument became the first such monument in Russia.

Monument to the first district conductor

The monument dedicated to the conductor was erected in 2015. There are tram rails next to the figure. The man is dressed in a uniform from the early twentieth century. The monument was created from old photographs. This collective image many conductors who worked in the first tram depot of Volgograd in the twentieth century.

Monument to a motorist

This modern statue is dedicated to the motorist. It was opened in 2012 at the request of the Arkont automobile company. Author – Sergey Shcherbakov. Taken as a motorist main character"The Golden Calf" Adam Kozlewicz. He sits on one wheel, the steering wheel is in his hands, and his foot is on the gas pedal. It is considered the only monument to a motorist in Russia.

Monument to the first teacher

In 2010, on Teacher's Day, a monument to the first teacher was unveiled. The author of the project is sculptor Anatoly Pakhota. The teacher holds a school magazine and a pointer in her hands. Next to her stands a boy dressed in a Soviet uniform, holding a briefcase behind his back. “Tags” are laid out on the asphalt in front of the teacher and student. The monument is cast from bronze, the height of the composition is one and a half meters.

Monument to the bunny Agnia Barto

A sculpture of a bunny from the famous children's poem by Agnia Barto stands in the city garden. The author of the sculptural composition is architect Alexey Antyufeev. A bunny in a children's overalls and a short-sleeved shirt sits on a pile of books with children's poems by Agnia Barto. Not far from the statue there is a carved bench on which, according to the poem, the little hare was forgotten.

Monument to the Glory of Generations

The Monument to the Glory of Generations was installed on central square Volgograd - the Square of Fallen Fighters, with which heroic pages of history are connected.

In days great battle on the Volga the area became the scene of fierce battles. On January 31, 1943, the Nazis threw a white flag of surrender over it, and Field Marshal Paulus, who had surrendered, emerged from the basement of a dilapidated department store - his last headquarters.

The Square of Fallen Fighters witnessed a solemn meeting dedicated to the defeat of the fascist hordes at Stalingrad. There, next to the mass grave of the workers, the defenders of the city who died in the battles of 1942 - 1943 were buried.

In 1957 at mass graves ah, a single granite monument was built - an obelisk and a tombstone.

On Mamayev Kurgan

Mamayev Kurgan is the dominant height over the city. During the Battle of Stalingrad it was the site of the most fierce fighting, key position city defense.

The defenders of Stalingrad well understood the meaning of the mound and figuratively called it main height Russia. There they took an oath: “Not a step back!”, “There is no land for us beyond the Volga!”, “Fight to the death!” For almost 140 days and nights, lead showers raged over Mamayev Kurgan; the Nazis frantically rushed to this height, but were never able to capture it completely. The mound turned black, as if charred, from the cruel fire; during the fighting, the earth on it was thickly mixed with iron fragments and blood. The top of the mound changed hands many times, and its northeastern slopes were firmly held by Soviet soldiers throughout the entire period of hostilities.

Residents of the city brought Mamayev Kurgan back to life. They took mines, unexploded shells and bombs out of its wounded land, laid out squares and parks on it, and covered it with a green carpet of grass. A grandiose sculptural ensemble was built on Mamayev Kurgan, immortalizing the feat of the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad.

In front of the stairs to the mound is the introductory composition “Memory of Generations”. It depicts people different ages carrying a wreath to the grave of fallen heroes. An alley of pyramidal poplars leads to the first square of the ensemble. In the center of the square, a 12-meter figure of a Russian warrior-hero appears to be growing out of a rock, surrounded by a swimming pool. At the foot of the sculpture there are inscriptions: “Not a step back!”, “Fight to the death!”

The ruined walls adjacent to the square give the impression of the streets of a destroyed city. On the walls appear figures and faces of the city’s defenders, relief scenes telling about front-line life and the exploits of soldiers. The walls are painted with excerpts from military orders, protocols of party and Komsomol meetings, and oaths of soldiers.

The next terrace of the ensemble is Heroes Square. In its center is a huge water parterre. The calm surface of the water reflects six sculptural compositions telling about the exploits of warriors and episodes of the battle.

The other side of the water parterre is bordered by a 112-meter wall, made in the form of an unfolded and greatly elongated banner. On the wall are the words: “The iron wind hit them in the face, and they all walked forward, and again a feeling of superstitious fear gripped the enemy: were people going to attack, were they mortal?!”

Granite steps lead from Heroes Square to the hall Military glory. The entrance, decorated with gray concrete slabs, resembles a dugout. The round building of the hall with a light suspended ceiling is made in the style of the ancient Greek pantheon. 34 symbolic red banners hang along the high walls lined with gold smalt. The names of 7201 fallen in the Battle of Stalingrad are inscribed on them. Above the banners is a wide ribbon with the inscription: “Yes, we were mere mortals, and few of us survived, but we all fulfilled our patriotic duty to the sacred Mother Motherland.”

In the center of the hall there is a marble hand with a flaming torch of the sacred Eternal Flame.

A spiral ramp leads from the Hall of Military Glory to the Square of Sorrow, the main sculptural composition of which is the figure of a woman-mother. In deep sorrow she bent over the fallen warrior. Mother's boundless grief intensifies weeping willows, growing over the pond in front of the sculpture.

A mound rises from the Square of Sorrow. During the construction of the monument, the remains of dead soldiers were transferred there from mass graves located on the territory of the city.

On 34 granite symbolic slabs located along the serpentine path along the slope of the mound, the names of the most distinguished participants in the great battle, who died defending the city and died after the war, are carved.

The monument-ensemble is crowned by a 52-meter sculpture of the Mother Motherland, who in anger raised a punishing sword. Mother Motherland calls her sons to fight the enemies.

A talented team of sculptors, architects, and engineers worked on the ensemble under the leadership of Hero of Socialist Labor E. Vuchetich.

The entire monument-ensemble is made of concrete. Its construction took place from January 1961 to May 1967. The monument was unveiled on October 15, 1967.

M. Aleshchenko, V. Matrosov, L. Maistrenko, A. Melnik, V. Morunov, A. Novikov,

A. Tyurenkov; head of the engineering group N. Nikitin; military consultant Marshal of the Soviet Union

V. Chuikov.

Panorama Museum

On the steep bank of the Volga, on the site of the fierce battles for Stalingrad, a memorial ensemble was created - the museum-panorama “Battle of Stalingrad”. Panoramic part of the complex "Destruction" Nazi troops near Stalingrad" opened on July 8, 1982. This is a monumental work of art about the Great Patriotic War.

The museum complex includes 7 exhibition halls, 4 dioramas and a triumphal hall. The canvases depict the most striking pages in the history of the great battle on the Volga. The entrance hall of the panorama leads to the artistic canvas, the ceiling of which is decorated with heraldry - signs of the branches of the troops that participated in the battle. They are made of smalt and placed along the curly ribbon of the medal “For the Defense of Stalingrad”. In the center of the hall is the Order of Victory.

The culmination of the events depicted in the panorama is the breakthrough of the enemy defense by the troops of the 21st Army of General I. Chistyakov from the west and the forces of the 62nd Army of General V. Chuikov from the east with the aim of dismembering the enemy group. The panorama conveys the grand scale of the Battle of Stalingrad. The canvas depicts the military actions of the troops that took part in the encirclement and defeat of the Nazi formations. The artists managed to create a generalized image of the battle and reflect the most striking and characteristic episodes of the heroic battle. Events are shown both on the battlefield and in the immediate rear of the units: reserves are being pulled together, shells are being transported, and assistance is being provided to the wounded.

The canvas reproduces not only individual episodes of the battle and heroic deeds of soldiers, but also the strategic plan for the final blow of the Soviet troops at Stalingrad. The dimensions of the panorama, one of the largest in the world artistic practice, allowed to be placed freely without distorting historical truth, all big picture battle spread over a large area.

The observation deck of the panorama is conventionally located at the top of Mamayev Kurgan. Main topic panoramas - the greatness of the feat Soviet people. All artistic means are subordinated to the embodiment of this idea.

P. Zhigimont, P. Maltsev,

G. Marchenko, M. Samsonov, F. Usypenko.

Project unique complex developed by a group of architects and engineers under the leadership of architect V. Maslyaev.

"Connecting Fronts"

During fierce defensive battles on the approaches to Stalingrad, Soviet troops stopped the enemy on a front stretching more than 800 km. The main forces of the Nazi troops were drawn into heavy, bloody battles between the Don and Volga rivers.

The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command developed a plan for encircling the Stalingrad enemy group under the code name “Uranus”. The troops of the Southwestern and Stalingrad fronts were supposed to unite in the Kalach-Sovetsky area and surround units and formations of the enemy’s 6th field and 4th tank armies.

On November 19 and 20, 1942, the troops of the Southwestern, Don and Stalingrad fronts, after powerful artillery preparation, launched a decisive offensive. As a result of bold actions, the 26th Tank Corps of General A. Rodin crossed the Don and on November 23 fought Kalach.

On the same day, units of the 4th Tank Corps of General A. Kravchenko of the Southwestern Front and the 4th Mechanized Corps of General V. Volsky of the Stalingrad Front united in the Sovetsky area. 22 enemy divisions and more than 160 separate units were surrounded.

To commemorate this event, in 1953 in the Kalachevsky district, at lock No. 13 of the Volga-Don Shipping Canal, the “Union of Fronts” monument was built. The multi-figure 16-meter composition depicts a meeting of soldiers from two fronts. On the pedestal there are two memorial plaques with texts:

“On November 23, 1942, in the Kalach area, Soviet troops of the Southwestern and Stalingrad fronts, in cooperation with troops of the Don Front, completed the operational encirclement of the enemy, which led to the subsequent defeat of the 330,000-strong group of fascist German troops that broke through to the Volga.”

“Our descendants will never forget the greatness of spirit and the fabulous fortress of Russian soldiers along the banks of the Don and Volga. In the battles to encircle Nazi troops, the 19th, 45th, 69th, 157th, 102nd tank, 14th motorized rifle and 36th mechanized brigades distinguished themselves.”

Between Russia and Romania, back in 1995, agreements were concluded to ensure the safety and order of maintenance of Russian military graves abroad and foreign military graves in the Russian Federation, the administration reported. - As part of these agreements, in 1996, at the request of the War Memorials association, the Volgograd administration provided a plot of land in the village of Sacco and Vanzetti in the Krasnoarmeysky district for indefinite use. It was transferred for the arrangement of the cemetery for foreign prisoners of war of the 1st department of the 108th Beketovsky camp. In 2005, an agreement was concluded between the governments of Russia and Romania that military personnel, including those captured, and people killed or died during the First and Second World Wars and in the post-war period, buried on the territory of the two countries, have the right to a worthy place of rest, the creation and maintenance of which must be properly ensured. On this basis, the Romanian side and “War Memorials” expressed a desire to erect a memorial sign in the period from May 10 to 15 of this year.

Representative of the association of international military memorial cooperation “War Memorials” Sergei Chikhirev told V1.ru that the installation of a memorial stone in the Krasnoarmeysky district is due to the fact that the remains of 35 Romanian prisoners of war rest on the territory of the cemetery.

According to a representative of War Memorials, the opening of the monument at the combined Hungarian-German-Romanian cemetery is explained primarily by pragmatic reasons.

“War Memorials” have long been engaged in the Volgograd region in the search, exhumation and establishment of the fate of foreign soldiers who fought at Stalingrad.

In recent years, the remains of more than 1,000 Romanian soldiers have been discovered and reburied,” said Sergei Chikhirev. - They are buried at the Memorial Cemetery in Rossoshki. Two monuments have been erected to Romanians in Russia and one prefabricated cemetery has been opened in Rossoshki. There are about 300 monuments and two prefabricated cemeteries to Hungarian soldiers and prisoners of war on Russian territory. Our state takes care of them. As part of a parity partnership, the same Germans and Romanians maintain the proper burial of Soviet soldiers in their countries. Our organization provides funding and finds people who take care of foreign graves.

Our main goal was to open the monument, not to make a fuss. Our goal was not to make this widely public. We wanted to do it quietly and calmly so as not to cause a negative reaction in society. Although, over many years of work, people are calm and understanding, unlike those who are trying to stir up a scandal for their own mercantile interests.

Maybe this is due to the scandal last year. Then, the Deputy Ambassador of Romania invited the governor of the Volgograd region to the reburial, where he used the wording “our heroes” in an official letter. People were outraged. From the outside, this may seem like blasphemy, but for Romanians, naming their soldiers this way is a normal practice in their vocabulary. In Romania, this is what they call all dead soldiers, no matter in what historical era they died. Romanians treat their military personnel with respect. We warned the diplomats, but they did not listen to us. As a result, a scandal arose. This whole story was blown out of proportion, and no one wanted to look into it. But there are agreements between countries, legal frameworks for interaction.

According to a representative of War Memorials, misunderstandings also occur on the part of local administrations.