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THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD
Stalingrad- today this city standing on the River Volga
is called Volgograd.But the Battle of Stalingrad will remain in history
as one of the fiercest battles of World War II , the turning point in the
War as a whole. The Battle of Stalingrad began in July of 1942. Humanity
closely followed its course for 200 days and nights. It was a clash of
not only military, but also intellectual strength. Thanks to its carefully
worked out plan and meticulous preparations, the Soviet Army carried out
a brilliant operation, as a result of which the 6th German Army led by
Field Marshal Paulus was surrounded.
On November 23, 1942 the 330-thousand-strong group of Nazi troops was
surrounded in a double circle. The Nazis fought desperately. They believed
that to be taken prisoner by the Russians was tantamount to death. Proceeding
from humanitarian considerations, on January 8, 1943 the Soviet command
suggested an honorary surrender. It guaranteed life and safety to those
who surrendered, and, after the end of the war, their return to their own
country. It also guaranteed that their medals and orders, their personal
belongings would be preserved, that they would be given normal food and
medical care. Nonetheless the command of the German troops refused to accept
these conditions. After that the Soviet troops began to destroy the encircled
army group. The Germans sustained heavy casualties. Field Marshal Paulus
addressed Hitler through radio communication. A catastrophe is unavoidable,
he said. Please allow those who are still alive to surrender. Hitler categorically
denied this request and demanded that they fight to the last man. On the
night of January 31, 1943, the entire staff of Paulus and he himself were
taken prisoner. And on February 2 the last German units capitulated.
The Battle of Stalingrad was concluded. The destruction of the enemy
on the River Volga was the beginning of the process of driving the Nazies
out of Russia.
The story of the Battle of Stalingrad whose 57th anniversary is marked
these days was contributed by Lubov Tsarevskaya .
QUEEN ELIZABETH -
HONOURARY CITIZENSHIP
The City Council of Volgograd has decided to bestow honourary citizenship
on the British Queen Mother Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Our correspondent
Viktoria Ulianenko has the details:
The honorary title comes as a tribute to the Queen Mother on the occasion
of her birth centenary to be marked later this year. Also this year we
mark the 55th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World
War. During the war Queen Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI, was engaged
in public activities, visiting hospitals and helping people whose homes
were destroyed in Nazi bombings.
During the war Britain regularly chanelled aid to Stalingrad, as Volgograd
was called at the time. In the fall of 1942, when defenders of Stalingrad
were engaged in a fierce fighting, the British city of Coventry sent them
a telegram expressing admiration for their heroism. Your example, the telegram
said, inspires every honest person to rise against the common enemy.
During the Battle of Stalingrad Queen Elizabeth along with the wife
of Prime Minister Churchill, Clemetina, collected parcels with warm clothes
and food and sent them to the city's defenders. The "Battle of Stalingrad"
Museum in Volgograd prides itself on an exhibit - a beautiful sword decorated
with an inscription saying it was given by King George VI to Stalingrad's
residents, strong as steel, in a sign of the deep respect of the British
people.
Britain's was not only moral aid to Stalingrad. The British people
raised large amounts of money for the restoration of hospitals, a telephone
exchange station and several electricity lines. When the Soviet Army crushed
Nazi troops in the battle of Stalingrad, her Majesty sent Stalingrad's
residents money from her private funds.
Volgograd Mayor Yuri Chekhov had this to say:
"Queen Elizabeth and King George made a considerable contribution
to the restoration of Stalingrad. We'll always be grateful to their country
for its support. This explains our decision to confer the title of Volgograd's
Honorary Citizen on Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother."
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