Volgograd

The city of Volgograd was founded in the XVI century, it was known as Tsaritsyn at that time and was a strong fortified fortress that protected the important river trade route. Nowadays you will hardly see any ancient monuments and buildings there, because this beautiful ancient city was completely destroyed during WWII. The city, which was renamed Stalingrad in 1925, had to be totally rebuilt after one of the bloodiest and tragic battles in history - the Battle of Stalingrad - which left its mark on its layout, and everything in this city bears the resemblance of the great patriotism of Russian warriors and their sacrifice.

As you will wander along the streets of this hero-city, the monuments dedicated to the Stalingrad battle will be telling you about its bloody history. Stalingrad was targeted by the Nazis, who needed to capture it in order to gain control over the Volga and Soviet food and fuel resources. If they had managed to do that, the Nazis' victory in the war would probably be granted. Soviet troops held a desperate defence, fighting for each street and building. The Nazis got stuck, they were surrounded by counter-offensive, they were running short of supplies, and their morale was decreasing dramatically. After four months of fierce fighting the Battle was over. Nearly 750 thousand Germans died there and the number of Russian soldiers lost is estimated at about one million. Since then, the tradition to honor the war veterans is very strong in Russia and the monuments dedicated to the battle and the war, in general, are preserved and respected.

The most remarkable and evocative monument is without a doubt Mamaev Kurgan (Mamay Mound). This is one of the biggest war monuments in the world. Through its ensemble, the authors communicated the meaning and importance of this Battle for the Russian people. The size of this memorial complex is truly impressive - about a mile from foot to top. The ensemble consists of several levels: the composition "Fight till death", The Ruined Walls, The Square of Heroes and The Hall of War Fame.

The centrepiece of this ensemble is the expressive monument of the Motherland Russia, it is a 230 feet high stone woman raising a 35 ft sword in her hand. She looks as if she is encouraging the soldiers to stand up and fight till death against the intruders. Each sculpture and monument here is unique and interwoven by the idea of devotion to your motherland and the desire to be able to give your life for it. The visit to this site leaves a very deep impression even on people who were born many years after those terrible events.

Another place which will tell you about the Stalingrad Battle is the Panorama "Stalingradskaya Bitva" situated in the Museum of the Defence of Stalingrad. It is arranged in a way that you are standing on the top of Mamaev Kurgan and you are surrounded by a 360 degree panoramic view of one of the final scenes of the battle. The scenery is so impressive that you almost feel you are involved in it.

12 years later, after the fall of Stalin's regime, the city got its present name, Volgograd, in honor of the Volga River..

Discover Volgograd on a Russian River Cruise.