Zajtsev, Vasilij Grigor'evich, Sniper, Hero Of The Soviet Union

[Soviet]

Is there a statue of him in Volgograd?

[Taz]

On January 31, 2006 Vasily Zaitsev was reburied on Mamayev Kurgan with full military honors. Zaitsev's dying wish was to be buried at the monument to the defenders of Stalingrad. His coffin was carried next to a monument where his famous quote is written: "There is no ground for us beyond [the] Volga."

Eddie

[Dolf]

On January 31, 2006 Vasily Zaitsev was reburied on Mamayev Kurgan with full military honors. Zaitsev's dying wish was to be buried at the monument to the defenders of Stalingrad. His coffin was carried next to a monument where his famous quote is written: "There is no ground for us beyond [the] Volga."

Eddie

Ed,

The original proclamation was: "There is no land past the Volga", and it was originally issued by General Chuikov to his soldiers, when he was appointed commander of the 62nd Army, replacing General V.I. Lopatin in August 42, I believe.

Dolf

[Taz]

Hi Dolf,
yes thats the one, not 100% sure if the same is written on the monument where he is buried now though.

Eddie

[Dolf]

Hi Dolf,
yes thats the one, not 100% sure if the same is written on the monument where he is buried now though.

Eddie

Ed,

According to Wikipedia, the quote on the monument is exactly as you mention.
I believe I've read somewhere that Zaitzev simply adapted the original proclamation of Chuikov, making it a kind of citation he used a lot with other snipers, probably to help motivating him and the others.
Anyway, I guess these are simply two different translations of the original sentence in Russian.
I just wanted to say that it's not Zaitzev who initially created that sentence, but instead it was Chuikov :thumbsup

Dolf

[Lapa]

Zaitsev's grave in the Heroes' Alley on Mamaev Kurgan.

Marc

[CtahhR]

We can now finish putting the nails into the coffin of the "fairy tale" of the "Hero Of Stalingrad".

"The site" offers the original citations without the "spin".

Surprisingly nice handwriting on them all too.

First he was awarded the Medal "For Bravery", then a "Red Banner" and then a "Hero Of The Soviet Union" for his feats in Stalingrad (as well as the campaign Medal). In 1944 he was awarded a second "Red Banner" and he also received an OPWI '85

He was in Military service from 1935 and was a high ranking (formerly rated) non-commissioned officer. He was in the Red Navy but transferred to Army as a "Starshina 1st Status" to serve at the front. Where he actually got to see a bit of combat.


Here is his Medal citation.

[CtahhR]

His first Red Banner. Downgrade from a Lenin (His first Medal was also a downgrade from an unnamed Order).

[CtahhR]

Hero Of The Soviet Union. No downgrade this time - the tide is turning!

[CtahhR]

His second Red Banner - an upgrade from Patriotic War I.
For actions on the 10th May 1944 "For Stalin!".

German paper attached for some reason.