Russia on Thursday marks the 80th anniversary of the Red Army's victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, an event considered a fundamental turning point in the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive today to the places where the battles were fought 80 years ago.
As explained by his press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the trip to Volgograd will take one day. February 2, the head of state will lay a wreath at the Eternal Flame in the Hall of Military Glory on Mamayev Kurgan. In 1942-1943 fierce battles took place there, and after the war the Motherland Calls monument was erected there, which for a long time was the highest non-religious statue in the world.
Then the president will speak at the concert, dedicated to the memorable date, and then he will meet with representatives of public patriotic and youth organizations. The venue for the meeting will be the museum-panorama "The Battle of Stalingrad".
In addition, Putin has planned a separate working meeting with the head of the Volgograd region Andrei Bocharov. Traditionally, during his trips to the regions, the head of state talks to their governors.
The victory of love for the motherland
Putin pays special attention to all significant dates of the Great Patriotic War. For him, this is, among other things, a personal story. His father went through the war, his mother suffered through the hardships of the blockade. That's why two weeks earlier the president visited St. Petersburg to celebrate with his countrymen another important milestone - the 80th anniversary of the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad.
The head of state also remembered the Battle of Stalingrad as one of the largest battles of the war. As president, Putin celebrated all anniversaries related to the victory in this battle. So, 20 years ago, on the 60th anniversary, he also came to Volgograd: he visited the museum-panorama, talked to the residents of the city, congratulated the veterans. In 2013, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory a reception on behalf of the president was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace. It was held the day before, on February 1. And then the head of state went to Volgograd to celebrate the occasion. He did not change this tradition five years later, on the 75th anniversary of the event.
According to Putin, the actions of the Red Army in the Battle of Stalingrad is one of the highest examples of courage and heroism in world military history. Then, in his view, "not only the greatest military, but also a great moral victory - the victory of patriotism, love for the homeland, for the Fatherland over anger, hatred and aggression" was achieved. And the fate of not only Russia, but of the whole world was decided at Stalingrad, he is sure.
"The bridge of memory" and the reenactment of the Battle
During the days of celebration about 250 events will be held in Volgograd, the main ones on February 2. There will be a parade of Volgograd military garrison on the square of Fallen Fighters, a concert, conducted by People's Artist of the USSR Yury Bashmet and fireworks on Mamayev Kurgan and the central embankment.
The military-historical reenactment, opening at 12:30 Moscow time at the airfield in the village of Srednaya Akhtuba, will make it possible to reliably witness one of the major battles of the Battle of Stalingrad. Russian Znanie (Knowledge) Society and Synergy University have invited over 500 re-enactors from different regions of Russia to participate in this festival. It is expected that the staging of the finale of Operation Koltso (Ring) of the Battle of Stalingrad with the real military equipment of the Second World War will be shown to about 3 thousand viewers.
At the same time guests of Volgograd and its residents will visit the world's only interactive museum on wheels - "Victory Train" - at the Sarepta station. At the entrance to the train participants will get headphones and an audio guide. And at 18:00 guests will enjoy the performance-concert "The Living and the Dead", based on the novel by Konstantin Simonov. Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra as well as leading Russian actors take part in the performance.
At 18:00 the historical and patriotic project "The Bridge of Memory" will start. Among its locations are the Alley of Heroes, the upper terrace of the 62nd Army Embankment, The Motherland Calls, the railway station "Volgograd-1", the building of the museum-panorama "The Battle of Stalingrad" and the ruins of the mill of Gergardt. Big LED screens will broadcast pictures of participants of the battle, sent by relatives from all regions of Russia and abroad.
The "Bridge of Memory" will culminate with three fireworks, with 200 launchers of both high and low caliber. At 21:00 Moscow time the sky will light up with colorful lights over Mamayev Kurgan, near the Gergardt mill and on the Central embankment. The regional committee of culture specified that the "Star" laser installation will draw directly in the air, and the many beams of light will symbolize the bridge of memory between the heroes and their descendants. At the same time, festive fireworks will be launched in all districts of Volgograd.
Events in other regions of Russia
The day of the historic victory on the Volga River will be widely celebrated in other regions of Russia. In St. Petersburg the Russian National Library in its new building will host the exhibition "By the walls of Stalingrad", where rare editions from the war years will be presented. The library's press service told TASS that the exhibition will feature about 80 items, including a collection of letters from German soldiers defeated at Stalingrad. At the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theater to mark the date the Chamber symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich - Rudolf Barshai, the cantata "War Letters" by Valery Gavrilin and "Little Triptych" by Georgy Sviridov will be performed.
The historical and architectural complex "Gostiny Dvor" in Arkhangelsk will host the exhibition "Stalingrad. A symbol of courage and heroism." It is a mobile exhibition project of the State Historical and Memorial Museum-Reserve "The Battle of Stalingrad" combined with the exhibition "The Battle of Stalingrad in plastic miniatures."
In the regional museum of Astrakhan visitors will find items owned by the Astrakhan participants of the legendary battle - letters, Komsomol cards, ID cards, photos, notebooks, letters, military ID cards, service records, medals, badges, Red Army record books and other personal items.
Celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Stalingrad victory has been moved to the federal level by the decree of the president of Russia. Preparation and celebration are coordinated by the federal organizing committee, chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, the regional organizing committee is headed by Governor of Volgograd Region Andrei Bocharov.
The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942 - February 2, 1943) was one of the largest during the Great Patriotic War by the scale, duration and number of participants. It radically changed the course of the war and was a harbinger of victory for the Soviet army over the Nazi troops.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS