Showing posts with label Stalingrad WW2 snipers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stalingrad WW2 snipers. Show all posts

Stalingrad why is it such a famous battle from WW2?

 There are a number of reasons why Stalingrad is still to this day a very famous battle that took place in WW2. It was crucial in stretching the Germans to breaking point, the Russians clung on to the city 
from the river side by pouring troops into a virtually ruined city. Hitler dug his heels in  against his top military peoples advice; they would not leave Stalingrad until the bitter end and ultimately defeat. Books, movies have recorded how Stalingrad played out and enlighted the public of the seige!
 
Two things that are associated with Stalingrad are Snipers and the cold weather. The city had so many snipers on both sides dug in movement around the buildings was almost impossible. Much of the movement was done at night or in tunnels under the ruined buildings. The weather meant many troops on both sides suffered, inadequet shelter, clothing and rations meant it was hell on earth, especially as the battle lasted for what seemed years.
The Germans initially had huge numbers in Stalingrad, over time the sheer amount of troops they needed to send there to keep pushing the Russians back came at a huge price and at the expense of weakening them on the Western front. The Russians had what is seemed millions of recruits to fill in the now growing death toll (1 million Russians died in Stalingrad with over 13,000 shot for deserting). Men, women and young boys it didn't matter the 'Zerg' was all important and in the end proved a key factor. The photo shows 62nd Stalingrad Army marching in Odessa.

Stalingrad Enemy at the Gates: Snipers!

 There has always been huge interest in the battle of Stalingrad, generally because of the importance it played in WW2 and the downfall of Hitler. But also for me the films that have been made about it and the snipers that have grown into legends of war. Jude Law did a good job portraying a Russian sniper.

 Based I guess on some of the famous snipers. Maybe Vassili, who had 242 confirmed kills and a much higher estimated count!
One of the female snipers Lyudmila Pavlichenko who again had a massive kill count of 296 Germans! These successful snipers not only killed alot of German troops but boosted moral of the Russians who worshiped them and were fed stories from the battlefront.

Snipers Stalingrad WW2

Stalingrad was a nasty street to street, building to building battle. Snipers were key in taking out soldiers and high ranking officers from afar. Here we can see snipers taking position in a ram shackled building. Sure looks cold.