Webster

The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions." --American Statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852)


Sunday, March 19, 2017

Stalingrad in Color 1942-1943

I was surfing around and ran across this video of Stalingrad in Color

I have blogged about Stalingrad or Volgograd as the city is called now.  It is on my bucket list to go to Volgograd and check out the city, as I understand it, they have a real good museum  there that has artifacts from the battle including VASSILI ZAITSEV rifle, think "Enemy at the Gate". 
And many other things at the museum from rifles, pictures and many tanks.  One thing that I admire about the Russians, they have a keen sense of history, something that many people here don't pay attention to or are clueless where they came from and what it took for them to have the Iphones and the system that encouraged such innovations.  



In 1961, Nikita Khrushchev's administration changed the name of the city to Volgograd ("Volga City") as part of his programme of de-Stalinization following Stalin's death, as he was trying to reduce the "cult of personality". This action was and remains somewhat controversial, given Stalingrad's importance as a symbol of resistance during the war. During Konstantin Chernenko's brief administration in 1984, proposals were floated to revive its historic name. There remains a strong degree of local support for a reversion but intermittent proposals have yet to be accepted by the Russian government.
On May 21, 2007, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation obtained an important success in the Volgograd mayoral election. Communist candidate Roman Grebennikov was elected as mayor with 32.47% of the vote. Grebennikov is Russia's youngest mayor of a federal subject administrative center.
In 2010, Russian monarchists and leaders of the Orthodox organizations demanded that the city should return to its original name Tsaritsyn, but the authorities rejected their proposal.
On January 30, 2013, the Volgograd City Council passed a measure to use the title "Hero City Stalingrad" in city statements on nine specific dates annually. On the following dates the title "Hero City Stalingrad" can officially be used in celebrations: February 2 (end of the Battle of Stalingrad), February 23 (Defender of the Fatherland Day), May 8, May 9 (Victory Day), June 22 (start of Operation Barbarossa), August 23 (start of the Battle of Stalingrad), September 2 (Victory over Japan Day), November 19 (start of Operation Uranus), and December 9. In addition, 50,000 people signed a petition to Vladimir Putin, asking that the city's name be permanently changed to Stalingrad. President Putin has replied that such a move should be preceded by a local referendum and that the Russian authorities will look into how to bring about such a referendum.

The actual Museum is several blocks that haven't changed, the Russians left it as it was as a reminder.

It is one my bucket list to go there and check it out, but with the turmoil going on, I am not sure if it is wise for me to go right now.

1 comment:

  1. I too have wanted to explore Russia. My paternal heritage is from the region surrounding St Petersburg. From those in the know, those who live or have lived there, the best advice I have received is unless you possess a modicum of fluency in the language it is best to hire an agent. The red tape of entry, travel, exit is measured in tons. The risk to which you allude is not as bad as reported. Sure, there are certain areas to avoid but that is relatively minor.

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