Eighty years after the devastating Battle of Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest chapters of World War II, volunteers like Andrei Oreshkin are still salvaging the remains of Soviet soldiers. More than a million members of the Red Army died fighting for the southern Russian city, a sacrifice that has made it a symbol of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and the mecca of Russian patriotism today .
The anniversary of that pivotal battle took on additional significance this year as Russian troops fought in Ukraine. The Kremlin has gone to great lengths to portray the nearly year-long conflict as yet another battle against Nazism, as it took place in the city now called Volgograd. And many, including Oreshkin, are open to this story. “Of course we are fighting fascism,” he told AFP at Rossoshka, a cemetery near Volgograd for Soviet, German and Romanian soldiers.
Moreover, he agrees with Moscow’s view that the conflict in Ukraine is rooted in the West’s misjudgment of Russia’s determination and capabilities, as in World War II. “At the time, Nazi Germany and its allies underestimated the USSR, its power and the patriotism of its people,” Oreshkin said. “The West expects Russia to be weak.”
Such comparisons to the past are everywhere in Volgograd, a city of a million people where every street is a reminder of the devastation of 80 years ago. Symbols of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine – the letters Z and V – are displayed side by side with flags and memorials honoring Soviet troops.
The historic message that Moscow must once again fight European fascism echoes President Vladimir Putin’s justifications when he launched the offensive last February, pledging to “denazify” Ukraine.
At the Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad, staffer Tatiana Prikazchikova said Western criticism of Russia after centuries of clashes was “nothing new”. Recently, the museum organized medal ceremonies for the families of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. “The message is this: your ancestors fought against fascism,” Prikazchikova said, pointing to a 360-degree panorama of the battle. “And they follow this tradition.”
The museum recently hosted a ceremony for the Youth Army patriotic movement funded by the Defense Ministry, where leaders told children, “You are the descendants of the victors of Stalingrad!” The city’s famous war memorials, such as the Motherland Calls statue, were also used as dispatch points for volunteer soldiers en route to Ukraine.
Most Volgograd residents who spoke to the AFP said they were pleased with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the battle, although many were unwilling to draw any comparison to the conflict in Ukraine. “We have to think about not repeating mistakes and drawing conclusions,” said Yekaterina Sedova, whose great-grandfather fought in Stalingrad. The 21-year-old chemistry student took part in patriotic events related to the commemoration, but did not want to “mix” the events, adding that she tried to limit her exposure to Ukraine news so as not to “get emotionally hurt”. “.
Others were uncomfortable with the pomp and circumstance. “This is a tragedy for Volgograd and for our country,” said 31-year-old Maria Anshakova on the banks of the Volga, who said the birthday should be “celebrated discreetly.”
Historian and local activist Vyacheslav Yashchenko said the celebrations had become much larger compared to those in the Soviet era. He also said he was disturbed to see the government promoting the Ukraine offensive in conjunction with the anniversary of Stalingrad. “It’s true that victories [da II Guerra Mundial] were really huge for our country. But the authorities are now using past victories and historical events that serve them to improve the country’s image and manipulate people’s consciences,” he said.
Back at the Rossoshka Memorial, Oreshkin, who belongs to a group that recovered the remains of more than 1,000 Red Army soldiers last year alone, showed identification tags and other personal items found on the outskirts of Volgograd. “Future generations may have to do what we do,” he sighed. “I just hope that those responsible learn from our experience and that the dead are not left behind in the camps.”
Source: DN
