Now we move on to the main part of the episode, to our main topic.
June 22, 1941On the early morning of June 22, 1941, without a declaration of war (suddenly, unexpectedly), Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union. The Great Patriotic War began, lasting for 1,418 long days and nights.
The enemy planned a "blitzkrieg" — a lightning-fast war. Hitler expected to defeat the USSR within a few months.
In the fall of 1941, German troops approached Moscow. They were only 30 kilometers from the capital. German officers were already looking at Moscow's districts through binoculars. Binoculars are a device you look through to see distant objects.
But the Soviet soldiers held firm. In December 1941, the Red Army launched a counteroffensive and pushed the enemy back from Moscow. This was Germany's first major defeat in World War II.
Stalingrad: The City That Held OutBut the real turning point in the war happened near the city of Stalingrad, which stands on the Volga River. The Battle of the Volga began on July 17, 1942, and lasted 200 days and nights. Why was it so important for the German command to capture Stalingrad? Stalingrad was a large city on the river used to transport oil from the city of Baku (now Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan). Oil was extracted in the republic of Azerbaijan, which was essential for tanks, airplanes, and military vehicles. If the Germans had captured Stalingrad, our army would have been left without fuel for its military equipment.
The Battle of Stalingrad was the most terrible and bloodiest in history. Fights raged for every house, every floor, every room. The famous Mamayev Kurgan — a hill overlooking the city — changed hands several times. The soil on that hill was mixed with metal and blood.
On February 2, 1943, the German army surrendered. This was the first mass surrender of German troops. Surrendering means laying down your weapons and putting your fate in the hands of the enemy. You become a prisoner, held under guard. Twenty-five German generals were taken prisoner. National mourning was declared in Germany. Mourning is when people are sad because a very tragic event has happened.
The Battle of Kursk: The Largest Tank BattleNext came the Battle of Kursk. The Germans wanted revenge for Stalingrad and to regain the strategic initiative. To take revenge means to win this time, to show you are not weaker than your opponent and can win. The Germans prepared Operation Citadel and threw their new heavy tanks, the Tiger and Panther, into battle.
The battle began on July 5, 1943, and on July 12, near the settlement of Prokhorovka, the largest head-on tank battle in history took place. Up to 1,200 tanks and self-propelled guns participated from both sides. Tanks charged straight at each other. The Soviet troops held out and then went on the offensive. On August 5, the important cities of Oryol and Belgorod were liberated, and on August 23 — Kharkiv. This meant the strategic initiative had finally passed to the Red Army.
The Siege of Leningrad: 872 Days of DeathBut there were not only battles. There was also the Siege of Leningrad — one of the war's most terrible pages. Leningrad is modern-day Saint Petersburg. The siege began on September 8, 1941, when German troops completely cut off the city from the mainland.
Leningrad was trapped in a ring. The only connection to the outside world was the "Road of Life," which ran across the ice of Lake Ladoga. This small winter road was constantly under fire from fascist troops.
In the winter of 1941–1942, famine began in the city. There was no food. Workers received 250 grams of bread per day, while office workers and children received only 125 grams. It was a tiny piece of bread. People died of hunger right on the streets. Some ate dogs, cats, rats, and pigeons.
The Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days and was only lifted on January 27, 1944.
The Liberation of Europe and the Concentration CampsThe Red Army not only liberated its own land but also helped liberate Europe from Nazism. Soviet soldiers liberated Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, and Yugoslavia. We liberated the European capitals: Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade, Vienna, and Prague.
While liberating Europe, Soviet soldiers entered German concentration camps — Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, Majdanek, Treblinka. What they saw there is impossible to forget. Mountains of human bodies, crematorium ovens, barracks for prisoners. Crematoria are large ovens where people were taken and burned. Imagine — burning people!
Victory and Its PriceOn May 8, 1945, the act of unconditional surrender of Germany was signed in Berlin. Unconditional surrender means completely, without doubt, without any stipulations. A final stop is put — no more war or military actions, the fascists must lay down their weapons. In Moscow, it was May 9 when this was announced on the radio. That day became Victory Day for the Soviet people.
But the price of victory was enormous. The Soviet Union lost 26.6 million people! This was the highest number of casualties among all countries participating in World War II.
For comparison, among the direct participants in the war:
- The USSR lost 26.6 million people
- Germany lost about 7 million military personnel and civilians
- The USA lost about 420,000 military personnel
- Great Britain lost about 450,000 military personnel and civilians
Among the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition (those who fought alongside the Soviet Union) — China lost about 20 million, and Poland lost about 5.6 million people.
The Immortal RegimentAfter the collapse of the Soviet Union, the tradition of celebrating Victory Day remained. It is a big holiday in Russia: various events are held, parades with military equipment. The most beautiful and grand parade is on Red Square in Moscow. But a new tradition also appeared — the "Immortal Regiment." Immortal means without death, existing forever, never dying. A regiment is a military unit with many soldiers and weaponry. The Immortal Regiment means a part of the army that never died and continues to live. The "Immortal Regiment" is a procession along city streets with banners and photographs of veterans. People hold photos of their grandfathers who took part in World War II. The "Immortal Regiment" is a tribute to the veterans who gave their lives for our future.
The action first took place in 2012 in one city, but within a couple of years, the action began gathering millions of participants. In Moscow alone, about one million people take to the streets with portraits of their relatives.
Personal StoryMy own grandfather fought in the war. He was a regimental cook. A cook is someone who prepares food. His task was to prepare food and deliver it to the front line — where the soldiers were fighting. He transported hot food to the front line, under fire, under bombs. He didn't shoot at enemies, but without him, the soldiers couldn't fight. A hungry soldier is a bad soldier.
My grandfather returned from the war and lived a long life.
I am married, and my wife also had a relative who fought — her great-uncle. He was a pilot — he made his first and last combat sortie. He flew off on a mission and never returned. His plane was shot down. He is listed as missing in action. We don't know where he is buried, but we remember his name.
For us, Victory Day is not just a day off. It is the day we remember our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We take their photos and walk in the column of the "Immortal Regiment."
ConclusionFriends, today we learned:
- That on June 22, 1941, the Great Patriotic War began.
- That the Battle of Stalingrad was a crucial turning point in the war, and the main goal of the battle was the oil of the Caucasus region.
- That the Battle of Kursk was the largest tank battle, involving thousands of combat vehicles.
- That the Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
- That the Soviet Union lost more than anyone — nearly 27 million people — and liberated part of Europe from Nazism.
- That the "Immortal Regiment" is our living memory.