Stalingrad remembered.

[Serb]

60 years ago in February 2 of 1943 the Stalingrad’s battle was over. The encircled army of field marshal von Paulus surrendered to Red army. Today all Russians give their respect to veterans of WW2 whose courage saved our country, and to memory of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for this victory. We consider this battle as the most decisive battle of World War II. What do you think about this battle? Was it the most decisive battle of WW2 or not?

Another question. Stalingrad was completely destroyed during first months of battle. After the war it was rebuild and after the death of Stalin it was renamed to Volgograd. Today some people here in Russia suggest that name Stalingrad should be returned to city. What do you think about this? As far as I know Paris have the Stalingrad’s Street or Stalingrad’s square (I’m not really sure is it street or square). So, should we or shouldn’t we return to the city of Volgograd its previous name?

[Lancer]

Better than Hitlergrad.

Yup, decisive turning point for that theatre. Midway was the turning point in the Pacific.

[Serb]

Midway?

[Bereta_Eder]

I was a bit surprised to see the name of the city change but it is up to Russians to decide its name be that Stalingrad or not

[Lancer]

What am I saying? I forgot...El Alemein was the turning point in your little corner of the world. Stalingrad...wasn't that a sleepy town in the Ukrain? No no, I recall now...it's in Bosnia!

[Sandman]

The sacrifice of the Red Army is all to often ignored in the West. I, at least, do not.

I don't think that it should be renamed Stalingrad; since it was Stalin's disastrous leadership which led to the Germans getting that far in the first place.

[Lancer]

Sandman, by that logic maybe it should be named Hitlergrad. Because of him the whole of Russia didn't fall. Also, it's a toss up as to which was the worse mass murderer...

[Boris Godunov]

I pay due remembrance to all those who died in that battle. Certainly the war efforts of the USSR were indispensible in defeating Nazism. Yet another reason why the war was such a stupid, horrible catastrophe that led people around the world into senseless slaughter.

As for the name--I think changing it back to Stalingrad would probably be unwise, given his general reputation and legacy. There are still plenty of people alived who suffered under his reign and who had loved ones die because of him. There's no reason to change it back. Keeping it as Volgograd doesn't diminish the heroic efforts of those who died.

[Pekka]

Yep, that was a big battle. Situation looked bad for you guys, but managed to throw the enemy back. Quite heroic battle.

[Datajack Franit]

Boris, you already back on poly?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Boris, you already back on poly?

Did I say I was leaving?

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Boris, you already back on poly?

*Looks*


Yep, it looks just like him!

[BeBMan]

Yes, I think it was a turning point.

To the name: this is up to your people to decide, but I agree with Boris, I wouldn´t like Stalingrad. BTW, was the city founded under this name? It was quite big - was it an older city which got the name Stalingrad during Stalin´s rule? Like Leningrad/St Petersburg?

[Eli]

BeBro :

It's original name was Tsaritsyn.

[Lancer]

Well, that Tzar name wouldn't work, hmm.

Lancergrad!