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In Volgograd, a unique reconstruction has been held of the street battle that took place during the Great Patriotic War. Members of military history clubs from Volgograd (former Stalingrad, which is 966 km from Moscow) and the Volgograd region, Astrakhan, Kaluga, and Rostov-on-Don recreated "the last battle of Stalingrad," which finally crushed the German forces under the command of General Shteker.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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The Germans occupied the northern part of the city, in the vicinity of the Stalingrad tractor factory and the Barrikady plant, and continued to put up fierce resistance, even when most of the German units had already surrendered. News that the group had finally been broken was dispatched to Colonel-General Rokossovsky at 16:00 February 2, 1943. That was the end of the Battle of Stalingrad.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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The reconstruction took place at the site of a former medical equipment factory, which is due to be demolished. Historically, it was not the correct region of the city, but in terms of "decoration" it was ideal: dilapidated factory buildings, piles of broken bricks, empty window eye-sockets all around. To add extra atmosphere, pyrotechnics were used to create a blanket of fog and smoke.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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"We found a suitable site almost in the very center of the city with not too many residents or traffic. The city authorities allowed us to use it," said the head of the Pekhotinets [Infantryman] Club and one of the organizers of the reconstruction, Anatoly Artamonov.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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Urban reconstructions are extremely uncommon. Re-enactors very rarely get a chance to stage street clashes, and usually restrict themselves to field battles.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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"The main purpose of any reconstruction, in my opinion, is to get children interested: what was the war? Who fought? Why?" believes Alexei Nikulin, head of a vehicle restoration shop, who "commanded" a newly restored U.S.-made light tank.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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"Children's interest can be piqued through military hardware and battle reconstructions to get them to think and read more about the events that took place. That's why we always take our children to military exhibitions and displays. In my opinion, it really works."
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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"Reconstructing historical events is one way of encouraging young people and educating them about military patriotism," believes the head of the Volgograd Patriot Center, Roman Moldavan. "By showing reality as it was, we induce a sense of pride for their country, the Russian army, and a love of military history."
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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Despite the fact that in recent years re-enactments have gained a wider audience, there is no shortage of detractors. "All we see are 'tin soldiers' with no regard to the emotional aspect or the fate of the individual," says regional historian and blogger Anna Stepnova.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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In actual fact, there is a danger that the "uninitiated" spectator will observe nothing more than a group of people in "fancy dress" running out and shooting at each other. Despite the authenticity of the uniforms, children often have trouble distinguishing the "Germans" from the "Russians."
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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Residents of Volgograd may have found a solution: all the action was accompanied by a running commentary on the "theater of hostilities." The insights and explanations allowed viewers (mostly children) to better understand what was going on and get involved.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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During the official opening ceremony, representatives of the "Baton of Great Victories" public movement handed over the Soviet Banner of Victory to members of military history clubs from Rostov-on-Don, the 70th liberation anniversary of which will be marked on February 16. The "Baton of Great Victories" movement was set up to transfer the Banner of Victory between the Hero Cities and Cities of Military Glory of the former Soviet Union.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
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Over the period 2013-2015, it will retrace the exact path of the Red Army's movements in 1943-1945, from Leningrad and Volgograd to the German city of Torgau on the Elbe. The banner was brought to Volgograd by an official delegation from the Leningrad [St. Petersburg] region.
Ricardo Marquina Montanana
!["We found a suitable site almost in the very center of the city with not too many residents or traffic. The city authorities allowed us to use it," said the head of the Pekhotinets [Infantryman] Club and one of the organizers of the reconstruction, Anatoly Artamonov.](http://nl.media.rbth.ru/all/2013/0103/galleries/22561/.thumb116X76_4.jpg)
![Over the period 2013-2015, it will retrace the exact path of the Red Army's movements in 1943-1945, from Leningrad and Volgograd to the German city of Torgau on the Elbe. The banner was brought to Volgograd by an official delegation from the Leningrad [St. Petersburg] region.](http://nl.media.rbth.ru/all/2013/0103/galleries/22561/.thumb116X76_13.jpg)
