Volgograd marks anniversary of victory in Battle of Stalingrad

Governor Anatoly Brovko said in his congratulatory message to residents of the region that "the number of participants in the Battle of Stalingrad is dwindling down". There are only 1,600 of them in the Volgograd Region now. "The more valuable are reminiscences and evidence of participants in that historic battle, especially for the rising generations.

According to the press service, the panoramic museum "Battle of Stalingrad" mounts the exhibition "International recognition of the feat of Stalingrad: Stalingrad on the world map". Volgograd residents will have a chance to learn which cities in the world called their streets, avenues and squares in honour of Stalingrad.

An All-Russian relay race will be staged in the Fallen Fighters Square. Garlands of wreaths and flowers will be laid at monuments, obelisks and common graves in the Volgograd Region.

The festivities will be crowned on the Mamayev Hill which was the epicentre of the Battle of Stalingrad and which was overrun by Soviet and German troops several times. More than 30,000 Red Army men lie at rest there. The metronome will strike a minute of silence at 14.00, announced all over the Volgograd Region in memory of the fallen in the battle on the Volga River.

It is expected that the festivities will be attended by Natalya Matyukhina, the daughter of Colonel General Alexander Rodimtsev and Alexander Chuikov (son of Marshal of the Soviet Union Vassily Chuikov). Other cities in the region will also stage festivities on the occasion of the anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad - Kamyshin, Mikhailovka, Uryupinsk, Zhirnovsk and Volzhsk, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.