Medal of the city of the hero where Pavlov's house is located. days and nights this battle lasted

Why did the Fritz call this battle the "rat war"? Why did the Nazis need this city? Blitzkrieg plans. Why was Pavlov's House so important? If they hadn't won, what would have happened...

The Battle of Stalingrad is the bloodiest battle in human history. During the defense of the city, about 2 million soldiers died.

The Fuhrer needed Stalingrad for 2 reasons:

Use Stalingrad to capture the oil of the Caucasus.

Humiliate Stalin by destroying the city that bears his name.

Any strategist, looking at the alignment of forces before the Battle of Stalingrad, predicted the death of the Red Army. But no victory!

This battle lasted 200 days and nights.

Stalin did not allow the evacuation of citizens - after all, this way the fighters would better protect the city.

The scariest there was a day on August 23 ... The Germans had 6 times more aircraft than the Soviet troops. The Wehrmacht hoped to destroy the city by bombarding it with high-explosive and incendiary bombs. And then - they thought - it remains only to occupy the burnt Stalingrad ...

Blitzkrieg! One powerful blow and the battle is over!

By the way, Turkey was going to attack the USSR from the south. In the event of a successful capture of Stalingrad.

On August 23, Soviet aircraft were destroyed. A massive blow from the Fritz swept through the city like an avalanche. The center of the city turned into ruins and ashes ... A colossal fire began. 40,000 civilians died that day...

The Nazis went on the offensive - to occupy the city. BUT! Russian arrows appeared from somewhere and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Here the forces were approximately equal: the Germans could not use either aircraft or artillery! Street after street, house after house, the Soviet soldiers slowly retreated...

For the Germans began the fiercest battles throughout the war. They called them "Rattenkrieg" ("Rat War").

The battles were on the ground and underground: fighters dug tunnels and entire systems of underground tunnels. Every home or business there were basements!

The Germans said that the purpose of thisunderground war - get to the bottom of hell andsummon demons from there ... It was then that the Germans had STEEL HELMETS.

More than once it happened that these tunnels were buried alive ... Houses with strong walls that could withstand artillery attacks turned into fortresses.

Stalingrad is a city located on the western bank of the Volga. Pavlov's house and Gerhardt's mill were HIGH, review which was about a kilometer! After the houses there was a steep descent to the Volga. If the houses had been occupied by the Fritz, the Soviet troops would then have been very, very sad: thousands of soldiers would have died storming the height ...

The defense of Pavlov's house went on 58 days. The Germans carried out heavy attacks - sometimes up to several attacks per day!!! Several times they occupied the 1st floor... But the Soviet soldiers fiercely held the line. A trench was dug from the house, through which the fighters received food and ammunition.

Where does the name of the house come from?

Yakov Pavlov led the reconnaissance group (3 fighters). They knocked out several Fritz from a 4-storey building and found that the house had been defended by our residents for two days! Civilians lived in the basement of the house. 3 days kept the defense of the Pavlov house, its fighters and residents !!! Then a machine-gun platoon of the Guard Lieutenant Ivan Afanasyev arrived in time (24 fighters).

Afanasyev built the defense very competently - only three fighters died in 58 days.

58 days... On German military maps, the house was listed as "fortress". Sergeant Pavlov received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and Lieutenant Afanasiev - the highest military award of the USSR - the Order of the Red Banner.

The main citadels of the battle of Stalingrad were its large factories - tractor, "Red October", "Barricades" - battles were in full swing in their numerous workshops for a long time.

On November 19, the Soviet Union launched a counteroffensive and on November 23 the encirclement ring was closed. The USSR did the unthinkable: in a short period, about a million people joined the ranks of the Red Army! These were not just "newcomers" - they were already trained, and the weapons were - not like in the first months of the war. It was they who decided the outcome of the battle: about 230 thousand soldiers of the Nazi coalition were surrounded.

Paulus asked for a retreat. Hitler refused. There was no supply. The Soviet air defense thwarted all Goering's plans to supply the encircled troops. The Russian winter has begun... Frostbitten, hungry, doomed soldiers of the Wehrmacht fought furiously to the last...

Von Paulus did not follow the Fuhrer's order to "shoot himself", but surrendered.

Of the 110,000 soldiers taken prisoner in Soviet labor camps, about 5,500 survived and returned to Germany.

The Battle of Stalingrad is a victory over the troops of Germany, Italy, Romania, Hungary and Croatia.

The hardest victory ... It changed the course of history: Turkey refused to attack the USSR, Japan also canceled the "Siberian" campaign.

If not for the courage of the Soviet soldiers and the inhabitants of Stalingrad ... the USSR ... 2 more fronts ...

Eternal glory to you, defenders of Stalingrad!

In September 1942, fierce battles broke out in the streets and squares of the central and northern parts of Stalingrad. “The fight in the city is a special fight. It is not strength that decides the issue, but skill, dexterity, resourcefulness and surprise.

City buildings, like breakwaters, cut the battle formations of the advancing enemy and directed his forces along the streets. Therefore, we firmly held on to especially strong buildings, created in them a few garrisons capable of conducting all-round defense in the event of an encirclement.

Especially strong buildings helped us create strongholds, from which the defenders of the city mowed down the advancing fascists with machine guns and machine guns., - General Vasily Chuikov, commander of the legendary 62nd Army, later noted.

One of the strongholds, the importance of which the Commander-62 spoke about, was the legendary Pavlov's House. Its end wall overlooked January 9 Square (later Lenin Square). The 42nd regiment of the 13th Guards Rifle Division operated at this turn, which joined the 62nd Army in September 1942 (commander General Alexander Rodimtsev). The house occupied an important place in the defense system of the Rodimtsev guardsmen on the outskirts of the Volga. It was a four-story brick building.

However, he had a very important tactical advantage: from there he controlled the entire surrounding area. It was possible to observe and fire at the part of the city occupied by that time by the enemy: up to 1 km to the west, and even more to the north and south.

But the main thing is that from here the paths of a possible breakthrough of the Germans to the Volga were visible: it was within easy reach. Intense fighting here continued for more than two months.

The tactical significance of the house was correctly assessed by the commander of the 42nd Guards Rifle Regiment, Colonel Ivan Yelin. He ordered the commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Captain Alexei Zhukov, to seize the house and turn it into a stronghold. On September 20, 1942, the fighters of the squad, led by Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, made their way there. And on the third day, reinforcements arrived: a machine-gun platoon of Lieutenant Ivan Afanasyev (seven people with one heavy machine gun), a group of armor-piercers of senior sergeant Andrey Sobgaida (six people with three anti-tank rifles), four mortarmen with two mortars under the command of Lieutenant Alexei Chernyshenko and three machine gunners. Lieutenant Ivan Afanasiev was appointed commander of this group.

The Nazis almost all the time conducted massive artillery and mortar shelling around the house, attacked it from the air, and continuously attacked it.

But the garrison of the "fortress" - this is how Pavlov's house was marked on the headquarters map of the commander of the 6th German army, Paulus - skillfully prepared him for all-round defense. The fighters fired from different places through loopholes pierced in bricked-up windows and holes in the walls.

When the enemy tried to approach the building, he was met by dense machine-gun fire from all firing points. The garrison steadfastly repelled enemy attacks and inflicted significant losses on the Nazis. And most importantly, in operational and tactical terms, the defenders of the house did not allow the enemy to break through to the Volga in this area.

At the same time, Lieutenants Afanasiev, Chernyshenko and Sergeant Pavlov established fire cooperation with strong points in neighboring buildings - in the house that was defended by the soldiers of Lieutenant Nikolai Zabolotny, and in the mill building, where the command post of the 42nd Infantry Regiment was located. The interaction was facilitated by the fact that an observation post was equipped on the third floor of Pavlov's house, which the Nazis could not suppress.

“A small group, defending one house, destroyed more enemy soldiers than the Nazis lost during the capture of Paris,” said Army Commander-62 Vasily Chuikov.

Pavlov's house was defended by fighters of different nationalities - Russians Pavlov, Alexandrov and Afanasiev, Ukrainians Sobgaida and Glushchenko, Georgians Mosiashvili and Stepanoshvili, Uzbek Turganov, Kazakh Murzaev, Abkhaz Sukhba, Tajik Turdyev, Tatar Romazanov. According to official figures - 24 fighters. But in reality - up to 30. Someone dropped out due to injury, someone died, but they received a replacement.

As a result of continuous shelling, the building was seriously damaged. One end wall was almost completely destroyed. In order to avoid losses from blockages, part of the firepower, by order of the regiment commander, was moved outside the building.

It is impossible not to ask: how did Sergeant Pavlov's brother-soldiers not only manage to survive in a fiery hell, but also effectively defend themselves? The fighters were greatly helped by the reserve positions they equipped.

In front of the house was a cemented fuel depot, an underground passage was dug to it. And about 30 meters from the house there was a water tunnel hatch, to which an underground passage was also made. Ammunition and meager supplies of food came to the defenders of the house through it.

During shelling, everyone, except for observers and outposts, descended into shelters. Including civilians who were in the basements, who for various reasons could not be evacuated immediately. The shelling stopped, and the entire small garrison was again in their positions in the house, again firing at the enemy.

For 58 days and nights the garrison of the house held the defense. The fighters left it on November 24, when the regiment, along with other units, launched a counteroffensive. All of them were awarded government awards. And Sergeant Pavlov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. True, after the war - by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 27, 1945 - after he had joined the party by that time.

For the sake of historical truth, we note that most of the time the defense of the outpost house was led by Lieutenant Afanasyev. But he was not awarded the title of Hero. In addition, Ivan Filippovich was a man of exceptional modesty and never stuck out his merits.

And “above” they decided to present the junior commander to the high rank, who, together with his fighters, was the first to break through to the house and take up defense there.

During the heroic defense of Stalingrad (1942-43), most of the fighting took place on the streets of the city. In order to hold back the onslaught of the Nazi troops, more than 100 buildings in the zone of action of the 62nd Army were turned into strongholds of firing points. The most famous of these mini-fortresses was the so-called Pavlov's House.

Pavlov's house became not only an example of the resilience, courage and heroism of Soviet soldiers, but also a classic in organizing the defense of an urban stronghold. It was thanks to these two components that the garrison of only 24 guards managed to hold back the attacks of superior enemy forces, supported by artillery, tanks and aircraft, for 58 days. Sometimes Soviet soldiers had to fight off 12-15 attacks a day, destroying several dozen German soldiers in each of them. Let's try to figure out what is the reason for such efficiency.

First of all, it should be noted the military talent of the commander of the 42nd Guards Rifle Regiment, Colonel I.P. Yelin, who correctly assessed the unusually important operational and tactical significance of the four-story brick building at Penzinskaya Street, 6. This house occupied a dominant position on the vast square named after. On January 9, in addition, from it it was possible to carry out fire control over the part of the city occupied by the enemy to the west up to 1 km, to the north and south - even further.

On the night of September 27, 1942 four scouts under the command of guards sergeant Yakov Pavlov (later this house will be named after him) advanced to clarify the situation at Penza, 6. An advanced group of fascists was found at the indicated address. Pavlov's scouts threw grenades at her and then shot her with machine guns. As a result of quick and skillful actions, the enemy was destroyed, and the building came under the complete control of Pavlov's group. The Nazis, who were only some 70-100 meters away, mistakenly believed that a large unit was attacking Penza, 6, and therefore, instead of a night counterattack, they focused on shelling the building. The scouts did not suffer at all from this shelling and even managed to beat off two attacks at dawn. The next night, Guard Lieutenant Ivan Afanasyev arrived at Pavlov's House, and with him ten fighters. A little later, another group was sent to strengthen the Pavlov House, with the arrival of which the total number of Soviet fighters amounted to 24 people.

Understanding the special importance of this key stronghold, the command well armed Afanasyev's wards. The guards were armed with: 5 light machine guns, 1 Maxim machine gun, 1 heavy machine gun, 3 anti-tank rifles, 2 50-mm mortars, submachine guns. In addition, a sniper was periodically connected to the defense of Pavlov's House.

Work on the transformation of an ordinary residential building into an impregnable fortress was begun by scouts of Sergeant Pavlov. They punched passages in the walls between the entrances, which ensured unhindered movement inside the entire building. After Lieutenant Afanasiev took command, the building was prepared for all-round defense. The windows were bricked up, leaving only small loopholes in the masonry. During the battle, the shooters had the opportunity to quickly run from one loophole to another and quickly change their firing positions.

In order to avoid losses from rubble, on the instructions of Colonel Yelin, part of the firepower was withdrawn outside the house. For this purpose, Lieutenant Afanasiev skillfully used the urban infrastructure that was near the house. So one of the powerful firing points and at the same time a shelter, which was used during the shelling, was a concrete fuel storage located in front of the house. Another firing point was equipped 30 meters behind the house. The hatch of the water tunnel served as the basis for it. Underground communication passages were dug to all the fire points taken out. A trench was also laid, connecting Pavlov's House with Gerhardt's mill. Ammunition, water and food were delivered through it, personnel were rotated, and a telephone cable was laid in the same place. To prevent the enemy from breaking through directly to the walls of the building, sappers from the side of the square named after. On January 9, a barrage of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines was set up.

In addition to the high-quality fortification works of the Pavlov House, it should be noted that the unusually competent defense tactics chosen by the guards, Lieutenant Afanasyev, should be noted. During the bombing, artillery and mortar attacks, almost all the defenders of the house went to underground shelters. Only a few observers remained in the building. When the shelling ended, the soldiers quickly returned to their positions and met the enemy with heavy fire from the basement, windows and attic.

Thanks to the skillful organization of the defense, in 58 days of fierce fighting, the losses of the defenders of Pavlov's House turned out to be minimal. Only three people died, two were wounded, and this despite the fact that the guards managed to destroy many hundreds, and maybe more than a thousand (exact data, unfortunately, does not exist) of German soldiers.

In conclusion, I cannot fail to note that the fact that real professionals, experienced and skilled fighters defended it to a large extent contributed to the success of the defense of Pavlov's House. This is perfectly illustrated by the events of November 25, 1942, when, at the end of the defense of the Pavlov House, its garrison went on the offensive and stormed the German positions on the opposite side of the Pavlov Square. January 9th. In other words, in one day the guards completed a task similar to the one that the Nazis tried in vain to carry out for two months.

Pavlov's house in Volgograd (Russia) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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One of the most striking symbols of the heroism of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, Pavlov's house in Volgograd is a historical monument of national importance and a must-visit place for all those who are not indifferent to the history of Russia. It looks like an ordinary residential building, it became a frontier unconquered by the Nazis: its defense by a group of Soviet soldiers lasted 58 days, and the house never fell into the hands of the enemy! Although after the war Pavlov's house became the first restored building in the then Stalingrad, the feat of the soldiers was immortalized, leaving for posterity the original wall - dilapidated, all covered in traces of bullets and shells. And this living testimony evokes far more emotions than documentaries and historical studies.

The memorial inscription reads: "In this house, the feat of arms and labor merged." And on the cement insert is scratched "Let's defend our native Stalingrad!"

A bit of history

Built in the 1930s, before the war, Pavlov's house was an ordinary four-story residential building, however, "increased comfort" - it was located in the center of Stalingrad and was intended for senior party workers during construction. In the autumn of 1942, when the fascist troops entered the city, battles were fought literally for every street. The Germans reached Pavlov's house on September 23, but the first attacks did not bring results: the building was defended by a garrison of 25 people, who were entrenched on the floors and in the basement. Despite the Nazi offensive, which was carried out several times a day, the defenders of Pavlov's house continued to resist, opening heavy fire. According to stories, on German maps the building was marked as a fortress. The defense of Pavlov's house continued until November 25 - 58 days - until the Soviet troops pushed the Germans back from Stalingrad. The building was the first restored in the city after the war, and for the eternal memory of descendants in 1985, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Victory, a memorial wall was erected from the original material.

The house was named after Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, the commander of the department that occupied the building.

What to watch

Pavlov's House is, without a doubt, one of the most eloquent monuments to the courage of Soviet soldiers. The first thing that attracts attention in the appearance of the building is the same memorial wall; today it is located on the side of Sovetskaya street. In fact, the wall is not built into the restored structure, being a kind of appliqué on the façade. Its structure, twisted by bullets and shells, a chaotic pile of lines and masonry elements, is shocking. The memorial inscription reads: "In this house, the feat of arms and labor merged." And on the cement insert is scratched "Let's defend our native Stalingrad!"

On the side, you should pay attention to the memorial plaque - it is located at the end of the wall, which contains data on the history of its construction in 1985.

On Lenin Square there is another memorial - a colonnade and a brick wall with a bas-relief, the inscription "58 days on fire" and an indication of a brief history of the defense of the building, as well as listing the names of the defenders. There is also a mass grave of the defenders of the square and the entire surrounding area.

Practical information

Address: Volgograd, st. Sovetskaya, 39 (Lenin Square).

Pavlov's house can only be viewed from the outside (respectively, at any time of the day); Inside are residential apartments.

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Other attractions nearby

Where to stay: for excursions around the Volgograd region, it is most convenient to stay in its capital Volgograd - there is an excellent choice of hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and apartments, and numerous sights of the city are within easy reach. Those wishing to combine an excursion with relaxation, we advise you to pay attention to the tourist centers of the region, offering classic outdoor recreation with fishing, barbecue and swimming in the river.
What to watch: the iconic sights of Volgograd - Mamaev Kurgan with the monument "Motherland Calls!", the panorama museum "Battle of Stalingrad" and the ruins of buildings - Pavlov's House, Gerhardt's mill and many others. It is also worth taking a walk along the part of the 50-kilometer Second Longitudinal Street (you definitely won’t master it all) and visit

On Lenin Square, the leader still shows the direction of a brighter future.
The monument was opened in 1960, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Lenin's birth. The pedestal is a stylized tower of an armored car. Until 1934, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker stood on this site.
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3. An arch looks good behind the monument

4. Mass grave of soldiers of the 13th Guards Rifle Division and the 10th division of the NKVD troops

5. The stand on the right calls for education.

6. Mill Gerhardt. Sometimes it is confused with the legendary Pavlov's house.

Pavlov's house is located on the other side of the street, there is practically nothing left of it. That red wall is what it is.
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Let's go back to the mill. She certainly looks great. You can immediately imagine what the city looked like after the battles.
This is the second version of the mill, built in 1908. The first one burned down before that in a fire.
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In fact, there was a whole complex here: in addition to the steam mill, there was a fish-smoking, oil mill, bakery shops and warehouses.
9. It is very good that it was preserved in this form.

In 1911, 78 workers worked here. During the construction, a novelty was used - a reinforced concrete frame and brick wall cladding. It was the first such building in the city. Probably, thanks to this, the building survived during the battles.
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