Tomb of Unknown Soldier

[Kiriaki]

There was a tiny buried blurb in today's Dallas Morning News about Putin removing the name of Volgograd from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and replacing it with the city's previous name, Stalingrad.  The article mentioned other recent decisions which appear to resurrect the old Soviet system.  Putin is doing this to "commemorate the fundamental turning point of the WWII." - as quoted in the newspaper.

The article did not mention other specific decisions save for the old Soviet National Anthem.

I'm curious as to your learned opinions for the reasons behind this.  Is it really to bring back the memories of the war?  Or is there more to it?

regards,
Kyriaki

[Sunny]

Yuck...personally, I think there is far more to it.

Sunny

[Belochka]

The name Stalingrad holds very painful memories for all Russians who lived during WWII. Most of the city was destroyed with massive loss of life. Some 40,000 people died. On February 2, 1943, the final shots were fired. The Battle of Stalingrad had ended with a complete victory for the Soviet troops and changed the course of the war.  In 1965 it was Stalingrad which received the status as a Hero City for outstanding heroism - only one of twelve Russian cities to be awarded such an honor.

The name may have reverted to Volgograd, but it was in Stalingrad where lives were lost and a city destroyed. The Russian people and history will always remember the Battle of Stalingrad ...  

[Kiriaki]

thank you - that helps me put things into perspective.  It is interesting that Russia seems to have a sort of "split personality" - Soviet era commemorations and at the same time - icons being returned, Empress Maria F. being reburied, the eminent return of St. Elizaveta if only for a short time...

[Belochka]

It is interesting that Russia seems to have a sort of "split personality" - Soviet era commemorations
...

The Soviet Military Commemorations are all part of Russia's painful wartime history. No one has the right to question them today.

Russia and the Russian people can no longer ignore their Imperial past and all the symbols which are associated with it.  

[Kiriaki]

I regret that you thought I was being judgemental - when I question - I am simply curious - and I think that the Russian people will only benefit from increased awareness of their country's rich historical past.

I could not surmise from the press release if the Russian people support Putin's plans.  

I will be interested to hear more on this subject as I really care about the Russian people.

regards,
Kyriaki

[Sunny]

Is this part of questioning Soviet Military Commemorations, as part of remembering wartime history, or perhaps questioning some of the actions of a former  KGB officer ?

While renting online, the movie "East/West, I came across this customer review:  

"I was crying watching this moovie...of course we all know history...and could imagine some how what was going on in eatern countrys during all those years...still...this moovie made all history more real and comprehensible to me some how...also,lots of my people are from russia or some other eastern country, so I realy understand more to day what was realy going on there all those years and what people went through...point is to day...as history tell us communism is not running the country anymore...the most ironic from the story, is wwhen we get to know how all those people to day on power are exactely those same there before, only with another casquet on their head.they just have a new name,but they are same people...every body knows that you cant get there to some high level if you were not part of kgb some little time ago...how strange it is..."

...sounds very much like the sentiments of a friend of mine who used to sing in the Leningrad Music Hall.

Found this BBC article interesting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3413161.stm

Sunny

[Belochka]

I could not surmise from the press release if the Russian people support Putin's plans.

The Russians who survived the war, with whom I have discussed this changeover believe that this is the correct thing to do.

It appears that this is Putin's gift to the veterans and will be completed in time for the 60th Anniversary victory celebrations later this year.

The name Volgograd is not the original name for this city.  Prior to 1925 it was known as Tsarytsin.

[Belochka]

An excellent book written on the Battle of Stalingrad is by Anthony Beevor (1998) called Stalingrad which I can highly recommend. It is very thought provoking, and presents information from both the Soviet and German perspectives.

[Kiriaki]

thank you - I will search for that book!

regards,
Kyriaki