К 75-летию окончания Сталинградской битвы

Field Marshal Paulus Commander of the German Sixth Army arriving at Red Army HQ at Stalingrad for interrogation after his surrender ©2004 Topfoto

The execution of the joint declaration in Berlin by the four allied commanders in CHief, thus dividing Germany into four occupational zones: Marshal Zhukov of Russia signing for Eastern Germany June 5th 1945 ©2004 Topfoto Zhukov, Georgi Konstantinovich Russian Soviet marshal in World War II; defeated German siege of Moscow 1941; won battle of Stalingrad 1943; Soviet defense minister 1955-1957 _1895-1974

Marshal Rokossovsky, left, and Marshal Zhukov, right, wearing the insignia of KCB and GCB respectively after their investiture by F M Montgomery Brandenburg Gate July 12th 1945 ©2004 Topfoto Rokossovsky, Konstantin Konstantinovich Russian (Polish-born) Soviet marshal in World War II; Polish defense minister 1949-1956 _1887-1968 Zhukov, Georgi Konstantinovich Russian Soviet marshal in World War II; defeated German siege of Moscow 1941; won battle of Stalingrad 1943; Soviet defense minister 1955-1957 _1895-1974 Montgomery, Bernard Law (Monty; Viscount Montgomery of Alamein) British general; won victory at El Alamein in World War II 1942; helped plan Normandy invasion _1887-1976

Aleksandr Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (1895 - 1977) was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1943. He was the Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces and Deputy Minister of Defense during World War II, as well as Minister of Defense from 1949 to 1953. As the Chief of the General Staff, Vasilevsky was responsible for planning and coordinating almost all decisive Soviet offensives in World War II, from the Stalingrad counteroffensive to the assault on East Prussia and Konigsberg.

Marshal Zhukov, the military genius who organised the sweeping Russian advance into Germany ©2004 Topfoto Zhukov, Georgi Konstantinovich Russian Soviet marshal in World War II; defeated German siege of Moscow 1941; won battle of Stalingrad 1943; Soviet defense minister 1955-1957 _1895-1974

Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin , 1894 –1949. Soviet military commander. August 1941, he was made the chief of staff of the Crimean Front, which he held until March 1942. From May to July 1942, he was the assistant commander of the Stalingrad Military District. After that, he was the commander of the 58th Army until March 1943. The 58th was involved in the Battle of Stalingrad, where Tolbukhin's superior, Colonel-General Andrei Yeremenko, praised his command organization and military prowess. After his command of the 57th, Tolbukhin was placed in command of the Southern Front. In May 1944, Tolbukhin was transferred to control of 3rd Ukrainian Front. During the Summer Campaign, from June to October 1944, Tolbukhin and Malinowski launched their invasion of the Balkans and were able to conquer most of Romania. Malinowski was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union

Two women of Stalingrad emerging from their cellar home amongst the ruins to resume life above ground after the liberation of the city. ©2004 Topfoto

German troops entering Stalingrad, Russia, September 1942. An elderly Russian woman emerges from a cellar in the shattered ruins of the city. Fought between August 1942 and February 1943, the Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest in history. 750,000 Russian soldiers were killed, wounded or captured and over 40,000 civilians lost their lives. On the Axis side, 740,000 were killed or wounded and 110,000 taken prisoner. The defeat at Stalingrad was a reverse from which Nazi Germany was ultimately unable to recover. Credit: Art Media / HIP / TopFoto

Russian troops liberating a village near Ordhonikidze, Caucasus, 1942. The German offensive to secure the oilfields of Azerbaijan was halted by the Red Army in the Caucasus in the autumn of 1942. From January 1943 a series of Russian counter-offensives, coupled with the impending disaster at Stalingrad, forced the Germans to retreat north and westwards. Credit: Art Media / HIP / TopFoto

WW2: Russia/ The Great Patriotic War, 1941-45. Stalingrad. View of the factory district from the air. 1943.

War trophies. Stalingrad, 1943, 1943. Artist: Zelma, Georgi Alexandrovich (1906-1984)

WW2: February 1943. Stalingrad, Beketovka. Field-Marshal Paulus and his staff taken prisoner.

Fighting in a street in Stalingrad during the winter of 1942 - 1943. World War Two.

Mass grave of Russian soldiers, Stalingrad front, Russia, January 1943. Fought between August 1942 and February 1943, the Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest in history. 750,000 Russian soldiers were killed, wounded or captured and over 40,000 civilians lost their lives. On the Axis side, 740,000 were killed or wounded and 110,000 taken prisoner. The defeat at Stalingrad was a reverse from which Nazi Germany was ultimately unable to recover. Credit: Art Media / HIP / TopFoto

German troops in retreat from Stalingrad July 1943

German soldiers killed in the Battle of Stalingrad.

German high mountain battalion, Elbrus, Caucasus, south-east Russia, 1943. The German advance into the Soviet Union reached the Caucasus in 1942, its deepest penetration into Russian territory. Soviet counter-offensives in the winter of 1942-1943 and the German defeat at Stalingrad began the long retreat for Hitler's armies however. A print from 'Signal', January 1943. 'Signal' was a magazine published by the German Third Reich from 1940 through 1945. Credit: Art Media / HIP / TopFoto

Germans in action Stalingrad Russia January 1943

The red flag flies again from the balcony of a building in battered Stalingrad, signalling the recapture of another section of the city ©2004 Topfoto

A battery of Katyusha launchers, 1943. Artist: Baltermants, Dmitri (1912-1990)

After the presentation of the Stalingrad sword the comany stood during the playing of Internationale - 29th November 1943 - JOSEPH STALIN, (1879-1953), Russian political leader, who was the undisputed leader of the USSR from 1929 until his death. He helped to convert communism in the USSR from an egalitarian, revolutionary movement into an authoritarian, bureaucratic governmental system. He helped to turn Russia into a great industrial nation, to defeat HITLER in WORLD WAR II, and, after the war, to establish Communist regimes throughout eastern Europe. At the same time, however, he institutionalized terror and was responsible for the death and deprivation of millions of people.

A long line of German prisoners of war file through the streets of Stalingrad after the Nazis surrendered to the Russians, 2nd February 1943. The battle for Stalingrad lasted from 20th January 1943 to 2nd February1943 and 91,000 prisoners were taken by the Russians.

The ruins of Stalingrad, c1942.

1943 Stalingrad Paulus at interrogation by Commander of 64th Amy General Shumilov Paulus, Friedrich von German marshal in World War II; planned German invasion of Soviet Union; defeated and surrendered at battle of Stalingrad 1942-1943; testified for Soviet prosecution during Nuremberg trials _1890-1957

The Battle of Stalingrad.

The result of the Battle of Stalingrad, February 1943.

German prisoners who lost in the Battle of Stalingrad in February 1943 . WORLD WAR II STALINGRAD 1943 GERMAN POWS ; Reissue; 20 FEBRUARY 1963

Battle of Stalingrad - Aerial view of fuel stores on fire. The Battle of Stalingrad between Germany and the Soviet Union lasted from 17 July 1942 until 2 February 1943. The mosty brutal and bloodiest of engagements of World War II,it claimed almost 2 million casualties. It is considered to be a turning point in the war, with the Soviet union victorious.

Monument to the motherland that towers over the memorial to the battle of Stalingrad, which ended after six months of fighting on Feb. 2, 1943. The battle was a turning point in World War II.. Supplied By: SCRSS - Society for Co-operation in Russian & Soviet Studies

1945 Commerative Sword given to the people of Stalingrad from King George VI and the British people 'STALINGRAD THE GIFT OF KING GEORGE VI IN TOKEN OF HOMAGE OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE' Supplied by: SCRSS - Society for Co-operation in Russian & Soviet Studies

WORLD WAR II STALINGRAD 1943 FIGHTING ; 20 FEBRUARY 1963

Stalingrad, Russia ; An anti-aircraft gunner is pictured covering the advance of the infantry in a district of Stalingrad early in 1943. RUSSIA STALINGRAD STORY DURING SECOND WORLD WAR ; 14 NOVEMBER 1962