VOLGOGRAD CITY
Volgograd (population: 1,012,000), formerly called Tsaritsyn ( 1598 - 1925) and Stalingrad ( 1925 - 1961) is a city on the west bank of Volga river in southwestern Volgograd Oblast (province), Northern Caucasus district, Russia.
The city originated with the foundation of the fortress of Tsaritsyn in 1589 to defend the southern border of tsarist Russia. This name (in Tatar) came about because the town lies where the river Tsaritsa meets the river Volga. The city gained its new name of Stalingrad (literally: "Stalin city") in 1925 because Stalin's allegedly decisive leadership there during the Russian Civil War became legendary. The name change typifies the way in which a role much larger than he actually played in the Russian Revolution became attributed to Stalin retroactively. See also List of places named after StalinDuring Joseph Stalin's rule, many places, mostly cities, in the Soviet Union and other communist countries were named or renamed in honor of him as part of the cult of personality. Most of these places had their names changed back to the original ones sho.
The Stalingrad area became the site of the Battle of StalingradThe Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II, and is considered as the bloodiest battle in human history. The battle was marked by the brutality and disregard for civilian casualties on both sides. The battle is taken to include the, which raged through the city from the summer of 1942Events January January 1 World War II: The word " United Nations" is first officially used to describe the Allied pact. January 2 World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces. January 5 Amy Johnson disappears in flight over River Thames estuary ass to February 2February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 332 days remaining (333 in leap years). Events 962 Pope John XII crowns Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor. 1032 Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor becomes King of Burgundy. 1119 Callixtus II, 19431943 is the common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 1 — in terms of loss of human life, one of the costliest battles in history. For the heroism shown during the battle, the city was awarded the title Hero City in 1945. A memorial complex commemorating the battle, dominated by a tall allegorical sculpture of Mother Russia, was erected on Mamayev Kurgan, a hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle.
The city gained its new name of Volgograd ("Volga city") in 1961 as part of Nikita Khrushchev's attempt to liberalize the Soviet Union somewhat after Stalin's rule. Today a surprisingly large movement exists in Volgograd that wants to change the name back to "Stalingrad". This trend builds on the general feeling that the Great Patriotic War and the battle had an importance greater than the bad associations of Stalin's name.