Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad took place in and around the present day city of Volgograd between July 17, 1942 and February 2, 1943. The battle is considered to be the turning point of World War II. The Soviet counter-offensive, which trapped and destroyed the German 6th Army (and their Axis comrades), led to the first large-scale German defeat of the war.   Battle...

Hero Cities of the Great Patriotic War

The title Hero City was given to 13 cities of the former Soviet Union. (To be precise, there are 12 Hero Cities and 1 Hero-Fortress). Each of the Hero Cities was honored for it’s great heroism, sacrifice and role in the eventual defeat of Fascist invaders during the Great Patriotic War. Of the 13 Hero Cities, 7 are in present day Russia, 4 lie within Ukraine,...

Military History

Military history enthusiasts can find a myriad of attractions throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Famous battlefields, fortifications and military museums throughout the former Soviet Union tell the history of conflict from the medieval era of Kievan Rus’, to the Russian Empire, to the volatile 20th century. And for the more adventurous...