Mamayev Kurgan

Mamayev Kurgan (Russian: Мама́ев курга́н) is a dominant height overlooking the city of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) in Southern Russia.

[2] At the time of its installation in 1967 the statue, named The Motherland Calls, formed the largest free-standing sculpture in the world.

[3] When forces of the German Sixth Army launched their attack against the city centre of Stalingrad on 13 September 1942, Mamayev Kurgan (appearing in military maps as "Height 102.0") saw particularly fierce fighting between the German attackers and the defending soldiers of the Soviet 62nd Army.

To defend it, the Soviets had built strong defensive lines on the slopes of the hill, composed of trenches, barbed-wire and minefields.

On the same day, the Soviet 13th Guards Rifle Division commanded by Alexander Rodimtsev arrived in the city from the east side of the river Volga under heavy German artillery fire.

This statue, named Stand To the Death!, is carved from rock and surrounded by a large pool of water; it bears the inscription ...And not a step back!

Also inscribed on the walls are numerous quotes from actual defenders of Stalingrad; these words were originally carved, by the soldiers themselves, upon the sides of various ruined buildings throughout the city.

On one side of the pool is a wall bearing this inscription: With an iron wind blowing straight into their faces, they were still marching forward; and fear seized the enemy.

[6] Past the Square of Heroes is the Hall of Military Glory, whose outer façade is decorated with Russian artwork of Soviet soldiers celebrating the war's end...and with the inscription "Our people will keep alive their memory of the greatest battle in the history of warfare, within the walls of Stalingrad.

The main chamber is considered sacred ground, with mournful music being played on a loop; out of respect, visitors are strongly discouraged from speaking aloud.

The chamber's walls are covered in glass-foil mosaics; these bear the names of 7,200 Russian soldiers who died in the battle for Stalingrad.

"[6] The hall's upper exit leads to the base of a pathway, which in turn zigzags uphill to the Mother Russia Is Calling!

[6] The hill itself is an unmarked grave for over 34,500 Russian troops killed at Stalingrad; even this is a tiny percentage of the overall Soviet casualties from the battle.