Mike visit 2002.

My meeting with Russian veteran:

On the day I met my first Stalingrad veteran, Nikolay Ivanovich Orlov was sixteen years old at the time and at first was enjoying his teenage years when the Luftwaffe attacked the city on 23 August 1942.  After the Germans penetrated the city in four major avenues of advance  Nikolay was rounded up with other Soviet citizens and we being marched towards Kotluban. But on the way Nikolay noticed German aircraft a FW -200 Reconnaissance aircraft very close to the ground and realized there must be an airfield very close. To verify this Nikolay escaped from the group being marched to Kalach and during the cover of darkness made his way towards the possible location of the airfield. On the way he came across an elderly woman with four or five goats. While being very quite so as not to disturb her, he took two goats and proceeded towards the area where he thought the airfield was. Upon reaching this area Nikolay crawled with the two goats as close as possible and what Nikolay thought was there truly was. A Luftwaffe airfield, complete with guard towers and around 30 aircraft of various types.  Trying to get the most accurate of information Nikolay crept as close as he possibly could until he was noticed by a German sentry. The German spoke out and Nikolay stood up with the two goats which at this time where running onto the airfield. Nikolay started to chase the goats when machinegun fire from the guard tower stopped him. Another German came out and questioned Nikolay about what he was doing here? Nikolay stated that he was trying to get his goats back. While all this was happening the woman whose goats Nikolay had taken came up to the airfield and was very angry at Nikolay for letting the goats get lose. She was lightly tapping him on the back like she was punishing her "GRANDSON" for letting the goats get away. They recovered the goats and the old woman and Nikolay left the airfield. The Germans let them both go because they thought it was an innocent act of a grandmother and her grandson chasing their goats. In truth, the two did not know each other but the made the act up at the airfield in order to save Nikolay from capture again and secondly to recover the animals. After they departed the airfield, Nikolay made his way back to the Volga river and relayed to the Soviet command the valuable information he obtained on the airfield location which was located just between the Red October district and Mamev Hill. For this action Nikolay was decorated. All at the tender age of 16. 
Nikolay also swam ammunition on rafts with other young soviet boys from one side of the Volga to the city of Stalingrad while being fired upon from German positions and Luftwaffe aircraft while conducting daily operations in the Stalingrad sector.
In closing we had a great day with the Soviet veteran Nikolay Ivanovich Orlov, and our guide Ludmila Nikolaevna who speaks excellent English. I enjoyed the historical tour of the city I did this for two consecutive days. It put the whole battle in perspective and which was a must to do while in Volgagrad. Thanks Vladimir.

13th Guard rufle division veteran mr. Nikolay Orlov in former "9th January" square, called  "Lenin square" now.

 

FieldMarshall Paulus HQ Univermag original facade and german cementary near in winter 1943.

 

What is it, .. difficult for understand, so big and so heavy armor plate.

 It is Czech light machine gun "ZB30".  Used by Germans and Rumanians.  it was model for famour British "Bren" gun.  Taken from this old bunker myself.

My lucky, Soviet solder real combat helmet taken from ground myself.

New.

It was my pleasure to spend time the veterans from the Battle of Stalingrad.
We had a fantastic dinner and the time was well spent afterwards.
 

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