In 2006 Vassili Zaitsev's remains were moved from Kiev to Volgograd where he wished to be buried with his fallen friends. Veterans of the Stalingrad battle came from all over Russia and Ukraine to pay their respects to sniper Vassili Zaitsev ,who gave them hope in the Soviet Unions darkest hours. One veteran commented"- I came from Vorenzh to bury Vasya.
Captain Vassili Grigorevich Zaitsev (Russian: Василий Григорьевич Зайцев) (March 23, 1915December 15, 1991) was a Soviet sniper during World War II, notable particularly for his activities between October 1942 and and January 1943 during the Battle of Stalingrad. He killed 242 soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht and other Axis armies, including 11 enemy snipers, but the real number may be much higher,some argue it might have been as many as 500. Prior to November 10, he had already killed 40 Axis soldiers with the standard-issue Mosin-Nagant rifle. His military rank at the time was Junior Lieutenant.
Zaitsev was born in Yeleninskoye and grew up in the Ural Mountains. His surname Zaitsev has the same root as the word "hare" (zayats) in Russian. Before going to Stalingrad, he served in the Russian Navy as a clerk but upon reading about the brutality of the fighting in Stalingrad, he volunteered for front-line duty. Zaitsev served in the 1047th Rifle Regiment of the 284th Rifle Division of the 62nd Army. He is notable for having participated in the Battle of Stalingrad. There, Zaitsev set up a snipers' training school in the Metiz factory; it was run by Zaytsev. The snipers Zaytsev trained were nicknamed zaichata, meaning "leverets" (baby hares). Antony Beevor wrote in Stalingrad that this was the start of the "sniper movement" in the 62nd Army. Conferences were arranged to spread the doctrine of "sniperism" and exchange ideas on technique and principles that were not limited to marksmanship skills. It is estimated that the snipers Zaytsev trained killed more than 3,000 enemy soldiers.
Zaitsev took part in the battle for Stalingrad until January 1943, when he suffered an injury to his eyes from a mortar attack. He was attended to by Professor Filatov, who is credited with restoring his sight. On February 22, 1943 Zaitsev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. He then returned to the front and finished the war on the Dniestr River with the military rank of Captain. After the end of the war, Zaitsev visited Berlin, where he met friends who served with him. After the war, Zaitsev managed a factory in Kiev, and remained in that city until he died at the age of 76 after suffering from a disease.
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The telescopic sight from (Konig's) rifle, Zaytsev's most treasured trophy, is still exhibited in the Moscow armed forces museum today
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4:12Vassili Zaitsev - tribute Updatedby SashaVedernikov26,598 views
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