Volgograd opens memorial to victims of 1942 bombings

Today, the Krasnoarmeisk District of Volgograd held opening of the monument, dedicated to the victims of the first bombings of the southern vicinities of Stalingrad in July-August 1942. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 persons.

Starting from November 18, Volgograd hosts solemn events to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet counter-attack near Stalingrad. On February 2, 2013, the Russian Federation will celebrate the anniversary of the victory of the Soviet forces near Stalingrad.

The memorial to memory of the victims of air attack of Luftwaffe bombers in summer 1942 was erected in the park, adjacent to the administration of the Krasnoarmeisk District of Volgograd.

The memorial represents a plate with the inscription reading: "To victims of air attack of German aircrafts to civilians of Krasnoarmeisk killed in 1942."

The solemn ceremony took place at 02:00 p.m. Moscow time. The event was attended by residents of Krasnoarmeisk and Stalingrad, who survived in bombings, schoolchildren and teachers of the schools No. 75 and No. 120, officials from the district administration, and deputies of the Volgograd City Duma.

Speakers told the audience about the history of the first bombings of the southern vicinities of Stalingrad. On August 8, 1942, the Luftwaffe aircrafts bombed the station of Sarepta and locomotive depot. The air attack killed 107 civilians. On August 9, enemy air attacks on residential areas of Krasnoarmeisk killed about 400 civilians.

The audience was addressed by Irina Solovyova, the initiator of the monument, the head of the charity foundation "Pokolenie" (Generation), Deputy Chairman of the Volgograd City Duma, Sergey Zabednov, a deputy of the City Duma, and officials from the district administration. The event ended with the laying of flowers to the foot of the monument.

Regional ethnographer Deya Vrazova studies the history of the Battle of Stalingrad on archival documents. The first bombing of the vicinities of Stalingrad occurred in late June 1941. The Luftwaffe air attack was targeted at the Stalingrad State District Power Plant, which supplied electricity to the city and defence enterprises. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Deya Vrazova.

"The organizers do the right thing. They open the memorial to civilian victims of the bombings up to August 23, 1942 (August 23 was the day of the massive bombing of Stalingrad, when, according to historians, more than 40,000 Stalingrad residents were killed, note of the "Caucasian Knot"). At present, we are preparing a memorial to workers of the Stalingrad State District Power Plant," Deya Vrazova stated.