The Second World War is about a hundred large bloody battles. However, among the battles of the past, one has no equal in the entire history of mankind, neither in duration, nor in the number of sacrifices brought to the altar of victory, nor in significance for the fate of Europe and the whole world. This is the Battle of Stalingrad. It lasted mystically exactly two hundred days and nights. The Wehrmacht lost 32 divisions and 3 brigades in this direction. 16 other divisions lost between half and three quarters of their personnel. In total, during the period of the gigantic battle in the Volga steppes, the fascist German armies lost almost 1.5 million soldiers and officers - one fourth of the troops of the Third Reich involved in the thousand-kilometer Soviet-German front.
The Soviet Union also paid a terrible price for the victory on the Volga. Our irrecoverable losses in the Battle of Stalingrad alone - about 650 thousand people. And this is without taking into account the NKVD troops and the people's militia. The battle on the Volga was the peak of the Second World War, its pivotal and therefore extremely fateful act, washed in the blood of millions. That is why in our country both young and old know about the Battle of Stalingrad in general terms. The very concept of "Stalingrad" has become the same household name as the "Siege of Leningrad". In any case, most Russians know for certain: the victory on the Volga marked the beginning of the liberation from the enemy not only of the USSR, but of all of Europe.
The Stalingrad Sword is an award weapon made on the personal order of King George VI of Great Britain and presented on behalf of the British to the Soviet people in recognition of their courage and heroism. The sword is considered one of the examples of modern blacksmithing weaponry.
Let's find out more about it …
The great victory on the Volga sparked a surge of enthusiasm among the people of the British Empire. “Stalingrad has become a symbol of courage and resilience of the Russian people and at the same time a symbol of the greatest human suffering. This symbol will last for centuries,”said British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Members of the royal family also experienced such feelings. But they were amazed at the scale of the destruction in the city. Elizabeth the Elder, taking to heart the problems of the destroyed city and the concerns of its inhabitants, who immediately began to rebuild Stalingrad, at the end of 1943 organized a fundraiser for the distant city. From England, where people themselves did not live well in wartime, six hospitals were delivered through the Stalingrad Relief Society. Food and warm clothes began to arrive in large quantities. And the money collected at the initiative of the queen was used to purchase medicines and equipment for the whole hospital.
But Elizabeth of Windsor and her husband, as well as their two daughters - the eldest, Elizabeth, the current reigning queen, and the youngest, Princess Margaret - at the family council decided to send original gifts from themselves to the residents of the distant Russian city bearing the name of Stalin. The idea, by the way, was suggested to her husband by the Queen herself. They began to decide what to give, and Princess Elizabeth made an unusual proposal, which was supported by the entire royal family.
As a result, the king of Great Britain decided to give the city a large knightly sword as a gift. No sooner said than done.
Promotional video:
English blacksmith Tom Basie forges a blade for the sword of Stalingrad.
It was based on the model of the Crusader's double-edged two-handed sword. The sketch was developed by the professor of arts R. M. Gleadow at Oxford, personally endorsed by George VII. Its production was overseen by a panel of nine experts from the Goldsmiths Guild of Great Britain. The Russian edition of the dedication was made by Sir Ellis H. Minns, a specialist in Slavic iconography, President of Cambridge Pembroke College. On the blade there are inscriptions in two languages. In Russian: "To the citizens of Stalingrad * strong as steel * from King George VI * as a sign of the deep admiration of the British people." And in English: To the steel-hearted citizens of Stalingrad * The gift of King George VI * in token of homage of the British people."
The honor of making the "Sword of Stalingrad" was given to the world famous arms company "Wilkinson". The blade was forged by gunsmiths Tom Beasley and Sid Rose, calligrapher Mrwin S. Oliver and silversmiths RAF Corporal Leslie J. Durbin. The convex blade of this double-edged two-handed sword is hand forged from premium Sheffield steel. Its total length is about 4 feet (122 cm).
The guard is made of pure silver, its gilded arches, bent towards the blade, are made in the form of leopard heads. The two-handed handle is wrapped in 18K gold wire. A huge crystal of the purest rock crystal is mounted in the handle, at the end of the head of which there is a golden Tudor rose. The scabbard is dark red, made of Persian lamb skin, decorated with a silvered royal coat of arms, a crown and a monogram, as well as five silver onlays and three five-pointed ruby stars set in gold.
According to weapons experts, the sword of Stalingrad can be considered one of the masterpieces of modern weapons art. The sword took British blacksmiths 3 months to make. As is typical of the British company Wilkinson Sword, several copies of the Stalingrad sword were released, one of which is kept in the National Museum of Military History of South Africa.
More than 15,000 people came to see the sword of Stalingrad, located at the tower of the Cathedral in Coventry on November 9, 1943.
The official ceremony of presenting the sword took place on November 29, 1943 at the Soviet embassy in Tehran during a meeting of the leaders of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.
The presentation of a specially made sword to the inhabitants of Stalingrad on behalf of King George VI and the British people was furnished with emphasized splendor. A large shiny sword with a two-handed hilt and inlaid scabbard, forged by the most experienced hereditary gunsmiths in England, symbolized a tribute to the heroes of Stalingrad - the city where the back of the fascist beast was broken.
The hall was filled long before the ceremony began. All the members of the delegations, as well as the leaders of the armies, fleets and aviation of the powers participating in the anti-Hitler coalition, were already here when the "Big Three" appeared.
Stalin was in a light gray tunic with marshal's shoulder straps. Churchill this time also appeared in military uniform. From that day on, the British Prime Minister did not take off his uniform in Tehran, and everyone believed that this was his own reaction to Stalin's marshal clothes. At first, Churchill wore a blue striped suit, but when he saw Stalin in uniform, he immediately requested a gray-bluish uniform of the highest officer of the Royal Air Force. This uniform just arrived in time for the sword ceremony. Roosevelt, as usual, was in civilian clothes.
The honor guard consisted of officers of the Red Army and the British armed forces. The orchestra performed the Soviet and English national anthems. Everyone stood at attention. The orchestra fell silent, and there was a solemn silence. Churchill slowly approached the large black box lying on the table and opened it. The sword, hidden in its scabbard, rested on a burgundy velvet pillow. Churchill took it with both hands and, holding it in the air, said, addressing Stalin:
- His Majesty King George VI has commanded me to present you with this honorable sword, made according to the sketch chosen and approved by His Majesty, for transfer to the city of Stalingrad. This honorable sword was made by English craftsmen, whose ancestors had been making swords for many generations. The inscription is engraved on the blade: "A gift from King George VI to people with hearts of steel - the citizens of Stalingrad as a sign of respect for them of the English people."
Taking a few steps forward, Churchill handed the sword to Stalin, behind which was a Soviet guard of honor with machine guns at the ready.
Taking the sword, Stalin drew the blade from its scabbard. The blade flashed with a cold gleam. Stalin raised him to his lips and kissed him. Then, holding the sword in his hands, he said quietly:
- On behalf of the citizens of Stalingrad, I want to express my deep gratitude for the gift of King George VI. The citizens of Stalingrad will highly appreciate this gift, and I ask you, Mr. Prime Minister, to convey their gratitude to His Majesty the King …
There was a pause. Stalin walked slowly around the table and, going up to Roosevelt, showed him the sword. Churchill supported the scabbard while Roosevelt examined the huge blade. After reading the inscription on the blade aloud, the President said:
- Indeed, the citizens of Stalingrad have hearts of steel …
And he returned the sword to Stalin, who went to the table where the case lay, carefully put the sword hidden in its sheath in it and closed the lid. Then he handed the case to Voroshilov, who, accompanied by a guard of honor, carried the sword to the next room …
All went out to be photographed on the terrace. It was warm and calm. The sun illuminated the foliage gilded in autumn. Stalin and Churchill stopped in the center of the terrace, where Roosevelt was brought in a carriage. Three chairs for the Big Three were also brought here. Ministers, marshals, generals, admirals, ambassadors lined up behind the seats. Photo reporters and cameramen scurried around, trying to find a better position. Then the retinue stepped aside, and the "big three" were left alone against the background of high doors that led from the terrace to the meeting room. This picture became historical and went around the whole world.
Participants of the Tehran Conference of the leaders of the three powers - the USSR, USA, Great Britain.
The honorable royal gift was accompanied by a certificate. Now these exhibits are kept in the Museum-Panorama of the Battle of Stalingrad, located on the Volga embankment in the central part of the hero city. They are very popular with visitors to the museum, especially those from the banks of the Thames.
I wonder who this boy is?