Mamayev Hill - "Memory of the Generations"

"Memory of the Generations" is the first part of the immens memorial complex on the Mamayev Kurgan (Mamayev Hill) and consists mainly of a 17 meters high bas-relief sculpture of a people's procession with flowers, wreaths and half-masted banners in honour of those who fought for life and freedom. There are also pedestals with holy soil from the hero cities and a memorial stone with the following text:

"Years and decades will pass. New generations of people will replace us. But here, at the feet of the biggest memorial of victory, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of the heroes will visit. They will bring flowers and children. People will remember those who fell while defending the eternal fire of life, while thinking about the past and dreaming about the future."

Mamayev Kurgan:

The Mamayev hill (height 103.0 on military maps) was the highest point in Stalingrad (today: Volgograd) and thus an important objective of the German 6th Army during the battle of Stalingrad. Fighting for this hill began on 13 September 1942, when German troops assaulted the fortified Mamayev, which was defended by elements of the Soviet 62th Army. When the Germans took the hill, they began firing on the centre of Stalingrad. The Soviet 13th Guards-rifle Division (10,000 men strong) retook Mamayev on 16 September 1942, suffering extreme losses. The Germans assaulted the hill an avarage of 12 times a day and the hill changed several times of ownership during the battle. The 6th German Army managed to take half of Mamayev hill on 27 September 1942. This situation remained unchanged untill the defenders's relief by the Sovjet winter offensive on 26 January 1943.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Michael Pagliaro

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