Belarus, Russia and neighboring countries celebrate 70th anniversary of crushing defeat of Hitler's troops near Stalingrad

2 февраля 2013
For one day the name of the city has been changed from Volgograd to Stalingrad. This name will be used 6 times a year during city events. Delegations from different countries and, of course, the participants of the battle arrived in the hero-city. The holiday will begin with the laying of wreaths and flowers to the Eternal Flame at the Alley of Heroes. The parade of troops will take place at the Fallen Soldiers Square afterwards. A stele with the names of 17.000 Soviet soldiers and officers who died during the battle will be opened at the Mamayev Kurgan. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko addressed a message on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Stalingrad battle to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War and compatriots.