Vasili Zaytsev, born on March 23, 1915, and passed away on December 15, 1991, was a Soviet sniper known for his remarkable skills. He was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union medal and became the subject of several films. During World War II, he played a significant role in the defense of Stalingrad, where he eliminated many enemy soldiers, earning him a place among history's finest snipers.
Who is Vasili Zaytsev:
Vasili Zaytsev, also known as Vassili Zaitsev, was born to a farmer in the village of Elino in the Chelyabinsk region of the Ural Mountains, Russia. In his youth, he worked as a shepherd and a hunter. Zaytsev joined the Soviet Pacific Fleet in 1936. He gained his first combat experience in 1942 as a member of the 1047th Infantry Regiment in Stalingrad. Initially serving as a regular infantryman, he demonstrated exceptional marksmanship skills by eliminating around 30 enemy soldiers with a standard rifle. Impressed, his superiors equipped him with a sniper rifle, and within three months, he took down numerous German soldiers. His achievements were widely publicized to boost the morale of Russian troops on the front lines and used for propaganda purposes.
Lieutenant Vasili Zaytsev, between October 10 and December 17, 1942, killed 225 German soldiers in Stalingrad. Among his victims were 11 German snipers. In January 1943, he was seriously injured in the eye by a sniper, but skilled surgeons managed to save his eye. However, he was not allowed to return to combat. Instead, he was assigned as a sniper instructor and trained 28 snipers. Furthermore, he authored two training manuals on sniping, which are still taught in Russian military schools today. On February 22, 1945, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union along with an engagement ring.
While Zaytsev was a significant figure and hero of the Stalingrad battle, the duels with a German sniper major as depicted in the movie have not been conclusively proven despite extensive research. After the war, Captain Zaytsev was discharged and began working at a textile factory in Kiev. He passed away on December 15, 1991, and was buried in the Lukyanivski military cemetery in Kiev.
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