The Russian city that served as the site of one of the Red Army’s most significant victories over Nazi forces will again be known as “Stalingrad” at least on days when the country celebrates the battle, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
From the AP:
The city was renamed Volgograd in 1961 as part of the Soviet Union’s rejection of dictator Joseph Stalin’s personality cult. But the name Stalingrad is inseparable with the battle, in which at least 1.25 million people died.
Russia on Saturday plans extensive ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the battle’s end.
The Volgograd city council passed a measure Thursday to use the name Stalingrad in city statements on the commemoration day, on Russia’s May 9 Victory Day and on four other days connected with the battle, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.