Vasily Zaytsev was one of Russia’s most skilled marksmen and decorated snipers who was immortalized inEnemy at the Gates.
Vasily Zaytsev grew up in the Ural Mountains , some of the roughest inhabited terrain there is . Lacking the luxury of going down to the deli to pick up meat , Zaytsev became acquainted with the finer points of marksmanship from a new age , hunting cervid and other animals for food .
Wikimedia CommonsVasily Zaytsev in action during the Battle of Stalingrad .
When Germany betray the Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact and the Nazis encroach upon the Soviet Union , Zaytsev join the rest of his countrymen in contain up branch to defend the native land . He ab initio help as a Navy clerk , but rather than sit out the warfare filing paper while his rifle collected dust , Zaytsev requested a transfer to the front lines .
Wikimedia CommonsVasily Zaytsev in action during the Battle of Stalingrad.
His indirect request was granted and he joined a rifle regiment that would soon be an integral part of the war ’s most important battle : Stalingrad .
Vasily Zaytsev In Battle
In terms of sheer number , Stalingrad was the biggest fight in World War II , perhaps in all of history . Over the course of seven calendar month , more than one million Soviet soldiers would lose their lives . The bare fact that Vasily Zaytsev offer to be transferred to Stalingrad was an early denotation of his cheek of steel , which would shortly be quiz in a run by fire .
Vasily Zaystev ( whose name mean “ hare ” in Russian ) wasted no time in establishing a name for himself within the besieged city : he killed 40 German soldiers in just his first 10 days . High command was so impressed with his skills that they put him in charge of prepare otherSoviet snipers , some of whom would become nearly as renowned as their teacher .
Wikimedia CommonsZaytsev and a group of snipers camouflaged against the snow .
Wikimedia CommonsZaytsev and a group of snipers camouflaged against the snow.
Zaytsev teach the recruits that marksmanship was n’t always a sniper ’s most important asset : longanimity and watching were every bit important . He vividly described the singular thrill of hunt unsuspecting prey :
“ You watch a Nazi officer come out of a bunker , act all high-pitched and mighty , ordering his soldier every which way , and putting on an air of authorization . The military officer has n’t got the slight idea that he only has seconds to live . ”
thwarted with Vasily Zaytsev ’s deadly winner , the Germans promise in the chief of their own sniper school to run down the Russian rabbit , Major Erwin König .
Wikimedia CommonsGerman and Soviet troops fought in close quarters among the ruins of the city.
Vasily Zaytsev late dedicate his own news report of the affaire d’honneur of wits to the writer Vasily Grossman , which would become part of the author ’s epic novelLife and Fate . As the Soviet sniper tell it , he lease in a pernicious game of skin - and - seek with the German for several days .
Zaytsev lay call his time in a ditch when König kill a Soviet soldier very nigh to his hiding smear . Neither marksman move as another German strolled by the fallen Russian ’s body : König hold off to see if Zaytsev were close enough to pick off the exposed soldier , Zaytsev waiting to see if König would turn back to see if his bullet had discover its mark .
Wikimedia CommonsGerman and Soviet troops fight in closelipped quarters among the downfall of the city .
After fifteen minutes that must ’ve felt like an eternity , König decide his fair game must be elsewhere and stepped out to examine the fallen soldier . Zaytsev immediatelyput a bulletthrough his question .
An Epic Story, But A True One?
Modern historian have issue forth to doubt the truth of the epic story , but given the topsy-turvydom that reigned during the Battle of Stalingrad and the XII of other seemingly unbelievable yet well - document stories that come forth from the city , it can not be entirely written off as fiction .
disbeliever target out the fact that the Germans ( notoriously efficient bureaucrats ) have no record of a “ Major König ” on file , but give the fact that Goebbels and his crony were under direct orders from the Fuhrer to cover up up any failure at Stalingrad , it ’s very possible the major ’s records were erased to prevent erosion of morale .
Vasily Zaytsev would emerge from the struggle with 242 confirmed kill in four months , although the entire number could be much high .
At one point the sniper even lost his vision to a grenade , but amazingly retort to battle and fight on all the fashion into Germany .
Vasily Zaytsev was award the eminent possible differentiation the Soviet Union had to offer for his valor in Stalingrad and pass the rest of his days wreak as an locomotive engineer in Kiev before he died in 1991 at the historic period of 76 . The tarradiddle of his affaire d’honneur at the Battle of Stalingrad would be turned into the 2001 movieEnemy At The Gates .
After learning about Vasily Zaytsev and his exploit as a Soviet sniper , read aboutSimo Hayha , the deadly sniper in chronicle . Then , readthe tale of Carlos Hathcock , one of the most badass sniper ever . at last , ascertain thetrue story behind another World War II film , The Pianist .
