February 2 is the Day of the defeat of the Nazi troops at Stalingrad.

In Russia, the Day of Military Glory is celebrated on February 2 — 83 years since the defeat of the Nazi troops at Stalingrad. This battle, which went down in history as the Battle of Stalingrad, became decisive, ensuring the beginning of a radical turning point during the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War. In 2026, the memorable date falls on a Monday. Izvestia reports on how events unfolded in the winter of 1943 and how the anniversary of the victory at Stalingrad will be celebrated this year.

The Battle of Stalingrad: chronology of the decisive battle

The Battle of Stalingrad began on July 17, 1942. After the failure of the offensive on Moscow, the Wehrmacht command concentrated its efforts on the southern direction. The targets were the rich resources of the Caucasus, the agricultural regions of the Don and Kuban, as well as access to the Volga.

By mid—September 1942, the enemy, at the cost of huge losses, reached the outskirts of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), which was the most important industrial and transport hub on the Volga. For the offensive in this direction, the 6th Army was allocated under the command of Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus.

By October, German troops had occupied a significant part of the city, including its center. From that time on, fierce street fighting began. Battles were fought for every house, for every street, turning Stalingrad into ruins. It was during this period that the famous order No. 227 "Not a step back!" appeared, designed to stop the retreat and mobilize all forces for defense.

Even during the defense, the Soviet command, led by Georgy Zhukov and Alexander Vasilevsky, developed a plan for a counteroffensive. The operation, codenamed Uranus, was launched on November 19, 1942. The troops of the Southwestern and Stalingrad fronts inflicted powerful blows from the bridgeheads south and north of Stalingrad. Already on November 23, they joined forces in the Kalach-on-Don area, encircling the enemy.

Operation Ring and the surrender of the Wehrmacht

The final stage of the battle was the strategic offensive operation Ring. Her goal was the final destruction of the encircled Wehrmacht group. The offensive began on January 10, 1943. The Soviet troops, methodically squeezing the ring, deprived the enemy of their last hopes for supplies, especially after the capture of the Gumrak airfield.

At the end of January, a historic meeting of units of the 21st and 62nd armies took place on the western slopes of Mamayev Kurgan, which became the center of the confrontation in Stalingrad, opening an overview of a significant part of the city. As a result, the fighters managed to make a breakthrough and split the German group into two parts, suppressing the resistance.

By February 2, 1943, the remnants of the encircled troops, led by Field Marshal Paulus himself, announced their surrender. 24 generals and more than 90,000 soldiers and officers surrendered. This date is considered the day of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted for 200 long days and nights.

The significance of the battle and the establishment of a memorable date

The victory became a symbol of the unparalleled courage and steadfastness of the Soviet people. Even her opponents understood her true meaning. For example, German General Hans Derr wrote in his book "The March on Stalingrad" that the battle of Stalingrad was the gravest defeat in German history and the greatest victory for Russia.

The main result of the Battle of Stalingrad was that it put an end to the offensive initiative of the Wehrmacht and marked the beginning of the liberation of the occupied territories. The defeat of the Nazis not only undermined Germany's military prestige, but also accelerated the withdrawal of its allies from the war, as well as intensified the Resistance movement in Europe.

In memory of the heroism of Stalingrad, streets, squares and monuments named after the hero city appeared in many countries. For example, in France there is Stalingrad Street in Saint-Nazaire and the Battle of Stalingrad Square in Paris. In the capital of Belgium, Brussels, an entire avenue was named after the city.

Memorials, monuments, and obelisks commemorating the historic event have been erected in many Russian cities, including Volgograd, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. An asteroid discovered in April 1972 at the Crimean Observatory is also named after Stalingrad.

In March 1995, the federal law "On the Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia" established the celebration of February 2 as the Day of the defeat of the Nazi troops by Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad. Today, the holiday is a tribute to the heroism of the defenders of the city, who determined the outcome of the entire Second World War.

Victory at Stalingrad — traditions of celebration, events in 2026

Every year on February 2, solemn and memorial events are held throughout Russia. Volgograd has traditionally become the center of events. The celebrations begin with the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers to the Eternal Flame on the Alley of Heroes and at the monument "Motherland calls" on Mamayev Kurgan.

The program includes military-historical reenactments, thematic exhibitions, concerts of patriotic songs and lessons of courage in educational institutions. They are attended by veterans, government officials and public organizations. Special attention is paid to working with young people. Schoolchildren and students participate in memorial events and creative contests dedicated to the events of 1943.

In 2026, in honor of the 83rd anniversary of the victory at Stalingrad, one of the key events will be a mass rally attended by about 100 people. The libraries will host presentations of new historical books and intellectual quizzes. Theaters will present military-themed performances.

On the same day, 80-meter ribbons — Stalingrad and St. George - were unfurled on Mamayev Kurgan as part of the action "Dedicated to the Heroes of Stalingrad." In addition, the Carnation in the Snow campaign will be held in honor of the significant date on February 2, and at noon 21 commemorative salvoes from front-line divisional guns will be fired from the southern slope of Mamayev Kurgan.

These actions allow residents and visitors of the city to literally hear the echo of the war, feel the connection of times and pay tribute to those who defended Stalingrad and brought the Great Victory closer.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on how they celebrate the Day of the Complete Liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi blockade.

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