Stalingrad in Paris: history and photos

The area of the Battle of Stalingrad is located near the Boulevard Villette in Paris. Residents of the capital of France more often call it the area of Stalingrad. To the great battle on the Volga (1942-1943) and the heroic deed of Soviet soldiers, the population of the country is treated with great respect. By the way, the nearest metro station is called "Stalingrad".

Turning battle

As you know, the city of Volgograd until 1961 was called Stalingrad. Under this name, he entered the world history. On February 2, 1943, there was the greatest battle of the Great Patriotic War - the Battle of Stalingrad. It is called a turning, turning point. It was here that the plans of Hitler's troops to conquer the whole world flew to pieces.

A huge role was played by other battles, in particular, the Battle of the Kursk Bulge. But Stalingrad became the first city, from where the soldiers of the Third Reich massively went home. It was from here that the victorious expulsion of the enemy from the territory of the USSR began. Here, the outgrowth of the outbreak of World War II took shape.

Many events of those fiery years are reflected in the toponymy of different countries. They involuntarily remind people of the past, like the Stalingrad area in Paris. The history of its streets and squares with the appearance of this name became even more informative.

Warriors of Stalingrad avenged France

In the Great Patriotic War, various states took part. Some of them fought on the side of fascist Germany, others - on the side of the Soviet Union. France, as you know, was an ally of the USSR. As early as 1942, the National Liberation Committee "Fighting France" offered our country support in the form of the Normandie-Niemen air regiment. And although the pilots of the squadron did not take part in the battle on the outskirts of the Volga, when they learned of the victory, they were unspeakably happy, like all their fellow countrymen.

According to the writer Jean-Richard Bloch, at Stalingrad, the Russians avenged the fall of France (the invasion of Germany began in the spring of 1940 and ended in the summer of 1944). The memory of victorious events still lives in the hearts of Frenchmen of different generations. The Stalingrad area in Paris and other indirect evidence support this assumption.

In honor of the victory of the Red Army

The hundredth, one hundred and thirteenth and two hundred ninety-fifth Hitler divisions, which invaded the early forties in Paris, were later destroyed precisely in Stalingrad. Our allies in the Great Patriotic War expressed sincere gratitude for this, transferring the name of the city on the Volga to its promised land. In 1946, there was the Square of Stalingrad in Paris. The bus station "Rue d'Aubervilliers" was renamed a year earlier.

Many believe that this gesture of goodwill shows much, especially today, when the policies of some countries are aimed at discrediting a number of events of the past. The usual peaceful life is the square of Stalingrad in Paris. The metro station receives and escorts passengers daily, hurrying about their business. For the people to have a future, the defenders of the Volga stronghold once fought for peace on Earth.

To think out a different name for this corner of the capital, the French have never met, despite any world political trends. The Stalingrad area in Paris, a photo of which can be seen in the article, is not the only place in the country bearing the name of the hero city on the Volga, directly connected with the battle. There are dozens of organizations of the same name, including a branch of Credit Leone Bank, a large pharmacy, a cinema hall, etc.

On a national scale this figure is even greater: there is an opinion that the bill goes to thousands! Among the objects with the mentioned verbal designation it is possible to note petrol stations, beauty centers, mills, ambulance stations, transport agencies, private companies, pharmacies and many more. You can visit the post office, enroll in a driving school, come to the stadium, apply to the housing department, the council of people's deputies, call a taxi and find out - they are all called "Stalingrad."

Walking around Paris

To get to the square, you need to drive to the north-eastern outskirts of Paris. On the right bank of the Seine, between the Canal Saint-Martin and the Lafayette Gallery you will find a place whose name is fanned by the glory of Soviet soldiers. The area is located parallel to the Boulevard Villet.

They say that until recently a place inhabited by workers and emigrants was famous for its not too elegant mores. The contingent began to take shape at the beginning of the 20th century (since 1900). Today the area of Stalingrad in Paris (we will clarify, since 1993 it is called Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad) looks rather interesting, the area has undergone a major reconstruction in 2006.

The La Villette Park

Among the attractions of the area any local resident will necessarily name the park "La Villette", which opened doors for visits in 1985. Here, not only lush green flower beds, gardens, children's and adult playgrounds (attractions) are beautiful, but also other places. You can visit the Science Museum, a spherical 3D cinema.

In the park area stands the music school La Cite de la Musique. I like tourists building from the metal Grand Al. It turns out that it is older than the stable symbol of France of the Eiffel Tower. Previously, the agricultural livestock market was located on the surrounding territory. Now everything has changed. For a long time, the shopping mall has been forgotten.

Pride for Stalingrad

Visitors look here for another art exhibition or a bright festival, visit other creative and social events. Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad is located West of the park. The main decoration of the square is the rotunda of La Villette. The construction was erected more than two hundred years ago. It served as the front gate of the French capital. Looking through the pictures of the city on the Seine, you will see that the Stalingrad area in Paris, whose photo often flickers in the capital's newspapers, looks quite modern.

In France, many attractions. Locks and museums can be found almost at every step. But at the same time, the inhabitants of the country do not deny the world history in general and in particular. They proudly pronounce the Russian word "Stalingrad."

The Volga stronghold in the memory of the French

Memory lives not only in the hearts of the gray-haired Asa Normans, which are getting smaller. Many young Parisians confirm that the heroic Soviet people also revere. And let the area of Stalingrad in Paris is not too big, but is this really the case?

Millions of earthlings know about the battle on the Volga. Many understand that in 1942-1943 there, in the steppe region, decided the fate of the whole world. Coming to Russia, on the blood-drenched soldiers, the land is invariably visited by the victory symbol dedicated to the Battle of Stalingrad - Mamayev Kurgan, where the sculpture "Motherland Calls!" Is installed. There are also French people here.

Going to the memorial, listening to the story of the guide, they clearly realize why the area of Stalingrad appeared in Paris. The former bus station "Ryu-d'Oberville", the first to receive the steel name, invisibly links their country with Russia and the heroic city on the Volga.

Russians also are very sensitive to the heroic past of their country. Although alarm signals are present. Several years ago, on one of the official sites of Volgograd, the search for a new symbol of the city was initiated. Like, other times, other manners. Most of those who read the appeal considered this substitution of values as an unacceptable thing.