59 days of the Soviet Red Army platoon's defense in Stalingrad

The Red Army platoon held the strategic building between the two front lines for nearly two months, repelling many attacks by the German fascists.

"Pavlov's House" right after the battle. Photo: Wikipedia.

In the winter of 1942, the city of Stalingrad became the focus of fierce fighting between the Soviet Red Army and the invading Nazi Germany. On this battlefield, the Red Army platoon led by Sergeant Yakov Pavlov achieved a miracle by holding a strategic position againstGerman forces were overwhelming in numbers and firepower for 59 days and nights,according toWar History.

SergeantPavlov took command of the reconnaissance platoon after all the officers in the unit were killed in action. His 30-man unit was tasked with capturing and holdinga four-story building near the banks of the Volga River occupied by German soldiers.

Pavlov was ordered to hold this building and not retreat, because it was located in a strategically important position, allowing the defending forces to observe both sides of the battle line at a distance of up to a kilometer.

Together with his comrades from the famous 13th Guards Rifle Division, Pavlov reinforced the building with four layers of barbed wire, planted mines, and set up machine gun emplacements in the basement and on the roof.The inner wall was punctured to enhance communication, a trench became a route connecting with outside forces.

The Soviet Red Army fought back against the German attack. Photo: Bashny.

The Germans began their attack to try to retake the building from September 27, 1942.The platoon's only PTRS-41 anti-tank gun was mounted on the roof, meaning German tanks could not elevate their guns to hit them, while Soviet soldiers could shoot through the thin armor on the tank's turret, putting them out of action.

Thanks to this tactic, Pavlov's platoon destroyed more than 10 German tanks in the enemy's counterattacks. The Germans launched more and more frequent attacks to push back Pavlov's platoon.However, each time it attacks,German armywere all repelled by Red Army machine gun emplacements in the basement, windows and roofs.

As the battle dragged on into its second month, Pavlov's platoonlack of food and waternot separated from the main force in the rear.Pavlov and his comrades had no time to sleep as the Germans fired all night long. The siege lasted so long that the building became known as "Pavlov's house".

With no beds, the men slept on insulation taken from the walls. A few reinforcements managed to break through the perimeter to the building to replenish the platoon, but the permanent defenders were kept at just over 10 men. After a few attacks, German corpses began piling up in front of the building. Pavlov’s platoon had to go out and clean them up between battles, as the Germans used them as human shields.

The defense became a symbol of the indomitable fighting spirit of the Soviet Red Army. Only four men from the original platoon, including Pavlov, survived the Nazi siege. During the 59-day siege, the residents were evacuated to the basement, where they remained until the Red Army relieved Pavlov’s platoon on October 25.

A corner of the building is kept as a monument. Photo: Google.

After this defense, Pavlov continued to participate in the Battle of Berlin and returned home with many military medals. In 1945, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. After the war, "Pavlov's house" was rebuilt with a monument on the original site.

According to VNE