Nearly 70 years ago, the city's residents endured the onslaught of the Nazis.
It was a Soviet victory, but all these years later, the battle of Stalingrad remains an enduring symbol of what Russians can do against all odds. Many believe the defeat of the German army in Stalingrad changed the course of the war in Europe. The name was changed back in 1961, as part of a program of to expunge the cult of personality and brutal policies of Stalin from the Soviet system.
The city was named Stalingrad in 1925 in honor of the Soviet leader. The promenade along the Volga River is a popular destination for visitors and locals in Volgograd.
