Stalingrad WW2 collectables

JimDO

JimDO

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Just returned from an amazing trip to Russia and Stalingrad a few weeks ago.. Met up with an online acquaintance in Stalingrad/Volgograd who gave me a free two day tour of all the battle sites, with some off-roading into some remote sites. He also digs for relics from the battles and is a WW2 history nut for his area.

He has an amazing collection of artefacts.. probably 15 or so rusted K98 bayonets and one SVT bayo for sure.

I'll attach some photos,, These items came home with me but not before being detained briefly at one of the Moscow airports Customs checks,,(close call for sure).

Oops just deleted pic of German helmet as it may offend some. Maybe an admin can clarify for me if certain i insignia are not welcome, its historical but evil. I can remove some or post some more pics of artefacts recovered

The battle sites specially the Barrikady factory and east of it are a horror show! Feel bad for all soldiers who had to endure this mess.





[/URL Recent 1985 Soviet Naval Ensign

Some editing and removal of items just done

[URL=http://s190.photobucket.com/user/jimtoronto/media/Public/9EBCC89D-2B33-4366-9E3F-222EE24AA591_zps2t8mstav.jpg.html]


Various bayonets

Spanish civil war rare German medal

 
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I'm German, absolutely nothing offensive about any of it. It's history, it's war, these artifacts remind us not to forget. Cheers

PS: I'd like to have been a fly on the wall while you were detained lol
 
War is offensive !! or defensive depending on which side of the barbed wire you are standing on.
A world war not owned by any one country.

Share all the history you want!!
 
dirtycurty said:
I'm German, absolutely nothing offensive about any of it. It's history, it's war, these artifacts remind us not to forget.
Click to expand...

My Dad was deployed in the early months of operation Barbarossa and got transferred out in '42 for Tunisia. Didn't go too well for him after that, but way better than remaining in Russia.




dad.jpg
 
Lol Dirty, Swatikas are illegal in many countries, including Russia. My bud warned me to cover the swastika on the helmet with gum or something. I put toothpaste over it but it rubbed off. When the mean Russian gal at the airport scanner saw I had German helmet, she made me open my knapsack. (Totally disregarded the Soviet helmet). She pulled out the German one and started freaking out. All I could understand from her was her saying swastika. ( More people speak English in the streets if Stalingrad than at the Moscow airports!) Next thing I know Im off to the side and most guards and public are staring at me. It was only one minute or so but it felt like ten. She placed a call to a supervisor Im guessing, he obviously told her to relax, and I was on my way :)
 
Ok then, more pics...

Another of my 88flak shell before we drilled out the primer to ensure that it got let on the plane. The Germans cut off the bases of 5 of these and used the remainder of the long shell as smoke stacks in their bunkers


Office of the present day Barrikay factory

Building in "Luydnikovs Island" east of the Barrikady




In the park/ heavy battle site, east of the Barrikady


Helmet that got me detained and almost arrested



The mill, in downtown Stalingrad


Amazing two day national holiday for remembrance and victory and they take it seriously!


Interview I did with Volgograd24, an affiliate of their national news! Frig,, after touring around for 12 hrs, off roading and hiking, the last thing I needed was a news interview! But here it is,,
https://youtu.be/-K7U0CB-gR0

At Mamaev Kurgan, large hill overlooking most of Stalingrad,, changed hands between the Germans and Soviets a lot. Huge remembrance ceremony, 100,000 people!
So many parents dressed up their kids in WW2 outfits as remembrance

Top of Mamaev Kurgan/hill.


And yes! The Russian women , like most European women are pretty hot! And I found the Russians friendlier than other countries, ie Canada, USA and anywhere in Europe that Ive been.
 
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Remarkable! So interesting to see what they still have preserved from that time with the old buildings. Were the 2 badges you show found inside a building or something, or how were they so well preserved? Did they come home with you?
 
No those my bud is keeping. He found them out in the fields. Its luck of the draw over there. Some areas have sand, but theres also clay and everything else. Some preserve stuff better and some rot stuff. Many metals need a chemical bath to clean up.
 
I know i would get bored to death sitting on a beach down south for more than a hour or two... but a place like this i could spend weeks!!
Looks like a very interesting trip!
 
I was there about 15 years ago. It looks as though nothing has changed. The people are friendly but the city was not really geared for foreign tourists when I visited. It used to be a requirement for Communist party members to visit each of the main battle cities during the Soviet era.
 
student of history said:
I would personally like to hear more about this helmet which led to you being detained. Sounds like a fun story!

- Chris
Click to expand...


Luckily it was fairly quick and what I wrote earlier is all that happened :). But jeese I was sweating it for that minute or two! I didnt want to lose the helmet, but given the choice, helmet or me? Not a tough choice.

But I had another incident with the helmet on my way home. I stopped in Copenhagen for a day and night and when I went to get on my flight out to Amsterdam-then Toronto, a gal at the Copenhagen airport did the same thing as the Russian gal in Moscow!!! Frig, just when you think youre home free too! Her partner or senior officer at the scanner chuckled at her and liked the helmet and let me go through with it :)
 
ok... Ill throw in some more pics that I find interesting...

The grain silos in the south of the city now and then




Maxim gun plate


I think a ppsh mag


Lots of canteens but I really like and will try and score next visit, the WH Heer licence plate template




Some friendly Stalingrad/Volgograd police just outside of where General Paulus surrendered

And will end it off with a drunk Russian me and my bud rescued from his overturned car,,, had to lift it up a bit so he could get his head out from under the car.


We were out at a small museum next to the German and Soviet graveyards and a lady drove up freaking out about an accident up the road. We drove a mile or two and found this moron trapped under the passenger side of his car. Car was on top of his head and neck and he was having trouble breathing. Just my bud and I,, only two nearby ladies too scared to approach, so we had to lift the car enough so he could free his head. Last photo as we are leaving, more help but not soon enough to help us.


One thing about Stalingrad though. Its always windy!!! Summer winter from what my bud says and from what I experienced. Almost desert like and outside of the city? Its pretty flat land that goes forever and looks uninhabited for the most part. Crummy place to have to fight, freeze and starve to death.
 
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