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Vasily Zaytsev: The Man, the Myth, the Sniper of Stalingrad
"Enemy at the Gates", the 2001 blockbuster film, introduced audiences worldwide to the legendary Soviet sniper Vasily Zaytsev and his exploits during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.
But how much of the film‘s portrayal is true to history? Let‘s embark on a deep dive into the life and legend of this famed sharpshooter.
From Peasant to Sniper Prodigy
Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev was born on March 23, 1915, in Yeleninskoye, a small village in the Ural Mountains.
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His father, a peasant, and his grandfather taught young Vasily to hunt at an early age. In his memoirs, Zaytsev recalls downing a wolf with a single-shot Berdan rifle at the tender age of 12 – a formative moment that hinted at his future prowess.
When Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Zaytsev, like many of his countrymen, volunteered for military service.
After initial deployme