Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev

Born:

March 23, 1915, Yeleninskoye, Orenburg Governorate, Russian Empire

Died:

December 15, 1991, Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

Nationality:

Soviet

Profession(s):

Sniper, Military Officer

Early Life and Education

• Born into a peasant family in a remote village.
• Learned marksmanship from a young age, hunting game with his grandfather.
• Completed primary education in his village.
• Joined the Soviet Navy in 1936, serving as a clerk.

Career and Major Achievements

• Volunteered for frontline duty during the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942.
• Distinguished himself as a highly skilled sniper in Stalingrad.
• Credited with killing 225 enemy soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad alone.
• Trained other Soviet snipers, establishing a sniper school.
• Participated in other major battles, including the Battle of the Dnieper.
• Rose to the rank of Captain in the Soviet Army.
• Wounded several times during the war.
• Awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Notable Works

• Authored two books on sniper tactics: "Notes of a Sniper" and "No Retreat Behind the Volga."
• His experiences in Stalingrad became the subject of numerous books and films, solidifying the place of the Vassili Zaitzev biography in popular culture.

Legacy and Impact

Vasily Zaitsev is remembered as one of the most effective and celebrated Soviet snipers of World War II. His skills and tactics contributed significantly to the defense of Stalingrad, and he became a symbol of Soviet resistance and courage. His writings and teachings influenced sniper training for decades after the war. He is buried in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Awards and Decorations

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