Vassili zaitsev biography sniper elite

'As a sniper, I've killed more than a few Nazis. I have a passion for observing enemy behaviour. You watch a Nazi officer come out of a bunker, acting all high and mighty, ordering his soldiers every which way, and putting on an air of authority. The officer hasn't got the slightest idea that he only has seconds to live.' Vassili Zaitsev's account of the hell that was Stalingrad is moving and harrowing. This was a battle to the death – fighting street by street, brick by brick, living like rats in a desperate struggle to survive. Here, the rules of war were discarded and a psychological war was being waged. In this environment, the sniper was king – an unseen enemy who frayed the nerves of brutalised soldiers. Zaitsev volunteered to fight at Stalingrad in 1942. His superiors recognized quickly his talent, and made him a sniper. He adapted his hunting skills to the ruins of the city, watching his prey with nerves of steel. In his first 10 days, Zaitsev killed 40 Germans. He achieved at least 225 kills and the tactics he developed are still being studied. Zaitsev was used as a symbol of Russian resistance against the Nazis. His exploits, including a famous 'duel' with a Nazi sniper, remain the stuff of legend. His account is absorbing to anyone interested in World War II and seeing how one person could survive in the most extreme of conditions. Vassili Zaitsev was born in 1915, and spent his early life as a hunter in the Urals. He joined the Russian navy in 1937, and volunteered for Stalingrad after hearing about the appalling losses. Zaitsev's mastery as a sniper became legendary, and he was awarded several times for his skill, including the coveted gold star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. He died in 1991. 8 pages of plates

'As a sniper, I've killed more than a few Nazis. I have a passion for observing enemy behaviour. You watch a Nazi officer come out of a bunker, acting all high and mighty, ordering his soldiers every which way, and putting on an air of authority. The officer hasn't got the slightest idea that he only has seconds to live.' Vassili Zaitsev's account of the hell that was Stalingrad is moving and harrowing. This was a battle to the death - fighting street by street, brick by brick, living like rats in a desperate struggle to survive. Here, the rules of war were discarded and a psychological war was being waged. In this environment, the sniper was king - an unseen enemy who frayed the nerves of brutalised soldiers. Zaitsev volunteered to fight at Stalingrad in 1942. His superiors recognized quickly his talent, and made him a sniper. He adapted his hunting skills to the ruins of the city, watching his prey with nerves of steel. In his first 10 days, Zaitsev killed 40 Germans. He achieved at least 225 kills and the tactics he developed are still being studied. Zaitsev was used a symbol of Russian resistance against the Nazis. His exploits, including a famous 'duel' with a Nazi sniper, remain the stuff of legend. His account is absorbing to anyone interested in World War II and seeing how one person could survive in the most extreme of conditions.

Vasily Zaytsev is a world-known sniper of the Second World War, whose deeds are probably known by everyone. However this article will tell you little-known facts about the life of this hero.

Vasily Zaytsev’s life before war

The Second World War was an era of heroes. Soviet people showed massive heroism in the struggle for their freedom, their country and every piece of their land, but among them were people who performed unbelievable feats. The whole world knew about their feats. The heroes were becoming legends. One of them was a sniper Vasily Zaytsev.

V. G. Zaitsev with his sniper rifle

Vasily Grygoryevich Zaytsev was born in a simple peasant family on March 23rd in 1915. From very childhood he learned hunting, and at the age of 12 he got his first rifle as a gift. Hunting advice from his grandfather was very useful for a future hero. Vasily said that a sniper had to be invisible. The ability to mask was always number one for him. Time didn’t exist for him, when he was waiting for another target. And of course, his extraordinary cold blood and self- control. This all made him a first- class hunter. Besides, Vasily was gifted physically as well: eagle- eye, good ear and endurance didn’t leave a single chance for the enemy caught in his sniper sight.

Vasily Zaytsev - at the barricades of the Stalingrad battle

World War II caught a future hero in the position of a chief of finance in the Pacific Fleet, where he had been serving since 1937. Zaytsev had a good position and the command appreciated him a lot. However by the summer of 1942 Vasily applied 5 times with a request to forward him to the front. His request was satisfied, and Zaytsev was sent to the 284th rifle division. On the September night of 1942 together with other recruits was sent across the Volga to defend Stalingrad. He got to the city where he pronounced the words which got into a mess: “For us, soldiers

Evil-doer

Major Erwin König is the main antagonist in the 2001 war thriller film Enemy at the Gates. He is a professional Wehrmacht sniper who is sent to Stalingrad to kill the Soviet sniper Vassili Zaitsev.

He was portrayed by Ed Harris, who also played General Francis X. Hummel in The Rock, Blair Sullivan in Just Cause, Carl Fogarty in A History of Violence, Leonard Dekkom in Geostorm,Christof in The Truman Show, Mitch Wilkinson in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, William in Westworld, and Wilford in Snowpiercer.

Biography[]

Afraid of rising activity of Soviet snipers in Stalingrad, Nazis need someone to solve the problem. They choose Major Erwin König, a German aristocrat from Bavaria, professional sniper and head of the Wehrmacht Sniper School in Zossen. König is immediately deployed to Stalingrad where he is supposed