For years, I had heard different stories about a cat being use by the soviets forces to move moving messages and ammo during the Stalingrad battle. As a cat owner and believing I understanding a cat’s behavior and psychology, I was very skeptical about these different claims. During my latest trip to the Panoramic “Stalingrad battle” archives in Volgograd I came across the file and picture of “Hero” the Stalingrad battle cat.
Here is the true story:
During the Stalingrad battle, soldiers of the Soviet 124th Rifle Brigade defending the villages of Spartanovka and Rynok, north of the Tractor factory started to feed a local male cat that was in their units sector. After some time they started to tie propaganda leaflets to the cat back and send it on its way. Often the cat would return (I am 100% sure he was looking for food) with the flyers gone and they would send it out again on another mission. After a time, the soldiers adopted him as a unit mascot and named him “Hero.”
This is the only known photo of “Hero” and he was never issued any citations or awards for his actions during the Stalingrad battle.
Russ
www.fireonthevolga.com
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