Zaitsev versus Thorvald
Chief Master Sergeant Vasily Zaitsev (and all the Russian Snipers of
Stalingrad)
The name of Zaitsev has become synonymous with snipers at Stalingrad. While
many of the German soldiers did not know his name, he set fear and dread into
the hearts of those who did and outright desperation in those who only knew of
his work. While the political commissars of his time went out of their way to
turn him into a hero of the people, his record withstands their propaganda
efforts. He is credited with killing 242 German soldiers during the late 1942
siege at Stalingrad. His final count tallied 400 by the end of his service in
WWII. His impact on the history of battle can only be surmised but his deeds
had to certainly have affected the way his enemy operated. Fear can paralyze
and no fear is worse for the average grunt than that of being shot while doing
nothing. To the Germans in that cauldron city, Zaitsev represented their
doom. Unseen, but certain. Just raise your head above the trench and meet
your maker.

Known to the world for his famous and ultimately victorious sniper duel with
SS sniper Colonel Heinz Thorvald in the Ninth of January Square in the
southern end of the city, Zaitsev has earned a special note in history if for
no other reason than to have been known so well by his enemy and survived.
But his deeds go far beyond that single duel. His success deprived the Nazis
the freedom of movement so needed to take and hold ground. To the average
grunt, it reduced the war to animal survival and nothing more.

\o/