City of Stalingrad appreciation post

Hey all! This series of posts was originally posted by me on Reddit, and if you aren’t a redditor I thought some of you guys might be interested to take a look too.

Despite the Stalingrad campaign receiving mixed reviews with some contraversial decisions, I would really like to give credit to the artists who recreated the city of Stalingrad itself in Enlisted, as I go on a bit of a virtual tour around the city:

As a tourist, you arrive at the Railway Station and in front of it you can see the Dancing Children fountain ‘Barmaley’, which would later be featured in games like CoD WaW and movies like Enemy at the Gates (bad):

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

We are currently at Point 10 of the map and we now move south towards the Volga:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

Right opposite the Railway Station across the square at Point G you can see the Repnikova House. Before the Russian revolution, the house belonged to Yulia Repnikova, at that time it was mainly used for receiving distinguished guests who came to the city:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

In 1937 the building was turned into the Museum of Defense of Tsaritsyn named after Stalin and was dedicated mainly to the history of the Civil War of 1917-1920 in the area of Tsaritsyn (former name of Stalingrad). A statue of Stalin was also erected in front of the house. The house stands to this day.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

Then, as we go down Gogol street you can see Points 8 and 9, which are the House of Communal Workers and the Nail Factory (behind the Repnikova House), respectively.

The statue of Stalin can be seen ingame, too:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

The House of Communal Workers (8) was one of the landmarks of pre-war Stalingrad, constructed in the 1930s as part of the Soviet program of prodiving (free) modern housing to the working class:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

It did not survive the war:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

As we continue our journey down Gogol street, we arrive at the Square of the Fallen Fighters (Point Г), named after the fallen of the Russian revolution. It also inspired the “Red Square” you charge across unarmed in CoD 2 just like in Enemy at the Gates (bad)

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

Fun fact: the Square of the Fallen Fighters used to be called Alexander Square before the Revolution and its centerpiece was the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (destroyed by the Bolsheviks in the 1930s):

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

You might have fought over its artistic recreation under the name of Cathedral of Light right on the Alexander Square in Tsaritsyn if you’ve played Battlefield 1:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

Now then, take a look at the triangular building (11), another gem of pre-war Soviet architecture, the Univermag (Universalniy Magazin or General Store):

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post.

This is the place where the German headquarters were located. This is also the place where Field Marshal General Friedrich Paulus surrendered and was captured by the Red Army.

We’ve reached the Square of the Fallen Fighters (Г) and saw the Univermag (11):

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Now we turn right and reach the crossroads with another two sights of interest, Gorky Theater (7) and Executive Committee building (K):

Gorky Theater was originally built as House of Science and Art and funded by the Repnikov family (remember Repnikova house?):

House of Science and Art (1920s)
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Gorky Theater (Enlisted)

Gorky Theater (1942)
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North of Gorky Theater you’ll find Komsomol Garden (Point B), a park full of vegetation, perfect for hot Stalingrad days:

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Right opposite Gorky Theater, you can see the Executive Committee building, another fine example of Stalingrad’s trademark ‘rounded’ architecture:

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Looking at the map, you can see how close the fighting was to the Volga, which was a crucial strategic point for both sides. The Soviet defenders were supplied and reinforced across the Volga, and losing it would mean losing the city and routes to the Caucasus oil field as well as allied lend-lease convoys through Iran.

Contrary to the images popularized by questionable media like Enemy at the Gates (bad) and CoD 2, the crossings did not happen in broad daylight and in disregard of Stuka dive bombers, but rather mostly in the dark and in organized manner. Hopefully we’ll see Volga crossings done right in Enlisted one day!

Now then, if you look at the aerial view of the city in the game, you’ll notise Tsaritsa river (it gave the city its previous name, Tsaritsyn) flowing into the Volga and two bridges crossing it (the Railway viaduct (Point 1) itself seems to not have been recreated in Enlisted).

Now here comes another Battlefield 1 reference (I really love that game). If you’ve ever played the Volga River map, you’d notice that the fighting takes place on the other bank of the Tsaritsa, and you can see the bridges over the Tsaritsa, the Volga river itself and the ship berthed on it, as well as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral smoldering in the distance:

Here you can see two bridges over the Tsaritsa going into the city, the cathedral and the ship on the Volga

The bridge potentially inspired by the Tsaritsyn Viaduct (Point 1)

Here is Tsaritsyn Viaduct in real life, when it was built it became one of the largest structures of its kind both in the Russia Empire and in Europe in general.

1898
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1942-43. Surprisingly, it survived the Battle of Stalingrad.
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Did you know that the loud speaker propaganda you hear is actually historically accurate?

The Russian announcer says in German: Alle sieben Sekunden stirbt ein deutscher Soldat. Stalingrad - Massengrab (Every seven seconds, a German soldier dies. Stalingrad - mass grave). Source

In reality, this phrase was followed by 7 ticks of a metronome, signifying another German dead and futility of their invasion. Veterans of the battle said this had immense consequences for the morale. YouTube example.

By the way you can destroy the propaganda speakers too, if you’ve had enough of the Germans offering you hot meals and “freedom from socialist slavery”.

Now then, let’s talk about cars. The cars in Stalingrad, including the wrecks, are not random or placeholder, but rather actual 1930s Soviet cars:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
GAZ-M-1

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
GAZ-AA

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
GAZ-03-30

Several German Opel Blitz trucks can also be found around the city:
r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

Let’s also take a look at some smaller details, many of you will probably recognize this homage to Order 227 seen on some buildings, reading “Not one step back! Fierce fighting has been going on over the city of Stalingrad for a whole month …” which may or may not mean it’s September 1942 ingame:
r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
We shall not let a single fascist alive out of Stalingrad! & Glory to our valiant Red Army!

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
We shall revive you, beloved city of Stalin!

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
How many fascists have you killed?

Meanwhile, the city still remains some signs of its peace time past, again with details very accurately recreated by the devs:
r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
Street ads for Recitals of Russian poet Alexander Blok, Football match at Dynamo stadium, Concert of David Oistrakh - all actual realities of the 1940s Stalingrad

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
Intrigue and Love stage play by Schiller, The Queen of Spades by Pushkin

Scattered around the Univermag and residential houses you’ll find actual books, food and toys from the 1940s USSR:
r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
Who’s Faster? - 1926

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
Soviet Porcelain - 1927

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.
Soviet toys

To finish today’s tour I would like to present to you another map (HQ) showcasing the area of the city we’ve already visited (left) and some potential iconic places that will hopefully arrive with future updates:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

  • 1 - Railway Station;
  • 2 - Gorky Theater;
  • 3 - Square of the Fallen Fighters;
  • 4 - Univermag;
  • 5 - Central crossing No. 2;
  • 6 - Tsaritsa crossing;
  • 7 - Specialist Houses, to the south - Central crossing No. 1;
  • 8 - State Bank;
  • 9 - Brewery;
  • 10 - NKVD buildings;
  • 11 - Grudinin’s mill;
  • 12 - January 9th Square, Zabolotny House, Pavlov’s House;
  • 13 - House of Railwaymen, L-shaped house;
  • 14 - ‘Milky’ House;
  • 15 - Voentorg;
  • 16 - Rodimtsev’s Wall.

Lastly, Stalingrad map from Hell Let Loose for comparison:

r/enlistedgame - City of Stalingrad appreciation post. Part III.

Hopefully these tours help you get immersed deeper and enjoy Stalingrad even more.

If enjoyed this, you might also like:

62 Likes

Have to say Stalingrad is slowely becoming on my top list of favourite campaigns.

7 Likes

Appreciated, you really gave that post some love and time. Hope a couple more maps follow in the game soon.

1 Like

Didnt read the post. Just read the start and hearted.

Yeah love Stalingrad. Great additions, Gunplay is very nice. I’m hoping it becomes the norm.

Im starting to wish your progression could cross certain campaigns though, like troops and equipment from Moscow could follow through into Stalingrad, all the way up to berlin. Maintain individual soldier stats so we get attached even more to our boys.

Great post, and as you point out the Dev’s have done justice to the ambience of both the city and the battle.
I agree with the other posters, aside from a few historical liberties taken the Stalingrad campaign remains the most representative of the historical campaigns we have in Enlisted.

As an aside and an ironic analogy of the Stalingrad battle, I had a lot of silver orders for troops and weapons saved up from all the previous campaigns from Moscow to Tunisia. I am almost 0 on manpower and I have run out of orders for weaponry, as I struggle to pour resources into the Stalingrad campaign. So many of the troops (both Soviet and German) are poorly armed and equipped accordingly. I think this is a very fun aspect of the game, and you certainly appreciate those player squads which are well equipped, and can clearly make a difference to an objective push or alternatively a stalwart defence. I really love the terror that the KV’s spread through the ranks as they soak up inordinate punishment until they’re destroyed. Eventually there will be a player with a PzIV F2 /G or the PzIIIN with HEAT rounds, or a Stuka to dispose of it. But until then they’re a terror. Equally I appreciate the Romanian aspects brought into the campaign, I would like to see a premium squad of the Croatian Legion as well, they took an active part in the fighting and would make a fitting addition to the line up.

1 Like

Wow…

I have to say I’m impressed by your work. Always nice reading this sort of post bringing historical comparison facts.

Thanks for all that! :slight_smile:

5 Likes

Very nice work, you are right this is the nearest to real life battle enactment we have, I am really loving this campaign, it has become my new Moscow!

1 Like

This might not be the most well-known building in Stalingrad, however I think it would be cool if we saw Yablokov’s house (later known as Red Army house) modelled in Enlisted’s Stalingrad.

Originally built as Lapshin’s house in Imperial Russia, this building was a haberdashery run by the Yablokov brothers.



After its reconstruction in the 1930s it became Red Army house, located on the corner across Univermag, one facade facing the Square of the Fallen Fighters and the other facing Gogol street, here you can see the Railway Station in the distance:

Another example of Stalingrad’s trademark ‘rounded’ architecture.


Just like many other buildings in the city, it was badly damaged by German bombing.

In Enlisted, it would appear here on the left (view from the Square of the Fallen Fighters):


If anyone is curious, the building on the right is supposed to be Grand Stalingrad Hotel:

What was left of it:

This very T-34 immobilized next between the Red Army House and the Hotel was the only intact tank of the 6th tank division on September 14, 1942, and was used as static artillery emplacement.

6 Likes

Great work with this! Hope Stalingrad will be further developed around city’s most recognizable objects within the city’s boundaries. I also hope that it won’t partake Berlin’s fate where we had only one new map, which isn’t even inside the Berlin but revolves around pre-Berlin campaign of Battle of Selow Heights, I wish we had more inside Berlin maps as I hope we had more inside Stalingrad maps. God forbid we had any winter time map of Battle of Stalingrad campaign.

Great post!, we have to give the devs much more recognition for recreating such a city in their game!

amazing post. good job

stalingrad ties with berlin on my favorit campaigns ingame. the detail on the maps make it top notch for me.

i wish, they had added more maps befor release or more levels :slight_smile:
i m waiting patiently for the pavlov house , i missed that map so much since my youth on cod1.

Pavlovs_House


one day…

also, the volga atack (literaly the first mission on cod1 )

i miss that game so much :confused:

1 Like

This is the best post I have seen on this forum. Bravo sir, bravo!

3 Likes

Thank you!

To anyone who enjoyed this, you might also like:

1 Like

Top quality post, that was actually amazing to read and analyse. Thanks for this!

2 Likes

What a great post! Thanks!

2 Likes

Looking for love of the Stalingrad Campaign as it’s favourite. Came across this… Have to say I’m very impressed with the amount of work and clear enthusiasm you have for this city and level. Well done!

2 Likes

Apparently the developers deleted it

3 Likes

That’s actually so sad.
I loved that detail.

It was really well modelled, I wonder if they used one of the last surviving Stalin monuments from Moscow’s Museon art space?

3 Likes

Devs/level designers, please add the 3 out of 4 Stalingrad monuments that survived the war:
Erman Monument in Komsomolsky Garden (behind Gorky Theater)
image

Gogol Monument in Komsomolsky Garden


Kholzunov monument (behind the Square of Fallen Fighters, down to the Volga)

The forth one is already in the game now :smiley:

1 Like