the German defenses for our 4th Mechanized Corps to go through and to join, on November 23rd, the 4th Tank Corps, thus destroying the German defenses. 22 German divisions and 320,000 officers and soldiers were surrounded”

Shortly after Stalingrad, Grigori was wounded and transferred to a different rifle regiment after he recuperated. He was now with the 49th Rifle Division under the command of General Marguelov. They fought in The Battle of Budapest in January 1945:

“Early in the morning, the German tanks made an attempt to break out, to come to the aid of the Budapest garrison. There was a winding road there, with hills on the flanks. I focused my artillery gun. There were many artillery guns there. As soon as the German column started moving we started firing point blank putting German tanks on fire”

Grigori served throughout Europe but is considers Stalingrad his most important contribution to the war:

“Even the Germans, and their commanders… admit in some publications… that the Battle of Stalingrad became a grave for the German army. That was their grave. Before that the Germans were advancing all the time. Even in ’42, prior to Stalingrad they were advancing. At that time, in ’42, 64th army was caught in a pocket. That was nearly the end of the 64th army. We saved it. That’s why I am proud to have been involved in that battle”