Source: FP
Context: Russia honoured Biju Patnaik with a memorial plaque at its embassy in New Delhi for his crucial role during the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43).
About Biju Patnaik:
- Early Life and Profession:
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- Born in Cuttack (1916), Biju Patnaik was a renowned freedom fighter, aviator, and politician.
- Joined the Royal Indian Air Force in 1936 as a transport and rescue pilot.
- Contribution to Russia in WWII:
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- Flew supply missions during the Battle of Stalingrad, aiding the besieged Soviet Red Army.
- Risked German air defences to deliver essential arms and supplies under extreme combat conditions.
- Role in India’s Freedom Movement:
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- Supported the Quit India Movement by flying secret missions for nationalist leaders.
- Helped rescue freedom fighters from Burma and facilitated Indonesia’s fight for independence, for which he was honoured by Indonesia as well.
About Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)
- Overview:
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- A major World War II battle fought between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in Stalingrad (now Volgograd) from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943.
- Strategic Aims: Hitler sought control of Stalingrad to secure oil-rich Caucasus, cut off Soviet logistics via the Volga River, and win a symbolic victory by capturing the city named after Josef Stalin.
- Key Features:
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- Urban warfare at its bloodiest: House-to-house combat, massive civilian casualties, and near-total destruction of the city.
- German forces controlled 90% of the city by late 1942.
- Soviet Operation Uranus in November encircled 300,000 Axis troops, cutting them off from supplies.
- Outcome and Significance:
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- Soviet victory marked a turning point in WWII; German forces began retreating thereafter.
- Nearly 100,000 German soldiers captured, including Gen. Friedrich Paulus.
- The battle bolstered Soviet morale and marked the beginning of the Nazi collapse on the Eastern Front.
