On April 4, the Russian House in Prague inaugurated the photo exhibition “Stalingrad: Then and Now”. It was organized by the “Stalingrad Heritage” association – World Youth Festival Directorate’s foreign partner.

The exhibition featured 15 photographs of the hero city’s significant sites. They include: “Stalingrad-1” railway station, Central Department Store, the Volga embankment, and much more.

The exhibition demonstrates how the city has changed since the Battle of Stalingrad, and offers a unique visualization: paired photographs of each landmark, with one showing Stalingrad during the war and other key events in the city’s history, and the other one capturing what the same place looks like now in present-day Volgograd. Modern photos were made by Russian, Czech, and Slovakian people who’d visited the hero city.

“It’s important that Czech people know about Stalingrad, as it’s not only part of Russian history but also a key episode in the global struggle against Nazism. Preserving the memory of Stalingrad helps us understand the price of peace, recognize the significance of solidarity during the most challenging times, and witness the unparalleled heroism of the Soviet people. Stalingrad is a symbol of resilience and courage that inspires patriots today to defend our shared history, preserve historical memory, and uphold the truth. It motivates us to study the past, combat falsifications, and pass the truth on to new generations”, said Jakub Ziba, WYF-2024 participant from the Czech Republic and head of the “Stalingrad Heritage” organization.

After the exhibition is closed, the photos will be handed over to the Russian House in Prague, as a symbol of Czech-Russian friendship. The exhibition is open until May 12, 2025.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the World Youth Festival Forum, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.

According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.