Vasily Chuikov quotes

Vasily Chuikov was a Soviet military commander, most famous for leading the defense of Stalingrad during World War II. His leadership played a crucial role in turning the tide against the Axis forces on the Eastern Front. He later became a Marshal of the Soviet Union and was recognized as a Hero of the Soviet Union. Here are 8 of his quotes:

Every German soldier must be made to feel that he is living under the muzzle of a Russian gun. (Vasily Chuikov)
The heavy casualties, the constant retreat, the shortage of food and munitions, the difficulty of receiving reinforcements... all this had a very bad effect on morale. Many longed to get across the Volga, to escape the hell of Stalingrad. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
The battle of Kursk... the forcing of the Dnieper... and the liberation of Kiev, left Hitlerite Germany facing catastrophe. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
The Germans underestimated our artillery. And they underestimated the effectiveness of our infantry against their tanks. This battle showed that tanks forced to operate in narrow quarters are of limited value; they're just guns without mobility. In such conditions nothing can take the place of small groups of infantry, properly armed, and fighting with utmost determination. I don't mean barricade street fighting-there was little of that-but groups converting every building into a fortress and fighting for it floor by floor and even room by room. Such defenders cannot be driven out either by tanks or planes. The Germans dropped over a million bombs on us but they did not dislodge our infantry from its decisive positions. On the other hand, tanks can be destroyed from buildings used as fortresses. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
I would not have believed such an inferno could open up on earth. Men died but they did not retreat. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
There are those who propose that both sides remove all their forces from Germany. That's a silly idea. The Germans hate us; we couldn't think of removing our forces from Germany. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
He ordered us to stand fast and save Stalingrad. So we knew then that it was 'do or die.' We could not retreat. View quote
Vasily Chuikov
Our units were tired. There were many whining pessimists in the army. I threw these panicky people out of the army right away and set to work. I told our men we could not retreat beyond the Volga... I believe that nowhere else in this war was there such bloody hand-to-hand combat. Nowhere else were bayonets and hand grenades used so widely as in Stalingrad...Lieutenant General Rodimtzev's division was first to arrive there and received the fierce German blow. Rodimtzev told me: 'We will fight to the last man, but we shall not leave the city. View quote
Vasily Chuikov