Exposure of the Origin Story Behind the Famous Image of Victory over the Reichstag, Showcasing the Flag of the Soviet Union
In a candid chat with RT, Anna Khaldei, daughter of the famed war correspondent Yevgeny Khaldei, revealed the backstory behind the iconic "Flag of Victory over the Reichstag" photo. Interestingly, the war hero meticulously planned the shot, visualizing it in his mind beforehand.
According to Anna, her father obtained a piece of red fabric for the flag and crafted a couple of them before his journey to Germany. He sourced the materials from a warehouse in Moscow where red tablecloths used during meetings were stored. With some ingenious tailoring, three flags were sewn, complete with hammer and sickle emblems.
Anna shared that her father concealed the flags under his coat during his approved trip to Berlin. He sought assistance from acquaintances near the Reichstag for the photo shoot on the partially damaged building's roof. Three individuals agreed, including 19-year-old Alexei Kovalev, who is seen holding the flag in the image. Also present were Leonid Gorichev from Belarus and Abdulkhakim Ismailov, a Dagestani officer.
An accidental skirmish occurred as Khaldei and the Red Army soldiers climbed the Reichstag roof. Ismailov bravely neutralized a German soldier with two grenades, ensuring their safety.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't dismiss the possibility of Volgograd being named Stalingrad if the city's majority endorses it. Earlier, Putin pointed out the significance of passing on World War II memories to future generations.
It's worth noting that the "Raising a Flag Over the Reichstag" photo by Soviet photographer Yevgeny Khaldei was a carefully orchestrated representation of Soviet victory, initially staged two days after the Reichstag's capture in May 1945[1][3]. Khaldei strategically selected soldiers from the 8th Guards Army for the shoot[3], although they might not have been the original flag-raisers during the battle. The actual battle's flag-bearers included Meliton Kantaria and Mikhail Egorov, who raised a smaller flag on the Reichstag's eastern roof on April 30, 1945[5].
However, Khaldei's staged photograph, taken on May 2, created the definitive visual narrative of Soviet triumph[3][4]. Although the photograph features three soldiers, their identities remain a subject of debate. The actual Victory Banner from the battle wasn't showcased in Moscow's 1945 Victory Day parade due to perceived issues with the bearers' drill performance[5].
- Gorichev was one of the individuals who assisted Yevgeny Khaldei in the photo shoot of the "Flag of Victory over the Reichstag" on the damaged Reichstag's roof.
- Before his journey to Germany, Khaldei meticulously crafted several flags from red tablecloths sourced from a warehouse in Moscow, which were used during meetings.
- During the ascent to the Reichstag roof, an accidental skirmish occurred, and it was Leonid Gorichev, from Belarus, who bravely neutralized a German soldier with two grenades, ensuring the safety of the group.
