Vasily Zaitsev (sniper)

Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev
Zaitsev in 1943
Native name	Василий Григорьевич Зайцев
Born	(1915-03-23)23 March 1915 Yeleninskoye, Orenburg Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	15 December 1991(1991-12-15) (aged 76) Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Buried	Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd, Russia (from 2006)
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Years of service	1937–1945
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Seelow Heights
Awards	See list

Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev (Russian: Васи́лий Григо́рьевич За́йцев, IPA: [vɐˈsʲilʲɪj ɡrʲɪˈɡorʲjɪvʲɪdʑ ˈzajtsɨf]; 23 March 1915 – 15 December 1991) was a Soviet sniper during World War II.

Between 22 September 1942 and 19 October 1942, he killed 40 enemy soldiers.^[1] Between 10 October 1942 and 17 December 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, he killed 225 enemy soldiers.^[2]

Zaitsev became a celebrated figure during the war and later a Hero of the Soviet Union, and he remains lauded for his skills as a sniper. His life and military career have been the subject of several books and films: his exploits, as detailed in William Craig's 1973 book Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad, served as the story for the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, with Jude Law portraying Zaitsev. He is also featured in David L. Robbins's 1999 historical novel War of the Rats.