Thanks to hellodru for best explaining the song, especially for setting it straight to a few of the commenters that the entire story is from the perspective of the doomed Soviet soldier.
First half of the song, Nazi's push East through the Soviet Union almost to Moscow.
Second half, turning point at Stalingrad, Soviets push the Nazis West all the way back to Berlin.
Sad ironic ending is the heartwrenching fate of the narrator, sent to a delolate transit camp "deep into the heart of holy Russia" by the paranoid Soviet regime he fought for simply because he was once captured by the Germans
Didn't notice it mentioned in the comments I read but I thought I might add that the lines that allude to "tigers" that everyone seems to love (I get chills) refer to the Tiger Tank, the German army's huge and fearsome armored war machine from WWII.
As a history buff and a music lover, I would just like to express my great love and admiration for this magnificent song with it's poetic beauty, imagery, and the dead-on accuracy of it's many historical references. Bravo Al.
Thanks to hellodru for best explaining the song, especially for setting it straight to a few of the commenters that the entire story is from the perspective of the doomed Soviet soldier.
First half of the song, Nazi's push East through the Soviet Union almost to Moscow.
Second half, turning point at Stalingrad, Soviets push the Nazis West all the way back to Berlin.
Sad ironic ending is the heartwrenching fate of the narrator, sent to a delolate transit camp "deep into the heart of holy Russia" by the paranoid Soviet regime he fought for simply because he was once captured by the Germans
Didn't notice it mentioned in the comments I read but I thought I might add that the lines that allude to "tigers" that everyone seems to love (I get chills) refer to the Tiger Tank, the German army's huge and fearsome armored war machine from WWII.
As a history buff and a music lover, I would just like to express my great love and admiration for this magnificent song with it's poetic beauty, imagery, and the dead-on accuracy of it's many historical references. Bravo Al.
c.