I was in Volgograd for 2 days, and rather than try to find my way around the various sites alone I decided on a guide. This was a very good decision. Mikhail from Sputnik Travel/Stalingrad Tours, a native of Volgograd, lives and breathes the history of the place. He is passionate about his subject and rightly proud to be a citizen of the city that saved the world from Hitler at such tremendous sacrifice. I found it extremely useful having such a guide. Had I gone, for example, to the Motherland Calls statue by myself it would have been an incredible experience. But Mikhail was able to explain very interesting symbolism among the stunning artworks that make up the complex which otherwise I would not have appreciated. The same goes for the 360 degree panorama at the museum. It too is a hugely impressive work of art. But Mikhail was able to point out small details of the battle on it and explain the stories of heroism behind them. These would otherwise have been lost on me. He also took me to some out of the way places, which I very much doubt I would have found on my own, including searching the battlefield for relics. I found several, including spent cartridges, medicine phials, batteries etc.