This 104-year-old contemporary witness and war veteran was born in 1921 and is one of the very last survivors of Stalingrad.
As a young soldier who was conscripted in 1941 at the age of 19, he experienced not only the winter of 1941/42 on the Eastern Front, but also the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942.
As a 104-year-old eyewitness, he describes in this eyewitness interview for peace:
How he reached the age of 104
How he experienced the Second World War, including Stalingrad
How he was encircled in Stalingrad and managed to break out of the Stalingrad pocket
How he ended up in Russian captivity toward the end of the Second World War
What he, as one of the last survivors of Stalingrad, thinks today about current events
What truly matters in life
And much more
This interview with the 104-year-old survivor of Stalingrad was conducted in autumn 2025, shortly before his 104th birthday, and was only possible thanks to the support of his family.
With this eyewitness account of Stalingrad, the 104-year-old stands as a living memorial for peace—also because he is presumably one of the very last survivors of Stalingrad.
Life Wisdom from Centenarians
I—Daniel Pleunik, a certified health and nursing professional—have already had the honor of interviewing 50 people aged 100 and over, documenting their valuable life stories and wisdom.
(As of January 7, 2026)
I conduct these interviews with centenarian eyewitnesses alongside my work as a nurse for three reasons:
To contribute my part toward peace in the world
To help ensure that history does not repeat itself
To encourage young people, through the accounts of eyewitnesses, to remain humane, respectful, and vigilant
“If you want to know the road ahead, ask those who are coming back.” – Chinese proverb
If you find my peace project “Life Stories & Life Wisdom from 100-Year-Olds” valuable, feel free to subscribe to my channel. I promise to treat your time and trust with respect and appreciation.
00:00:00 Preview
00:02:06 Childhood & the Rise of National Socialism
00:11:44 Outbreak of World War II & Conscription
00:18:57 Eastern Front 1941/42
00:41:58 Stalingrad 1942
01:13:20 Further Course of the War
01:28:31 End of the War & Russian Captivity
01:43:36 Return Home & New Beginnings
01:53:50 Reflections on War, Peace & Life Wisdom