For those unfamiliar with the history of the Great Patriotic War, an ordinary four-story building in the center of Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, at 39 Sovetskaya Street, may seem unremarkable. However, it became a symbol of the resilience and courage of the soldiers and officers of the Red Army during the difficult years of the war.

In the mid-1930s, two elite buildings with four entrances each were constructed in Stalingrad under the design of architect S. Voloshinov. They were named the House of Sovkontrol and the House of Oblpotrebsoyuz. A railway line ran between them to the mill. The House of Oblpotrebsoyuz was intended for party workers and heavy industry engineers. Notably, a wide direct road led from it to the Volga.

During the war, the central part of Stalingrad was defended by the 42nd Guards Rifle Regiment under the command of Colonel Yelin. Both buildings had strategic significance, and Captain Zhukov was tasked with capturing them and organizing defensive points there. Assault groups led by Sergeant Pavlov and Lieutenant Zabolotny successfully secured the buildings on September 22, 1942, despite only having 4 men left in Pavlov's group.

By the end of September, the building defended by Lieutenant Zabolotny was destroyed by German artillery, and all defenders perished. The last bastion was led by Lieutenant Afanasyev, while the wounded Sergeant Pavlov was sent to the rear. Despite the change in command, the building became known as "Pavlov's House" or "House of Soldier's Glory."

Reinforcements brought machine guns, mortars, and ammunition, while sappers mined the approaches to the house, turning it into an impregnable stronghold. The third floor was used as an observation point, and the enemy was met with a hail of fire. Despite numerous attacks, the fascists failed to approach Pavlov's house.

A trench led to the Gerhardt mill, where the command was located, delivering ammunition and food, as well as evacuating the wounded. Today, the ruined mill serves as a reminder of the bloody events of that time.

There are no exact figures on the number of defenders of the house, but it is believed that there were between 24 and 31 people. The defense of the house became an example of the friendship of the peoples of the USSR: representatives of 11 nationalities fought side by side here. All were awarded, and Sergeant Pavlov was honored with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Among the defenders was medical instructor Maria Ulyanova, who took up a rifle during the battles. A frequent visitor was sniper Chekhov, who found a convenient position here.

The defense of Pavlov's house lasted 58 days and nights, during which only 3 defenders were killed. According to Marshal Chuikov, German losses exceeded those during the capture of Paris.

After the liberation of Stalingrad, the city's restoration began. Pavlov's house was one of the first to be restored by the townspeople in their free time. This movement was led by a brigade of builders under the guidance of A. M. Cherkasova. By the end of 1945, more than 1220 repair brigades were working in Stalingrad. A memorial plaque was opened on the wall of the house with the inscription "We will rebuild you, dear Stalingrad," celebrating the feats of the Soviet people.

After the war, a colonnade and an obelisk with the image of the city's defender were installed near the house. A memorial plaque with the names of the fighters was affixed to the wall facing Lenin Square. Nearby is the Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad.