The Battle of the Mamayev Kurgan occurred from 13 September 1942 to 26 January 1943 when, during the Battle of Stalingrad, the German LI Armeekorps' 295th Infantry Division attacked the Soviet positions atop the Mamayev Kurgan burial mound over the course of several months.
The hill was called Height 102 by the Soviets, and General Vasily Chuikov, commander of the Soviet 62nd Army, established his headquarters on the mound as the battle for Stalingrad began. The Soviets fortified the hill with trenches, barbed wire, and minefields, and, as the battle began on 13 September 1942, the German 295th Infantry Division assaulted the Soviet positions. The Germans captured the hill with heavy losses and bombarded the city center and the city's railway station with artillery they had emplaced atop the captured position. The 10,000-strong 13th Guards Rifle Division attempted to reclaim the hill after crossing the Volga, retaking the hill on 16 September and fighting for control of the railway station, taking heavy losses. By 17 September, almost the entire division was killed in action. The Soviets continued to reinforce their units in the city as fast as they could, launching fierce counterattacks to fight off up to twelve German assaults a day. By 27 September, the Germans captured half of Mamayev Kurgan, forcing the 284th Rifle Division to hold its positions on the side of the hill and defend the key stronghold. On 26 January, parts of the Soviet 21st Army and 62nd Army attacked Krasniy Octyabr and Mamayev Hill, lifting the German siege.