Lyrics of Defence of Moscow by Sabaton
As the Wehrmacht overrun, Russia 1941
They don’t belong, we stand our ground, a million strong
We are ready for their strike, face the army of the Reich
A million strong, this is our land, they don’t belong
Hear Marshal Zhukov’s, and Stalin’s orders
Defend the motherland, Moscow shall not fall
Stand and follow command, our blood for the homeland
Heed the motherland’s call, and brace for the storm
Moscow will never give in, there is no surrender
Force them into retreat, and into defeat
Face the volleys of their guns, for Russia’s daughters and her sons
All the brave, who stand against the typhoon wave
From the mountains and the plains, come in thousands on the trains
Day and night, they’re rolling in, to join the fight
From Kazakhstan to Magadan
Call of the motherland, Russia shall prevail
Stand and follow command, our blood for the homeland
Heed the motherland’s call, and brace for the storm
Moscow will never give in, there is no surrender
Force them into retreat, and into defeat
Stand and follow command, our blood for the homeland
Heed the motherland’s call, and brace for the storm
Moscow will never give in, there is no surrender
Force them into retreat, and into defeat
Stand and follow command, our blood for the homeland
Heed the motherland’s call, and brace for the storm
Moscow will never give in, there is no surrender
Force them into retreat, and into defeat
Stand and follow command, our blood for the homeland
Historical Background
In short: The German invasion of Russia and the Battle of Moscow in 1941 of World War II.
The Defense of Moscow – The Battle That Stopped Hitler
Some battles win wars. Others save nations.
Sabaton’s The Defense of Moscow isn’t just about one of World War II’s biggest battles—it’s about how the Soviet Union stood on the edge of destruction and refused to fall.
The Battle of Moscow (1941-1942) was Hitler’s first major defeat on the Eastern Front. If Moscow had fallen, the war might have ended right there. But the Soviets held the line, fought back, and changed history.
This is how the Red Army turned the tide against Nazi Germany.
Operation Barbarossa – Hitler’s Plan to Crush the USSR
“As the Wehrmacht overrun, Russia 1941, they don’t belong, we stand our ground, a million strong.”
On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa—the largest invasion in history. Over 3 million German soldiers, 3,500 tanks, and 2,700 aircraft stormed into the Soviet Union, aiming to destroy the Red Army and capture Moscow before winter.
At first, it worked. The Germans pushed deep into Soviet territory, surrounding and annihilating entire armies. By October 1941, they were less than 200 km from Moscow.
The Soviet government evacuated, but Stalin refused to leave.
Moscow would not fall.
The Soviet Counterattack – Fighting for the Motherland
“Hear Marshal Zhukov’s, and Stalin’s orders, defend the motherland, Moscow shall not fall.”
Facing imminent destruction, Stalin ordered every available soldier, tank, and aircraft to defend the city. The Soviets:
- Deployed over a million men to the front.
- Fortified Moscow with trenches, barricades, and tank traps.
- Brought reinforcements from Siberia, where Soviet troops had been waiting for a possible war with Japan.
“From the mountains and the plains, come in thousands on the trains. Day and night, they’re rolling in, to join the fight.”
These fresh, well-trained Siberian divisions, hardened by subzero conditions, stopped the German advance cold.
Winter Strikes – The Germans Collapse
“Moscow will never give in, there is no surrender. Force them into retreat, and into defeat.”
By December 1941, temperatures dropped to -40°C (-40°F). The German troops:
- Had no winter clothing—Hitler expected a quick victory.
- Their tanks and weapons froze—machine guns jammed, engines stalled.
- Supplies ran out, and soldiers starved or froze to death.
Seeing their chance, the Soviets launched a massive counterattack, pushing the Germans back hundreds of kilometers.
Moscow was saved.
Why The Defense of Moscow Still Matters
“Call of the motherland, Russia shall prevail.”
The Battle of Moscow was Hitler’s first major defeat—and a turning point in World War II.
- It shattered the myth of Nazi invincibility.
- It boosted Soviet morale, proving they could fight back.
- It forced Hitler into a long, brutal war he could never win.
The war was far from over, but Moscow’s survival meant that the Soviet Union would fight on—and eventually crush the Third Reich.
The Lesson?
No army is unstoppable. No empire is invincible.
Hitler thought Moscow would fall in weeks.
It never did.