E X T E N S I O N SYMBOLS LAMB HOUSE AND CHARACTERS Trying to protect the Soviet Union from attack, Stalin negotiated1 with both the UK and Hitler s Germany. However, as we said in Extension 3, the Nazis invaded Russia in spite of the agreement2. It was a highly violent and destructive fight. It ended with the defeat of Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad (July 1942-February 1943), which is considered the bloodiest battle in human history. Stalingrad was an important and strategic industrial city on the River Volga. About two million people (Russian civilians and soldiers of both sides) died. This was Germany s first large and important defeat. The Battle of Stalingrad Various attempts3 on Stalin s life were made during his dictatorship. Some were carried out by internal opponents of the regime, others by German agents. The most important one was prepared for the Tehran Conference (November 1943), where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met to discuss the war strategy against Germany. However, Soviet secret agents found out about the German plan and the Big Three leaders were saved. In Orwell s novel, the Battle of Stalingrad is represented by Mr Frederick s attack on Animal Farm and the demolition of the windmill (the Battle of the Windmill). From an allegorical point of view, the windmill represents the modernisation projects carried out in the USSR. 1. negotiate: to try to reach an agreement by formal discussion. 2. agreement: an arrangement, a promise or a contract made with somebody. 98 3. attempt: an act of trying to kill somebody.