Schlacht um die Seelower Höhen
Zaitsev fought at the Battle of Stalingrad until January 1943, when a mortar attack injured his eyes. Before his injury, he had killed 225 people in the Battle of Stalingrad alone. Zaitsev was treated to by Vladimir Filatov, who is credited with restoring his sight. On 22 February 1943, Zaitsev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Zaitsev recruited and trained other marksmen during his service in Stalingrad. He returned to the front, and finished the war at the Battle of the Seelow Heights in Germany, with the military rank of captain. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1943.