living in the Ural Mountains owned firearms for hunting and training and at one point, Russia had a very high civilian firearms ownership rate. During World War II, and the years building up to it, saw a surge in firearms culture in the Soviet Union. Rifle-training and marksmanship was seen as a symbol of fighting honor for the Soviet motherland, and later were a source of influence for sniping schools in the United States. During the Battle of Stalingrad, the city's fate also relied on local militias. Firearms were also part of military propaganda, such as in the case of the famous Soviet sniper Vasily Zaytsev. Soviet snipers were essential and important to the Soviet strategy against the German invasion. Today, the legacy of Russian weaponry is very popular with firearms enthusiasts in the United States and the world, and are some of the most discussed firearms by historians. The emergence of the AK-47 as one of the world's most popular assault rifles has presented a stereotype of Russians as wielding AK-47s and having a gun culture similar to America. However, the reality of the situation presents the opposite, according to a survey done by the Zircon public opinion research group, over 70% of Russians were opposed to the right to bear arms. Switzerland Males with ages between 18 and 30 are conscripted and can choose to do the military service and – as part of that – can keep their issued firearms at home. The SAT (lit. shooting and off-duty activities) oversees lessons in which every Swiss child in the year of their 15th anniversary to the year of their 20th or the one in which they begin their conscription can learn how to shoot with the SIG SG 550. This activity is free and the Young Shooters are able to take home the rifle between the lessons if they are 17. However, the bolt has to stay at the range in which they attend the lesson. This activity takes place over a span of six years in three-to-four month periods per year and, if wanted, they can pursue and become instructors for the new generation of Young Shooters. Switzerland holds the biggest gun-fest in the world: the Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen. This competition takes place annually and in 2012 they counted 130,000 participants. Every Swiss who is 10 or older can take part at any federal ranges and will be