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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 O7Qj9xhwVR1KSrca3F4OJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-066599.txt : 20081210
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-066599.hdr.sgml : 20081210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081210133708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-066599
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CALAMOS STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275214
		IRS NUMBER:				043785941
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 CALAMOS COURT
		STREET 2:		C/O CALAMOS ADVISORS LLC
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60653
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6302451046

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 CALAMOS COURT
		STREET 2:		C/O CALAMOS ADVISORS LLC
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60653

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITIGROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831001
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21484
		FILM NUMBER:		081240554

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125591000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		399 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10043

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRAVELERS GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950519

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRAVELERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940103

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PRIMERICA CORP /NEW/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd225527.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 - CSQ
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001275214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CALAMOS STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CSQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000831001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CITIGROUP INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>399 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Auction Rate Preferred</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2728</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Subsidiary</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Auction Preferred Shares (&quot;Shares&quot;) reported in Table I represent 2,728 Shares beneficially owned by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (&quot;CGMI&quot;). Citigroup Financial Products Inc. (&quot;CFP&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CGMI. Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Inc. (&quot;CGMHI&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CFP. Citigroup Inc. (&quot;Citigroup&quot;) is the sole stockholder of CGMHI.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The 2,728 Shares reported herein represent Citigroup?s combined holdings in multiple series of auction preferred securities of the issuer, which are treated herein as one class of securities in accordance with the Auction Rate Securities -- Global Exemptive Relief no-action letter issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 22, 2008.  Citigroup undertakes to provide, upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, complete information regarding the number of securities purchased or sold at each different price and date of all transactions in such securities that occurred after Citigroup became a 10% owner but prior to the date of this filing.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Citigroup Inc., By: /s/ Riqueza V. Feaster, Assistant Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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