Soviet War Memorial

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The Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park is the largest monument to the fallen soldiers of the Red Army in Germany.

After the end of World War II, four Soviet memorials were built in Berlin to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Red Army. The Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park is the largest monument of its kind in Germany and the most important memorial to Soviet soldiers in Berlin. Every year, a ceremonial wreath-laying takes place at the memorial to commemorate the Soviet soldiers who were killed during the liberation of Berlin.

Construction of the Soviet Memorial

The memorial was erected between 1946 to 1949 at a central location in Treptower Park which, during the imperial age, used to be a large playground for children. 40,000 cubic meters of granite were needed for the construction of the memorial, the largest sculture of which is as tall as a house.

Structure and Design

The memorial has a symmetrical structure. The entrance to the monument is marked by a large triumphal arch followed by the sculpture "Mother Homeland", a statue of a female figure mourning her fallen sons. Visitors are then guided by two large stylized flags made of red granite. The center of the memorial is a tall statue of a Soviet soldier with a child in his arms and a sword in his hand, symbolizing the victory over the Nazi regime. The imposing statue stands on an earthen mound with a mausoleum, the interior of which features a mosaic by the painter Alexander A. Gorprnkov. The way to the main statue is surrounded by other smaller sculptures. Visitors can descend to the burial fields via stairs. A total of 7,000 fallen soldiers are buried on the site in rather inconspicuous graves at the edges of the complex.

Information

• Address:
  Am Treptower Park 50
  12435 Berlin
  City map
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible, orientation aids for blind people. Partial areas are not accessible without steps.