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 Soviet WW II Cemetery and Memorial - Berlin-Treptow, Germany
N 52° 29.167 E 013° 28.315
33U E 396239 N 5816204
7,000 Soviet solders are buried at the foot of the largest Red Army monument outside Russia.
Waymark Code: WMZW1A
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date Posted: 01/11/2019
Views: 5
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We knew about this monument for a long time but always thought it was just that - a monument for the Soviet Union to celebrate victory in World War II. But reading more about it, we found out, that 7,000 Soviet soldiers are actually buried here. There are no headstones; the soldiers were put to rest in mass graves underneath 16 symbolic stone sarcophagi.
With 25 acres, this is the largest Red Army WW II memorial outside Russia. It was designed by Architect Jakow B. Belopolski, sculptor Jewgeni Wutschetitsch, painterAlexander A. Gorpenko and engineer Sarra S. Walerius and dedicated at the fourth anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi-Germany.
Walking onto the cemetery, one first walks by a statue of a mourning mother, symbolizing the Soviet motherland. From there, one walks between two kneeling soldiers, mourning their fallen comrades.
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Behind the soldiers are two lowered Soviet flags. The flags are made of red granite. Ironically, the granite, coming from Italy, was a Soviet war treasure, as it was originally ordered by Hitler to build his triumphal arch after conquering Moscow.
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From here, one gets to see the actual mass grave field, covered by five symbolic grave areas with flame bowls and bronze wreaths in the center and flanked by 16 sarcophagi, topped with relief sculptures, representing the (at the time) 16 Soviet Republics.
At the other end towers the statue of the Soldier-Liberator.
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The soldier-Liberator monument is 36 feet tall (not counting the hill and the pedestal). Including the mound, it measures 100 feet. The design is based on the story of Soviet soldier Nikolai Masalov, who under heavy German machine-gun fire risked his life rescuing a three-year-old German girl that was trapped in the ruins.
The Soviet soldier holds the girl in his left arm, holding a symbolical sword in his right hand.
Under his boots is a crushed swastika. |
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Of the 11 Million Soviet soldiers who gave their lives in WW II, about 250,000 are buried in German soil. This cemetery is one of 46 Soviet Military Cemeteries in Germany. During the 4+2 negotiations preceding the German reunification Germany agreed to maintain all grave sites.
Today the cemetery is taken care of by German volunteers, making this a shining example for the dictum Hostilities end with dead. |
Date cemetery was established: 5/8/1949
Visiting hours:
24/7
Website pertaining to the cemetery: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit.
We would also like to hear about any of your deceased family members who may be laid to rest in the cemetery.
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