Overview:

The Monument to the Heroes of the Brest Fortress, in the city of Brest, Belarus, is a memorial to the bravery and courage displayed by the defenders of the fortress during the opening days of the Great Patriotic War of 1941. The monument, designed by sculptor Ivan Mukhina, was unveiled in 1971 at a ceremony attended by over 10,000 people. It stands at the entrance to the fortress, overlooking the Mukhavets River. At the base of the memorial is a monument to the fallen defenders, including those who were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title. The structure consists of four figures—representing the soldier, sailor, medical orderly and machine gunner—on a pedestal made of granite blocks, standing on a basalt pavement surrounded by a circled railing. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Belarus
Prominent Features:

The Monument to the Heroes of the Brest Fortress is a memorial in the city of Brest, Belarus, which commemorates the soldiers who fought and died defending the city during the Nazi siege in June 1941. The memorial was designed by prominent Belarusian sculptor and architect Mikhail Savitsky, and was unveiled in 1971. It features a towering bronze statue depicting a heroic soldier mounted atop a massive granite obelisk atop a stepped platform, along with three bronze replicas of the Order of the Red Star, the highest military award of the Soviet Union. Beneath the platform lies a crypt containing the remains of several hundred soldiers. Adjacent is a park with monuments to individual soldiers and a museum, which contains numerous artifacts from the siege. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belarus.

History:

The Monument to the Heroes of the Brest Fortress in Brest, Belarus is a memorial dedicated to the Red Army soldiers who fought in the defence of the Brest Fortress during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. The monument was constructed after the Second World War was finished and was designed by architect Alexey Gintsburg. It was dedicated in 1971. The monument is located in the area of the former 19th-century citadel of Brest Fortress, which was proclaimed a national memorial complex in 1971 and has become a symbol of Belarusian and Stalinist socialist heroism. Approximately 712 Soviet soldiers who died during the defence of the fortress in 1939 are buried in the monument. The monument is composed of four wings that open up to a central archway. The central archway features a 24-metre tall statue of a soldier pointing towards the horizon. The four wings of the monument feature a total of 12 reliefs depicting scenes from the defence of the fortress and celebrating the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers. The monument has become very well known throughout the region and is part of the memory and identity of Belarusians. It is a major landmark in the city of Brest with each year thousands of people, including groups of former soldiers, coming to commemorate and pay tribute to the fallen heroes. The original bronze trident that topped the main arch of the monument was removed in the 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as a reference to Stalinist socialism, and instead a cross was put in its place. This cross now tops the arch of the monument in its place. The monument has become the focus of a number of debates and discussions due to the complicated history of the Soviet Union, the white-washing of Stalinism and the neglect of post-soviet Belarusian identity. Despite the controversy surrounding the monument, it is still visited by thousands of people each year and remains an important symbol of Belarusian history and identity. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belarus with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Monument to the Heroes of the Brest Fortress in Brest, Belarus is thought to be one of the most impressive monuments in the country and stands as a reminder of the brave actions of the soldiers under the Soviet Union during World War II. 2. The towering, imposing monument itself stands 109 meters tall and is composed of 44 layers – one for each of the 44 days that the fortress held out against Nazi forces. 3. At the top of the memorial is a memorial chapel dedicated to the fallen soldiers and their heroic efforts. 4. Behind the chapel, there is a large bronze sculpture of soldiers raising a giant Soviet battle flag over the fort, symbolizing the strength and spirit of the defenders. 5. Located at the base of the monument is also a museum dedicated to the history of the Brest Fortress. 6. The monument was designed by architect Levon Golosov and was installed in 1971. 7. During Belarus’ presidency transition in 2020, the monument was illuminated and colored in red, green, and white, the colors of the Belarusian Flag. One of the historical monuments of Belarus, it tells the story of a bygone era