After having lived in Moscow for three years back in the Soviet era, I felt as if I had time-travelled when I saw the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin-Treptow for the first time. The brute aesthetics of socialism, the stiff programmatic, yet escapist phrases, the gigantic setting: everything breathes Soviet memorial "architecture". Like all the similar memorials I have seen in the former Soviet Union, this one also has the feel of a propaganda fair on an overdimensional exhibition ground. But I have to say: from a present day perspective, it´s pretty cool. It´s just one of those things that you´d expect in a crazy city like Berlin. It has to be here, otherwise It would be missing and missed. Not just for the cool factor, but also for its serious purpose. More than all other allied powers combined, the Soviets suffered unspeakable horrors and losses by the hands of Germans. When the Red Army managed to turn the tide, not only pushing back the German Army, but marching through all the way to Berlin, they had every right to be here. What kind of memorial would be appropriate for their achievement? Difficult to say. But the one that´s there seemed to have hit the right tone and proportions for the time. The complex was finished in 1949 and also harbors the remains of around 7,000 Red Army Soldiers (of the roughly 80,000 that were killed while conquering Berlin), and is therefore a War Cemetery in unison with the memorial. So, measured by their sacrifices, the memorial is more than adequate. But the style! It´s really something one can argue over. But so are many other things, buildings and architectural ensembles in Berlin. The Soviet War Memorial is unquestionable a part of Berlin, a part of history of this Phoenix from the Ashes.

The Monument is ever popular with Berlin Tourists, the Russian Community and German locals alike. Annually on May 9th, there is a commemoration rally organized by leftist organizations such as the Federation of Antifascists, to honor the Day of Liberation. Everybody knows what followed after liberation. The memorial and its original purpose are politically hijacked and misused by various other groups with their unconvincable forever-yesterday views. 

The centerpiece of the memorial is the 12 meter monument of a Soviet soldier, holding a girl on his arm.

For me the crushed Nazi-swastika is synonymous with the popular Russian phrase "Hitler kaputt". Something I came to hear a few times while in Moscow in the early to mid eighties. Meant as an insult, we couldn´t care less as we Germans are happy as anybody that Hitler is kaputt.

Glory!

Another group of visitors. 

Along the central line of the ensemble are eight sarcophagi on each side, one for every Soviet Republic at the time. They are featured with relief carvings on the broad side and Stalin quotations on the narrow side. The relief pictures tell the history of the "Great Fatherland War", the invasion and atrocities commited by German soldiers, the suffering of Soviet civilians and military actions up until the victorious end.  

The statue of Mother Russia is an allegory of a mother mourning her children.

See more pics of Berlin-Treptow.