Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier

The Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier is a World War II memorial near the town of Rzhev in Tver Oblast, Russia, created to commemorate the heavy Soviet losses in the Battles of Rzhev. It was completed and opened as a national memorial site in 2020.

A dominant sculptural figure and an adjoining ceremonial plaza form the core of the site; the layout is oriented to host commemorative ceremonies and wreath-laying. Visitors approach along formal paths and can use several viewing points around the plaza to see the statue and the surrounding landscape.

The memorial was commissioned as a state project in the 2010s and built to mark and remember the fighting around Rzhev during 1942-1943, when frontline operations resulted in very high casualties. It functions as a contemporary commemorative complex rather than a preserved historic battlefield.

The complex sits close to Rzhev in Tver Oblast, western Russia. It occupies elevated ground near the town and is reached by regional roads from Rzhev and the surrounding district.

• Opening and purpose: Large state memorial opened in 2020 and intended as a focal point for annual World War II remembrance ceremonies.
• Access and events: Accessible by road from the town of Rzhev and used for official commemorations on Victory Day and other remembrance dates.

What to See #

• Main statue: The site is organised around a central monumental bronze statue of a Soviet soldier set on a raised plinth; the figure faces the surrounding plain and is the visual focus for the complex.
• Memorial plaza: A broad ceremonial plaza surrounds the statue and is used for wreath-laying and commemorative events; pathways and memorial plaques lead to smaller memorial elements and viewpoints.