Soviet War Memorial

The Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park, Berlin, is a large commemorative complex that honours Soviet soldiers who died in the Battle of Berlin in 1945. It combines monumental sculpture, an avenue of graves and architectural elements to form a formal funerary ensemble.

Key components include the monumental statue of a Soviet soldier holding a rescued child, long approaches flanked by burial sites and sculpted reliefs and mosaics. The site contains the remains of several thousand Soviet servicemen and is a focal point for memorial ceremonies, especially on Victory Day (May 9).

Erected after the war under Soviet administration of the city, the memorial has been maintained as a historic and commemorative site in Berlin and is open to visitors year-round with clear public access from Treptower Park.

• Burials and ceremonies: Contains the remains of several thousand Soviet soldiers who fell during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 and serves as one of the main sites for Victory Day commemorations in Berlin.
• Location and access: Located in Treptower Park in southeastern Berlin and accessible to the public, with the approach and central statue providing the clearest photographic viewpoints.

What to See #

• Central statue: The central statue depicts a Soviet soldier holding a German child and standing over a broken swastika; the figure is a dominant focal point of the memorial complex.
• Avenue and graves: A long approach avenue is flanked by rows of graves and leads to the main memorial ensemble, with thousands of Soviet war dead interred in mass and individual graves across the site.
• Decorative elements: Mosaic panels, sarcophagi and commemorative inscriptions form part of the architectural composition and interior spaces within the memorial.