Soviet War Memorial (Tiergarten) Monument

Address: Straße des 17. Juni, 10785 Berlin, Germany (Großer Tiergarten near Großer Stern)

Website: https://www.berlin.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/3560102-3558930-sowjetisches-ehrenmal-tiergarten.en.html

Hours: Open outdoors 24/7

Admission: Free

The Soviet War Memorial (Tiergarten) is a World War II memorial in central Berlin that commemorates Soviet soldiers who died in the capture of the city in 1945.

The site includes a sculpted central figure and flanking memorial elements set in the Tiergarten near major Berlin avenues; it is frequently visited by tourists exploring central Berlin and by delegations laying wreaths. The memorial is formally maintained and is a focal point for commemorative observances.

Erected by Soviet authorities in 1945 in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, the memorial marks the location of wartime burials and stands as a reminder of the Soviet role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. It has remained a protected and maintained site through successive city administrations.

The memorial sits in the Tiergarten area of central Berlin, close to major landmarks and thoroughfares, and is accessible on foot or by public transport from central Berlin districts.

• Burial site and ceremonies: The memorial contains the burial site of roughly 2,000 Soviet soldiers and is an official site for commemorative events on Victory Day and other remembrance occasions.

From the Brandenburg Gate it is an easy 10-15 minute walk west along Straße des 17. Juni to the Großer Stern roundabout; the memorial sits near the traffic circle. Public transport links: bus lines 100 and 200 stop along Straße des 17. Juni; S-Bahn S5/S7/S9 to Bahnhof Tiergarten and a 15-20 minute walk. Taxi or bike are both convenient for shorter transfers.

• Visit at dawn or late evening for the quietest, most reflective experience - midday tour groups and guided bus stops cluster on the nearby Straße des 17. Juni.
• Walk from the Brandenburg Gate along Straße des 17. Juni (about 10-15 minutes) and pause at the small information plaques; they explain the rows of simple gravestones many visitors miss.
• Treat the site with respect: wreath-laying is still an active ritual on Victory Day (May 9). Do not climb the memorial plinth or take irreverent photos.