The Motherland Calls

The Motherland Calls is a monumental statue on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia, erected as the centrepiece of a memorial to the Battle of Stalingrad. The figure, designed by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, was unveiled in 1967 and stands at about 85 metres from base to the tip of the sword.

The statue forms the focal point of a larger memorial complex that includes a stepped plaza, the Hall of Military Glory, an eternal flame and multiple sculptural groups and tablets commemorating combatants of the battle. The ensemble was planned as both a monumental sculpture and a civic burial and remembrance site.

Built in the decades after World War II, the monument commemorates the pivotal 1942-1943 Battle of Stalingrad and has become a central feature of Volgograd’s historic landscape. The hill-top position of Mamayev Kurgan gives the site commanding views over the city and the Volga River.

Mamayev Kurgan with The Motherland Calls sits within Volgograd and is reached by city roads and pedestrian routes from the central districts; the memorial occupies a dominant, elevated location overlooking the city.

• Height and unveiling date: The statue measures about 85 metres from the base to the tip of the raised sword and was unveiled in 1967 as the centerpiece of a larger World War II memorial complex.
• Panoramic viewpoint: The monument is located on Mamayev Kurgan and provides panoramic views over Volgograd and the Volga River from its elevated position.

What to See #

• Central statue: The central colossal statue rises above a stepped memorial plaza and points across the city, forming the visual focus of the Mamayev Kurgan complex.
• Memorial complex components: Surrounding the main figure are the Hall of Military Glory, an eternal flame and additional sculptural reliefs and memorial tablets that form the complete commemorative ensemble.