Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd. Mamayev Kurgan - history

Our country has a unique history, rich in events, which is reflected in architectural objects, memorials, monuments. Many places are notable for the entire international population of the Russian Federation, including the Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd. The history of the construction of this memorial complex is worthy of the events in honor of which it was erected.

Mamaev kurgan

According to many scientists and people living in Volgograd, a stranger place is hard to imagine. Why did so many conquerors claim to this small hill, what attracted them in this land, what helped its defenders and why so great is the number of the dead on this mound? A lot of mysteries and myths surround the area and the monument itself.

Where did the name "Mamayev Kurgan" come from? History does not give an unambiguous answer to this question. There are several versions, each of which has its supporters. Most often this name is associated with the Khan of the Golden Horde Mamai. This theory is based on the fact that the fortifications were located fortifications of the Mongol-Tatars. Often a linguistic version of the name is pronounced, the locals called the height "hillock", in the language of the Volga Tatars this word was pronounced as "mamai". Another hypothesis treats the translation of the word "mamai" from ancient Tibetan as "mother of the world".

Height 102.0 - so this place was called during the most tragic events of the Second World War. One of the correspondents called the hill "mound", and these words became prophetic. Today it is a mass grave. In any case Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd is a place not only famous for the whole world, but also significant for many generations of Russian people.

History of the mound

Monuments of Volgograd occupy a special place in the military history of our country, especially the main memorial complex dedicated to the great and bloody events of the Second World War. During the Battle of Stalingrad, the height of 102 was a strategically important object, it changed several times from one side of the confrontation to the other. This is due to the geographical location of the mound - it rises above the entire terrain, allowing you to control not only the city, but also crossing the Volga, and the Volga region.

The battle for Mamayev Kurgan was the most bloody in the history of wars. It lasted 135 days, and the battle for Stalingrad - 200 days and nights. The final victory in this battle was won by the Soviet troops, it was marked by the capture of the height and the installation of the flag. The victory at Stalingrad was a turning point in the course of the war, the importance and tragedy of which reflects the memorial complex "Motherland-Mother".

Mamayev Kurgan became the burial place of more than 34 thousand people who died defending Stalingrad and its environs. After the end of the war, this charred and riddled with bullets, projectiles land for a long time served as a monument to the heroic events and all those who died for the Motherland. The idea to erect a monument on a hill in 1959 was embodied in the memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, which was built on Mamayev Hill.

Memorial Complex

The project of the future monument was developed for a long time. The All-Union competition, which involved not only architects, artists and engineers, but also all those who wished to perpetuate the memory of those days, was completed only after 10 years. JV Stalin personally selected the chief architect, EV Vuchetich, under whose supervision a group of sculptors, engineers and architects worked. Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd is an architectural and structural composition, which is united by a semantic and ideological load. The total area of the memorial complex is more than 26 hectares, the length is 1.5 km. Each sculptural group is detached from the rest, but it gives an opportunity to see a whole picture of the heroic and tragic events of 1942-43. Work lasted more than eight years, from 1959 to 1967, during this period a lot of sculptural and architectural ideas changed, optimal engineering solutions were found, more expressive sculptural forms were created.

Structure of the complex

To date, everyone can visit the monument. A lot of people from different regions of our large country try to see with their own eyes the majestic monument of the Great War - Mamayev Kurgan. Excursion around the complex is free of charge, most visitors get acquainted with it beforehand, but everyone notes that only after visiting this altitude one can realize the heroism of the defenders of Stalingrad and feel the whole power of the memorial. Sculptural groups are arranged in the following order:

1. The entrance square with the relief "Memory of Generations".
2. Alley decorated with pyramidal poplars.
3. Sculptural group "Standing to the death" on the square with the same name.
4. A high relief, symbolizing the ruins of Stalingrad after the end of the battles.
5. Heroes' Square.
6. Monumental relief.
7. Hall of Military Glory.
8. Square of Sorrow, in the center of which - the composition "The Sorrowful Mother".
9. The mass grave.
10. "Motherland Calls" - the central sculpture of the memorial complex.
11. Small mass grave.
12. Temple of All Saints.
13. Military memorial cemetery.
14. Dendropark at the foot of the complex.

"Memory of Generations"

On the first square of the memorial there is a wall-high relief with the image of people carrying flowers, flags, wreaths. According to the architects, the image symbolizes the memory of future generations, that the exploit of the defenders of Stalingrad will not be forgotten. Honor the soldiers who gave their lives for the peace and freedom of our country, will give all generations of Russian people. Also on the square is a stele, which is dedicated to hero cities. Twelve niches store granite urns with land taken from the legendary cities. Continuation of the square is a poplar alley with a length of 223 meters and a width of 10 m.

"Standing to the Death" Square

The staircase of granite is the end of the alley of poplars. It ends with a platform with a swimming pool, in which the sculpture "War" is located. Bogatyr with a submachine gun in his hand is made of a monolithic stone block. This composition represents the most difficult period of the Battle of Stalingrad, when the courage of a Soviet soldier broke the enemy's confidence in his invincibility. Under a hail of bullets and shells went to the enemy people who despised death and looked her in the face. A warrior rises from his native land. She serves him as a reliable support in the most terrible hour of the battle. The area of the "Stand to the Death" square ends with a ladder consisting of 200 steps - this is the number of days and nights of the battle for Stalingrad.

Ruin

Along the steps that lead to the center of the memorial complex, in the form of a wall 18 meters high and 46 meters long, a bas-relief is made. On the walls is the whole story of the heroic confrontation. They are excised by bullet holes, their surface is marked with original documents and reports from the battlefield. Musical accompaniment sounds background - the songs of the war years are heard, Levitan's voice conveys the situation on the fronts, sounds of combat are reproduced. The terrible atmosphere of that time was recreated, the spirit of the defenders of the city was transferred, on the left side of the wall the oath of Stalingrad was reproduced.

Heroes' Square and Monumental Relief

In order to get to the Hall of Military Glory, all visitors to the Mamayev Kurgan pass along the side alleys past the large pool, which in the summer is filled with water. The Heroes' Square is divided into two parts. On the right side there are sculptural groups. In total there are six monuments made of concrete, six meters high. They reflect scenes of real events of the battle for the city. On the 100-meter banner, deployed on the left side, lines were written that reflected the mood of the Stalingradians and defenders of the city. Monumental relief is a wall on which artists repulsed the scenes of the Soviet offensive, the victories won by them, the captivity of enemy soldiers.

Hall of Military Glory

The room of the cylindrical shape, in the middle of which is located a five-meter hand, raising the Eternal Flame, refers to the most replicated images that characterize the sights of Volgograd. Photo and image of this architectural object can be found in many sources. The hall is dedicated to the eternal memory of those who fell in battle for Mamayev Kurgan and Stalingrad. On the roof of the building there are state awards, on the walls - 34 red banners, each of which contains the names of the dead fighters. Everlasting fire always contains flowers and wreaths, heroes who are left on the mound forever.

The Square of Sorrow is revealed to those who come out of the Hall of Glory. The center is the sculptural group "The Sorrowful Mother". Words can not express the grief of thousands of mothers, wives, children of those soldiers who have not returned from the war. A lake of tears surrounds the monument, which rises in unforgiving sorrow over the water surface. Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd - a monument to the great victory and great misfortune of the peoples of the Soviet Union.

"Motherland Calls"

Pride covers everyone who sees the entire memorial complex and its central monument. The sculpture "Motherland-Mother" is a symbol of our entire country, including a city like Volgograd. Mamayev Kurgan (photos of the war years, times of erection of the monument, modern ones are in constant demand, interest in the memorial does not pass with time) all visitors of the city are eager to visit to see with their own eyes its greatness.

To date, the sculpture "Motherland" is on the list of the 10 highest in the world. At the time of construction, she was leading in height and was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The height of the statue with a sword (33 meters - the length of the sword) is 85 meters, inside it is hollow and equipped with a system of metal ropes that prevent destruction. A woman warrior who calls her brothers and sons to go into battle for everything that is dear to them in this world - this is the Motherland before us. The statue stands at the highest point of the mound, the foundation is hidden under the ground, a low pedestal gives a feeling of lightness of a multi-ton construction. At night, "Motherland" is highlighted by powerful searchlights. It can be seen from anywhere in the city, and it stands with the sword above the Volga. At the foot of the monument are buried graves of soldiers and officers, almost 35 thousand people rest on the slopes of the mound. Until today, there is no complete certainty that all fighters have been found, excavations continue, the remains are transferred to the Military Memorial Cemetery, which was created recently with this purpose.