Victory Monument (Tolyatti)


The Victory Monument is a 1985 monument in the Avtozavodsky District of Tolyatti dedicated to the Soviet victory in World War II.

History

The memorial complex was built in Victory Park as part of the 1985 remembrance of the 40th anniversary of the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany. The memorial was officially opened on June 7, 1985. The designer was Simon Winograd, and VAZ undertook the construction.
Later additions were made to the memorial in 1987–1988: bas-reliefs were installed, and in the center a star with an eternal flame was installed.
On March 9, 1995, a capsule of earth brought from Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow was placed in one of the monument's wreaths.
In April 2007, hooligans stole part of the framing of the eternal flame, but the vandals were soon arrested and the items recovered.

Architecture

The monument consists of four stelae formed in a ring. The four stelae represent the four years of the war and each has one of the designated years carved into its top.
On the outer face of the foot of each stela are ledges with stylized wreaths cast from aluminum. On the inner faces of each stela is a bas–relief: two were sculpted by Alexander Shemyakin, and two by Sandor Zicherman.
The ring connecting the stelae is faced with stainless steel. On its inner side is an inscription of aluminum letters: "Eternal Honor to the People's Heroism".
In the center of the monument is a star with the eternal flame, framed by five bronze sections.