These are some photos of the Soviet Monument in Treptower Park. It commemorates the 20,000 Soviet troops that died taking Berlin. A lot of soldiers are buried on the grounds, though there are no individual markers.
The gates above are designed to look like lowered flags.
We had a long unit in one of our culture classes on monuments, memorials, and museums, and this was used as an example of a kind of overbearing, monumental, pharaonic construction--but I don't know if I buy this criticism: when your country loses 25 million people in an epic struggle against the Nazis I feel like some monumentalism is in order.
Kneeling soldier at the entrance.
The grounds. This area is flanked by rows of trees (planted decades ago, now full grown), and then is fenced in. The result is that this area is very quiet and still--a "hallowed ground" effect.
Steles. Above: Soviets curse German planes. Below: Partisans.
Main statue.
Standing on a shattered swastika
Inside the base of the statue
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