Motherland Monument

This sculpture in Kiev is part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.  This photo doesn’t do the sculpture justice….it is very big, very big.  This stainless steel statue is over 203 feet tall and weighs 560 tons.  The sword is 52 feet long and the shield is 43 feet long/26 feet wide.   The Soviets build this to impress.

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Motherland Monument

This massive statue sits on top of the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)…we know it as World War II.  This stainless-steel statue is 203 feet tall.  Counting the museum building it sit on, the entire structure is 335 feet tall and it weighs 560 tons.  The sword in her right hand is 52 feet long by itself and weighs 9 tons.  That’s a huge statue by any comparison!!  The State Emblem of the Soviet Union is on the shield.  Even though this war ended in 1945, they didn’t start the construction of this statue until 1979 and it was completed in 1981.

 

In Kiev, Ukraine where this is located, the statue is controversial due to Ukraine’s complicated and currently rough relationship with Russia.  Blair and I spent a few hours walking around this national park photographing the war monuments, tanks, etc….  If you’re wondering, the blue and yellow tank in the foreground is painted the Ukrainian colors.

To view a larger version, click HERE

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