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120-631: The Akhtuba splits off the Volga shortly before the city of Volgograd (at 48°49′00″N 44°41′17″E  /  48.8167°N 44.6880°E  / 48.8167; 44.6880 ), and flows toward the Volga Delta and Caspian Sea . The old beginning of Akhtuba was blocked by the dam of the Volga Hydroelectric Station ; now it flows from the Volga via an artificial outtake canal 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long that starts below

240-528: A light rail service known as the Volgograd Metrotram . Local public transport is provided by buses, trolleybuses and trams. The Volga River still is a very important communication channel. At the time of the official 2010 Census, the ethnic makeup of the city's population whose ethnicity was known (999,785) was: A memorial complex commemorating the battle of Stalingrad, dominated by an immense allegorical sculpture The Motherland Calls ,

360-502: A triumphal arch that led to a granite staircase, followed by a brick staircase in an avenue of Lombardy poplar trees . A second granite staircase led to a circular plaza , with a large granite statue of a Russian man titled Stand To the Death! Behind the statue, a final granite staircase led to a plaza with an entrance to an underground complex called the "Panorama". A cupola -shaped hall would include an eternal flame to memorialise

480-524: A Moscow arbitration court requesting for Glavzarubezhstroy, which had not fulfilled its warranty obligations, to declare bankruptcy. Glavzarubezhstroy later filed for bankruptcy, was sued by the Battle of Stalingrad Museum-Reserve, and listed on a national registry of "unscrupulous suppliers". In a poll conducted by Bloknot Volgograd in March, a majority of Volgograd residents surveyed responded negatively to

600-526: A Soviet pilot and cosmonaut and the first human to venture into outer space. On the second floor, there are large stained glass windows, featuring images related to Soviet space exploration. The planetarium was outfitted with a Zeiss projector , the first produced by the Carl Zeiss Company in their Jena plant after the end of World War 2. The projector supplied was the UPP-23/1s model, which

720-563: A campaign was launched by the Regional Executive Council to close down the synagogue in Stalingrad. Due to local resistance, they were not successful until 1929, when the council convened a Special Commission. The Commission convinced local municipal authorities that the building was in need of major repairs, was unsafe and much too small for the over 800 worshippers who regularly attended for high holidays. In 1931,

840-467: A comprehensive safety and reliability program for the statue was developed and approved by the Russian Ministry of Culture . However, by 2009, concerns had been raised about its structural integrity; the statue's foundation was not anchored but held in place by its own weight, and was subsiding as a result of rising water levels. By this time, pieces of concrete had already begun to fall off

960-489: A diverse place. An 1897 survey reveals 893 Jews (512 men and 381 women), 1,729 Muslims (938 men and 791 women), and 193 Catholics (116 men and 77 women). Land for the Holy Spirit Monastery was originally allocated in 1904, but construction did not begin until 1909 and was not complete until 1911. Sergei Trufanov , also known as the 'mad monk' of Tsaritsyn, was the driving force behind fundraising and getting

1080-575: A female personification of Russia , commonly referred to as Mother Russia, holding a folded banner; this was later changed to be a concrete statue of a lone Mother Russia wearing a windblown shawl resembling wings and holding a sword aloft in her right hand, with her left hand extended outward as she calls upon the Soviet people to fight against the enemy. The design was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace , an ancient Greek sculpture of

1200-573: A floating church. The boat chapel sports three shining domes and was decorated with icons and religious motifs by a local Volgograd artist. On its maiden voyage, the Saint Vladimir reached Astrakhan in the south and Saratov in the north; traveling an 800 kilometer (~500 mile) span of the Volga River. The Motherland Calls The Motherland Calls ( Russian : Родина-мать зовёт! , romanised :  Rodina-mat' zovyot! )

1320-405: A foyer would be built to allow visitors to honour the dead with commemorative gifts. The statue was designed according to the principles of neoclassicism and socialist realism , both artistic styles in which Vuchetich specialised. The original plan for the sculpture was to have it constructed entirely of granite, with a design featuring a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before

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1440-585: A petition to Vladimir Putin , asking that the city's name be permanently changed to Stalingrad. President Putin has replied that such a move should be preceded by a local referendum and that the Russian authorities will look into how to bring about such a referendum. In 2011, the City Duma canceled direct election of the mayor and confirmed the position of City Manager. This was short-lived, as in March 2012, Volgograd residents voted for relevant amendments to

1560-569: A population of slightly over one million residents. Volgograd is the 16th-largest city by population size in Russia, the second-largest city of the Southern Federal District , and the fourth-largest city on the Volga. The city was founded as the fortress of Tsaritsyn in 1589. By the 19th century, Tsaritsyn had become an important river-port and commercial centre, leading to its rapid population growth. In November 1917, at

1680-545: A result, in the three years spanning 1908 to 1910, Tsaritsyn lost 1,045 people to cholera. With a population of only 102,452 at the time, that amounted to a 1.01% loss of the population. Between 1908 and 1911, Tsaritsyn was home to Sergei Trufanov , also known as the 'mad monk' Iliodor. He spent most of his time causing infighting and power struggles within the Russian Orthodox Church , fomenting anti-semitic zeal and violence in local populations, attacking

1800-471: A rifle of the famous sniper Vasily Zaytsev ), uniforms, personal belongings of generals and soldiers involved in the battle and detailed maps and timelines of the battle. The Volgograd Planetarium was a gift from East Germany in honor of what would have been Stalin's 70th birthday. Neoclassical in style, the building facade is designed like a Roman temple, with six Tuscan columns topped by capitals decorated with stars. Designed by Vera Ignatyevna Mukhina ,

1920-516: A special hydrostatic cement mixture that had been developed for the construction of the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The statue's structure featured an internal framework of vertical and horizontal diaphragms forming cells that were 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, 3 metres deep, and 4 metres (13 ft) tall, extending from its 2-metre (6.6 ft) pedestal to its neck. The external surface

2040-544: A strong degree of local support for a reversion, but the Russian Soviet government did not accept such proposals. On May 21, 2007, Roman Grebennikov of Communist Party was elected as mayor with 32.47% of the vote, a plurality. Grebennikov became Russia's youngest mayor of a federal subject administrative center at the time. In 2010, Russian monarchists and leaders of the Orthodox organizations demanded that

2160-399: A video to Instagram in which she pretended to tickle the breasts of the statue. In 2024, the grandson of Yevgeny Vuchetich inherited the rights to the monument's image and royalties, raising concerns among Volgograd residents about potential fees for using images of the monument on photographs, souvenirs, and banners. A representative for Vuchetich's grandson clarified that personal use of

2280-404: A windswept shawl resembling wings, and holds a sword aloft in her right hand. Her left hand is extended outward, as she calls upon the Soviet people to battle. The statue was originally planned to be made of granite and to stand only 30 metres (98 ft) tall, with a design consisting of a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before Mother Russia holding a folded banner. However,

2400-592: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Southern Russia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Volgograd Volgograd , formerly Tsaritsyn (1589–1925) and Stalingrad (1925–1961), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Volgograd Oblast , Russia . The city lies on the western bank of the Volga , covering an area of 859.4 square kilometres (331.8 square miles), with

2520-575: Is a colossal neoclassicist and socialist realist war memorial sculpture on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd , Russia. Designed primarily by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich with assistance from architect Yakov Belopolsky , the concrete sculpture commemorates the casualties of the Battle of Stalingrad , and is the predominant component of a monument complex, which includes several plazas and other sculptural works. Standing 85 metres (279 ft) tall from

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2640-650: Is a short distance to the north of Volgograd. Volgograd is a major railway junction served by the Privolzhskaya Railway . Rail links from the Volgograd railway station include Moscow; Saratov; Astrakhan; the Donbas region of Ukraine ; the Caucasus and Siberia . It stands at the east end of the Volga–Don Canal , opened in 1952 to link the two great rivers of Southern Russia . European route E40 ,

2760-502: Is no surprise that the lower Volga region was a hotbed of revolutionary activity and civil unrest. The inability of the Tsarist government to provide basic protections from cholera on the one hand and subjecting the populace to strict but ineffective health measures on the other, caused multiple riots in 1829 , in the 1890s and throughout the first decade of the 1900s , setting the stage for multiple Russian revolutions and adding fuel to

2880-399: Is sometimes referred to by the title of the most famous of these sculptures, called "Having withstood, we conquered death". The Panorama Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad is a large cultural complex that sits on the shore of the Volga river . It is located on the site of the "Penza Defense Junction", a group of buildings along Penzenskaya Street (now Sovetskaya Street), which was defended by

3000-603: The Battle for Tsaritsyn . On April 10, 1925, the city was renamed Stalingrad, in honor of Joseph Stalin , General Secretary of the Communist Party. This was officially to recognize the city and Stalin's role in its defense against the Whites between 1918 and 1920. Once the Soviets established control, ethnic and religious minorities were targeted. The only Jewish school in the area was closed down in 1926. In 1928,

3120-570: The Council of Ministers announced a competition for the design of a "State Museum of the Defence of Tsaritsyn-Stalingrad", which would include a large panoramic painting depicting the battle; by this time, Vuchetich and Belopolsky had already finalised drafts for the project's structural designs. On 23 January 1958, the Council of Ministers declared that the construction of "a memorial-monument in

3240-454: The city charter to reinstate the direct mayoral elections. Volgograd is the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast . Within the framework of administrative divisions , it is incorporated as the city of oblast significance of Volgograd —an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts . As a municipal division , the city of oblast significance of Volgograd is incorporated as Volgograd Urban Okrug . Although

3360-417: The 13th Guards Rifle Division. The complex includes Gerhardt's Mill , which is preserved in its bombed out state. The museum on the complex grounds houses the largest painting in Russia, a panoramic painting of the battlefield as seen from Mamayev Kurgan , where "The Motherland Calls" statue now stands. This museum also features Soviet military equipment from the 1940s, numerous exhibits of weapons (including

3480-505: The 1890s, the economy of Volgograd (then Tsaritsyn), relied mainly on the trade of grain, naphtha , fish and salt. Modern Volgograd remains an important industrial city. Industries include shipbuilding , oil refining , steel and aluminum production, manufacture of heavy machinery and vehicles at the Volgograd Tractor Plant and Titan-Barrikady plant, and chemical production. The large Volgograd Hydroelectric Plant

3600-535: The 46-metre (151 ft) tall Statue of Liberty in a display of dominance over the United States, their geopolitical rival during the Cold War. The height of the statue alone was increased to 52 metres (171 ft), nearly double the originally planned height, a decision that further increased the project's cost, which had already substantially overrun its budget. Valentina Izotova, a 26-year-old waitress,

3720-473: The 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II in 2015, the statue was set to undergo further renovation, with 99 of its 117 steel cables requiring replacement. By 2017, the cables had not yet been replaced, though plans were made to address the replacement along with other maintenance needs, with additional restoration efforts set to be conducted after the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup , which

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3840-540: The Akhtuba as well, not far from Kharabali. The area between the Volga and the Akhtuba is known as the Volga-Akhtuba plain, which is one of Russia 's primary vegetable-growing regions. It is particularly well known as a major source of watermelons consumed in Russia. This Volgograd Oblast location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Astrakhan Oblast location article

3960-477: The Anti-Plague Commission to Tsaritsyn in 1907, local municipal officials did not put any precautions into place, citing economic considerations. The city's drinking water came directly from the river, the intake pipe dangerously close to both the port and the sewage drain. There were neither funds nor political will to close the port (the main hub of economic activity) or move the intake pipes. As

4080-674: The German settlement-colony Old Sarepta (founded in 1765) became a district of Stalingrad. Renamed Krasnoarmeysky Rayon (or "Red Army District"), it was the largest area of the city. The first higher education institute was opened in 1930. A year later, the Stalingrad Industrial Pedagogical Institute, now Volgograd State Pedagogical University , was opened. Under Stalin, the city became a center of heavy industry and transshipment by rail and river. During World War II , German and Axis forces attacked

4200-660: The Pantheon's mosaic walls in under a month for the complex's opening. Once finished, the full sculpture stood 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of the pedestal to the top of the sword, and was the tallest statue in the world upon its completion; it remains the tallest statue in Europe as of 2024. The dedication of the memorial occurred on 15 October 1967. The event drew tens of thousands of people to Mamayev Kurgan, along with reporters from official press outlets, including Izvestia and Pravda , who wrote extensively on

4320-653: The Soviet Union , began discussing plans for a monument for the Battle of Stalingrad with architect Yakov Belopolsky , with whom he had previously collaborated on the development of the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin's Treptower Park . The project was intended to be built atop Mamayev Kurgan , an ancient burial mound that was the site of intense conflict during the battle. Vuchetich started petitioning high-ranking Soviet officials for permission to design

4440-416: The Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad originated in the final years of the war. Soviet politicians and artists had considered designs for monuments to the battle prior to the war's end, and the first Soviet museum commemorating World War II was established as early as March 1943. In 1944, the publication Arkhitektura SSSR issued a number of articles detailing possible designs for memorials. Following

4560-606: The artist committee in December 1962, and on 23 January 1963 the Council of Ministers ordered the development of blueprints for the statue. The process of building of the monument would prove to be more complicated than anticipated by its developers, primarily due to its size and the complexity of its details. After the Sculptural Group of the Artistic Fund requested to be relieved of their construction duties and

4680-422: The assembly of the statue's framework and its intricate features; these issues were further compounded by the statue's size. Delays were caused by cold weather and unforeseen geological issues, necessitating extensive foundation reinforcement and relocation of water systems. Additional complications arose with the statue's sword, which had to be redesigned due to problems with wind resistance. Despite these obstacles,

4800-469: The base of its pedestal to its peak, the statue was the tallest in the world upon its completion in 1967, and is the tallest statue in Europe if excluding the pedestal. The statue, along with the rest of the complex, was dedicated on 15 October 1967, and has been listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO 's list of World Heritage Sites since 2014. The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia , commonly referred to as Mother Russia. She wears

4920-405: The city center. Between 1903 and 1907, the area was one of the least healthy in Europe, with a mortality rate of 33.6 for every 1000 persons. Untreated sewage spilled into the river, causing several cholera epidemics between 1907 and 1910. Although the region had an active Sanitary Executive Commission that sent out instructions on the best ways to prevent outbreaks and dispatched a delegate from

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5040-403: The city of Stalingrad commemorating victory over the German fascist force" would be overseen by a committee led by Vuchetich and comprising Belopolsky and Anatoly Garpenko, an artist and Red Army veteran. Vuchetich and Belopolsky's initial designs for the project were ambitious and took much of their inspiration from the memorial at Treptower Park. The original plan for the monument featured

5160-500: The city on July 14. By September, the fighting reached the city center. It was of unprecedented intensity; the city's central railway station changed hands thirteen times, and the Mamayev Kurgan (one of the highest points of the city) was captured and recaptured eight times. By early November, the German forces controlled 90 percent of the city and had cornered the Soviets in two narrow pockets, but they were unable to eliminate

5280-548: The city should take back its original name of Tsaritsyn, but the authorities rejected their proposal. On January 30, 2013, the Volgograd City Council passed a measure to use the title " Hero City Stalingrad" in city statements on nine specific dates annually. On the following dates, the title "Hero City Stalingrad" can officially be used in celebrations: In addition, in January 2013, 50,000 people signed

5400-439: The city was on an important trade route for moving timber, grain, cotton, cast iron, fish, salt and linseed oil, the economic reach of the Volga was relatively small. When the first rail lines were linked up to Moscow in 1871, this isolated area was suddenly and efficiently connected to the rest of the empire. Thanks to that connection, the province became a major producer, processor and exporter of grain, supplying most of Russia. By

5520-408: The city, which, in 1942, became the site of one of the war's pivotal battles. The Battle of Stalingrad was the deadliest single battle in the history of warfare (casualties estimates vary between 1,250,000 and 2,500,000 ). The battle began on August 23, 1942, and on the same day, the city suffered heavy aerial bombardment that reduced most of it to rubble. Martial law had already been declared in

5640-656: The city. In 1691 Moscow established a customs -post at Tsaritsyn. In 1708 Tsaritsyn was assigned to the Kazan Governorate ; in 1719 to the Astrakhan Governorate . According to the census in 1720, the city had a population of 408 people. In 1773 the settlement was designated as a provincial and district town. From 1779 it belonged to the Saratov Viceroyalty . In 1780 the city came under the newly established Saratov Governorate . In

5760-535: The city. Of the population of more than half a million before the battle, only 1,515 remained following the battle's conclusion. In 1945, the Soviet Union awarded Stalingrad the title Hero City for its resistance. Great Britain's King George VI awarded the citizens of Stalingrad the jewelled " Sword of Stalingrad " in recognition of their bravery. A number of cities around the world (especially those that had suffered similar wartime devastation) established sister, friendship, and twinning links (see list below) in

5880-596: The complex was used as an orphanage, a library, a cinema and a student hostel. Eventually, many of the buildings fell into disuse and became dilapidated. At the onset of the Second World War, the complex was given to the military and many of the original buildings were demolished. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Diocese of Volgograd was established and the military began the process of transferring what

6000-401: The construction firm Volgogradgidrostroi expressed reservations about taking over the project, structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin was appointed to lead the construction efforts. In 1963, Nikitin's design team began planning the construction process for the monument, finalising their designs by August. Nikitin began his role as head of the team by emphasising unresolved issues, specifically

6120-487: The crosses and bells removed and the liturgical objects confiscated. The cathedral was then used as a motor depot and eventually demolished in 1932. In 2001, the long project of rebuilding the cathedral was begun. The first foundation stone was laid in 2016 and the finished replica was finally consecrated in 2021 by Patriarch Kirill . The new church stands in central Volgograd, bounded by Communist Street (Russian: Коммунистическая Улица) and Mir Street (Russian: Улица Мира) on

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6240-529: The dam. The river is 537 kilometres (334 mi) long; the average water flow is 153 cubic metres per second (5,400 cu ft/s). The following cities lie on or near the Akhtuba: Volzhsky (at the beginning of the river), Leninsk , Znamensk , Akhtubinsk , Kharabali (within 5 kilometres of the river). The capital of the Golden Horde , Sarai Batu , was most likely located along

6360-458: The design was changed in 1961 to be a large concrete structure at nearly double the height, a decision that was subject to criticism from Soviet military officials and writers. It was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace , an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike . Construction of The Motherland Calls began in 1963, and was led by structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin . The project faced numerous challenges, including

6480-497: The dome is crowned by a female personification of Peace, holding an astrolabe with a dove. Opened in 1954, it was only the second purpose-built planetarium in the Soviet Union. The entryway interior features a mural of Stalin in the white uniform of a naval admiral, surrounded by lilies and doves, more symbols of peace. On either side of the mural, are busts of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky , a Soviet rocket scientist, and Yuri Gagarin ,

6600-425: The early 21st century, with the statue in disrepair and at risk of collapsing. Comprehensive restoration efforts began later in the century, and by 2020, the monument had undergone extensive restoration, although post-renovation critiques and new structural issues have since arisen. The sculpture has been featured on various official Russian symbols, commemorative coins, stamps, and postcards. The Battle of Stalingrad

6720-465: The end of the war in 1945, several small-scale obelisks and commemorative plaques were erected across the Soviet Union; however, larger plans for monuments were curtailed by leader Joseph Stalin , who sought to refocus attention on emerging Cold War conflicts, virtually prohibiting all public observation of the war by 1948. In 1948, sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich , a member of the Academy of Arts of

6840-467: The existing sword needed replacement; temporary measures were applied, included cutting holes in the current sword and reinforcing the joint until a permanent fix could be implemented. In February 1967, the Council of Ministers mandated that all remaining work on the memorial complex be completed by 15 October for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution . Labourers worked throughout

6960-477: The external membrane and creating the plaster moulds for the statue's surface. The concrete pedestal was poured, and by the end of 1963, the shawl pieces and the empty hand had been made and attached to the framework. However, the arrival of subfreezing temperatures halted further concrete pouring, which could not resume until the spring; plans were set to complete this phase of the construction by 1 July 1965. The statue's head and sword hand were then mounted, with

7080-550: The fortress; they left after a month. In 1708 the insurgent Cossack Kondraty Bulavin (died July 1708) held the fortress. In 1717 in the Kuban pogrom  [ ru ] , raiders from the Kuban under the command of the Crimean Tatar Bakhti Gerai  [ ru ] blockaded the town and enslaved thousands in the area. In August 1774 Cossack leader Yemelyan Pugachev unsuccessfully attempted to storm

7200-526: The goddess of victory, Nike . Committee members initially suggested that the sculpture should be dressed in traditional Russian clothing . Vuchetich objected to the proposition, arguing that a traditional costume would diminish the idea of the battle as an international event and defy the neoclassical style he had envisioned for the statue. The sculpture was initially planned to be 30 metres (98 ft) tall from its pedestal to its peak; however, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered it to be taller than

7320-412: The heroes of Stalingrad, a sculpture of a man shaping a sword into a ploughshare , and walls engraved with the names of those who died in the battle. An exit at the end of the hall led to a second observation platform with a panoramic painting depicting a prosperous post-war Stalingrad. The principal component of the project was to be a colossal statue at the top of Mamayev Kurgan; at the statue's base,

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7440-496: The heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, which is the tallest statue in Europe, as well as the second tallest statue of a woman in the world. The city has many tourist attractions, such as museums, sandy beaches, and a self-propelled floating church. Volgograd was one of the host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup . Tsaritsyn was established in 1555 and was named after the Tsaritsa river  [ d ] . The name of Tsaritsyn

7560-536: The history of warfare, from which it received the title of Hero City . In 1961, Nikita Khrushchev 's administration renamed the city Volgograd as part of de-Stalinization . The Soviet victory at Stalingrad is widely held to be the turning point of the War, leading the to the destruction of the German army in the East. Volgograd today is the site of The Motherland Calls , an 85-metre (279 ft) high statue dedicated to

7680-455: The importance of the Panorama, which they thought to be the only structure that could faithfully represent the extent of the soldiers' experiences. Vuchetich rationalised the decision by asserting the monument should reflect the widespread recognition of the Battle of Stalingrad as the turning point of the war, and marketed the project as one part of a sculptural triptych that would encompass

7800-526: The lack of geological and hydrological studies that had been recommended earlier in the year. In a report to the Ministry of Culture made in September, he insisted these studies were crucial due to the extensive construction already completed and the need to ensure the foundation's durability and stability, particularly given the presence of mellite clays on Mamayev Kurgan; the hill could only support

7920-598: The last pockets of Soviet resistance before Soviet forces launched a huge counterattack on November 19. This resulted in the Soviet encirclement of the German Sixth Army and other Axis units. On January 31, 1943, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus , the Sixth Army's commander, surrendered; by February 2, with the elimination of straggling German troops, the Battle of Stalingrad was over. The bombing campaign and five months of fighting destroyed 99% of

8040-777: The longest European route connecting Calais in France with Ridder in Kazakhstan , passes through Volgograd. The M6 highway between Moscow and the Caspian Sea also passes through the city. The Volgograd Bridge , under construction since 1995, was inaugurated in October 2009. The city river terminal is the center for local passenger shipping along the Volga River. The Volgograd International Airport provides air links to major Russian cities as well as Antalya , Yerevan and Aktau . Volgograd's public transport system includes

8160-414: The memorial at Treptower Park and a planned monument in Moscow. The planned sculpture also attracted criticism from Soviet writers, including Viktor Nekrasov , who claimed the monument would defile the historic site. While construction on the rest of the monument complex began in 1961, work on The Motherland Calls did not start until late 1962. Vuchetich's final design for the sculpture was approved by

8280-425: The memorial was completed in 1967 for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution . After its dedication, the sculpture underwent numerous alterations and restoration attempts. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version to reduce wind resistance, and by 1986, the statue had tilted significantly from its original axis. Concerns about the statue's structural integrity arose by

8400-464: The memorial's scale and significance, describing the statue as a tribute to the heroism of Stalingrad's defenders. Vuchetich, along with the engineers and construction workers, were lauded for their contributions to the project, with reporters drawing parallels between their efforts and those of the soldiers who defended the city. The opening ceremony featured speeches from party leaders and military representatives, who highlighted various themes such as

8520-414: The metal sword set to be installed later. During this period, the construction of other components of the memorial, such as the "Wall Ruins" and parts of the "Square of Heroes", progressed significantly. Despite initial forecasts for a November 1965 opening, the construction timeline was extended into the late summer of 1966. This delay was partly due to emerging issues with the sculpture's foundation and

8640-409: The monument in the early 1950s, including Politburo member Georgy Malenkov . In a letter to Malenkov dated December 1951, Vuchetich claimed that he had received multiple inquiries from veterans and family members of those who died in the war about the absence of a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan. After Stalin's death in March 1953, plans for a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan were revitalised. In March 1954,

8760-488: The monument's image, such as taking and sharing photographs online, would remain free. However, commercial use, including placing the image on merchandise or using it for profit, would require permission and could incur royalties ranging from several hundred to tens of thousands of roubles for each use, subject to how and where the statue was depicted. The Motherland Calls is featured on the coat of arms and flag of Volgograd Oblast . Postage stamps and postcards depicting

8880-469: The monument, the head and hands of the sculpture were treated with a waterproofing agent once a year. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version featuring jalousie -like slits to reduce wind resistance. The sculpture's surface received a maintenance inspection in 1986; by this time, it had tilted 60 millimetres (2.4 in) from its original vertical axis since its initial assessment in 1966. Between 2008 and 2009,

9000-428: The mosaics to the Pantheon's interior walls in early 1967, they discovered inconsistencies in the glass tiles. With only four months until the scheduled opening, Vuchetich urgently sought intervention from officials to expedite a solution. Supplementary glass was quickly produced and delivered, and several hundred soldiers from a local garrison were enlisted to aid in construction. The crews worked diligently, completing

9120-404: The mound to a distance of at least 273 metres (896 ft) from the statue's base to improve drainage around the structure. The statue's foundation was reinforced, and several thousand cubic metres of extra earth were backfilled to create a levee around the pedestal. However, these adjustments necessitated the removal of several graves previously located at the hill's summit and a reduction in

9240-456: The name of the city to Volgograd ("Volga City") as part of his programme of de-Stalinization following Stalin's death. This action was and remains somewhat controversial, because Stalingrad has such importance as a symbol of resistance during World War II. During Konstantin Chernenko 's brief rule in 1984, proposals were floated to revive the city's Stalinist name for that reason. There was

9360-465: The nineteenth century, Tsaritsyn became an important river-port and commercial center. As a result, it also became a hub for migrant workers; in 1895 alone, over 50,000 peasant migrants came to Tsaritsyn in search of work. The population expanded rapidly, increasing from fewer than 3,000 people in 1807 to about 84,000 in 1900. By 1914, the population had again jumped and was estimated at 130,000. Sources show 893 Jews registered as living there in 1897, with

9480-405: The north and south and Volodarsk Street (Russian: Улица Володарского) and Gogol Street (Russian: Улица Гоголя) on the west and east, respectively. This area is also a park, called Alexander's Garden . The cathedral stands across the street from a World War 2 monument, and a statue of and chapel for, the eponymous Alexander Nevsky . Volgograd hosts one of the few self-propelled floating churches in

9600-428: The number exceeding 2,000 by the middle of the 1920s. At the turn of the nineteenth century, Tsaritsyn was essentially a frontier town; almost all of the structures were wooden, with neither paved roads nor utilities. The first railway reached the town in 1862. The first theatre opened in 1872, the first cinema in 1907. In 1913 Tsaritsyn got its first tram-line, and the city's first electric lights were installed in

9720-467: The policy of De-Stalinization . The name was changed to Volgograd in 1961, derived from name of the Volga river, on whose bank the city is situated. Although the city may have originated in 1555, documented evidence of Tsaritsyn at the confluence of the Tsaritsa  [ ru ] and Volga rivers dates from 1589. The structure stood slightly above the mouth of the Tsaritsa River on

9840-858: The political fire. During the Russian Civil War of 1917–1923, Tsaritsyn came under Soviet control from November 1917. In 1918 White Movement troops under Pyotr Krasnov , the Ataman of the Don Cossack Host , besieged Tsaritsyn. The Reds repulsed three assaults by the Whites. However, in June 1919 the White Armed Forces of South Russia , under the command of General Denikin , captured Tsaritsyn, and held it until January 1920. The fighting from July 1918 to January 1920 became known as

9960-423: The press, denouncing local municipal officials and causing unrest wherever he went. The most permanent mark he left on the city was the Holy Spirit Monastery ( Russian : Свято-Духовский монастырь ), built in 1909, parts of which still stand today. In light of the explosive population growth, the lack of political action on sanitation and housing, the multiple epidemics and the presence of volatile personalities, it

10080-454: The project off the ground. The original complex had a church that could accommodate 6,000 people, the monastery itself could house 500 and an auditorium that held 1,000. There was a school, space for workshops, a printing office and an almshouse . The land the monastery stood on also hosted multiple gardens, a fountain and several inner yards. In 1912, the monastery was divided to a male and female section, housing both monks and nuns. In 1914,

10200-410: The question of whether the sculpture looked better after its restoration, with some calling on those who worked on the project to "restore it themselves, with their own money". An assessment of the reliability and safety of the structure was planned to be conducted in 2023. As of 2024, the dark spots on the statue were still noticeable. In 2017, a supporter of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

10320-467: The right bank. It soon became the nucleus of a trading settlement. At the beginning of the 17th century, the garrison consisted of 350 to 400 people. In 1607 the fortress garrison rebelled for six months against the troops of Tsar Vasili Shuisky . In the following year saw the construction of the first stone church in the city, dedicated to St. John the Baptist. In 1670 troops of Stepan Razin captured

10440-467: The school on the grounds of the Holy Spirit Monastery became part of the city school system and in 1915, housed 53 girls whose fathers were on the front lines. During the Russian Civil War , an infirmary was set up and the complex was alternately used by both the Bolsheviks and the Whites . In 1923, once the area was under firm Bolshevik control, the monastery was closed. During the following decades,

10560-437: The sculpture funded by the federal budget began in 2010. Initial steps included replacing the piezometric network (a system for measuring pressure) to allow for hydrogeological monitoring, studying the reinforced concrete's condition, and analysing cracks and other defects. In 2014, the sculpture, along with the surrounding complex, was listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO 's list of World Heritage Sites . Following

10680-573: The sculpture were issued in the Soviet Union for the 20th anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters in 1971 and the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad in 1973; a postcard with the statue was issued in Russia to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the battle in 2002. The sculpture also appears on a commemorative 100- rouble coin issued by the Central Bank of Russia in 2013, and

10800-477: The significance of the memorial in preserving the memory of the war and its heroes, and praised the Soviet people's enduring loyalty to the Communist Party and its Central Committee . The years after the statue's dedication were primarily marked by alterations and several attempts at restoration. A year after the monument's opening, cracks had already started to form on the statue's surface. To preserve

10920-593: The size of the plaza where the Grief of the Motherland statue and the Pantheon, which had replaced the Panorama due to issues with the latter's foundation, were situated. These remedial efforts continued into 1967. In May 1966, crews hoisted and secured the 14-ton, 28-metre-long (92 ft) sword into the statue's right hand. The sword was constructed from stainless steel and bolstered by plates made from titanium . However, by late August, strong winds revealed that

11040-530: The spirit of solidarity or reconciliation. One of the first "sister city" projects was that established during World War II between Stalingrad and Coventry in the United Kingdom ; both had suffered extensive devastation from aerial bombardment. In March 2022, this twinning link was suspended because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine . On 10 November 1961, Nikita Khrushchev 's administration changed

11160-416: The spring and summer to meet this deadline, completing the earthen levee surrounding the main monument's pedestal, relocating the remaining leaking irrigation pipes and reservoirs, reinforcing the sword, installing sound and lighting systems across the complex, and setting in place the final sculptural and landscaping elements. The last major obstacle arose from complications with the Pantheon; as crews applied

11280-410: The stability of the surrounding soil, prompting geological investigations that uncovered several critical deficiencies in the initial surveys. For instance, examinations of Mamayev Kurgan's substrata were only carried out to a depth of 9 metres (30 ft), rather than the necessary depth of at least 46 metres (151 ft). Additionally, there had been no measurement of the soil's compression under

11400-471: The start of the Russian Civil War , Tsaritsyn came under Bolshevik control. It fell briefly to the White Army in mid-1919 but returned to Bolshevik control in January 1920. In 1925, the city was renamed Stalingrad in honor of Joseph Stalin , who then ruled the country. During World War II , Axis forces attacked the city, leading to the Battle of Stalingrad , the largest and bloodiest battle in

11520-471: The statue be redesigned; Akhiyaretdinov argued that the statue did not comply with Islamic and Eastern Orthodox dress standards due to the depiction of the statue's nipples. A criminal investigation against Akhiyaretdinov was initiated on 10 May 2024 following orders from investigative committee chairman Alexander Bastrykin . On 5 April 2024, a 23-year-old woman from Samara was sentenced to ten months of forced labour for "rehabilitating Nazism " after posting

11640-508: The statue from its game after receiving criticism from users on Twitter . United States senator Ted Cruz was criticised for featuring the sculpture on the cover of his book Justice Corrupted: How the Left Weaponized Our Legal System . In February 2024, Bashkir activist Rasul Akhiyaretdinov faced criticism from pro-Russian online circles after he petitioned on social media for Vladimir Putin to order that

11760-466: The statue's base. In early 2019, the observation deck at the foot of the statue was closed off to visitors until March of the following year to allow for additional restoration work to its pedestal, surface, and framework. In May, the sculpture had begun to be covered in scaffolding, and the granite slabs at the pedestal were removed. Restoration on the external features of the monument continued from July to November, including cracks being filled in and

11880-429: The statue's post-renovation appearance, arguing that the statue was in a worse condition than it had been before its restoration; his comments received criticism from residents of Volgograd, who insisted that he be punished for insulting the memory of those who died in the Battle of Stalingrad. By early 2021, dark spots and more cracks were noticed on the surface of the statue, prompting the filing of an application with

12000-471: The statue's weight, nor was there any consideration of how the expansion of waterlogged clay could impact the foundation. No comprehensive assessment was made of potential groundwater sources, and no tests to evaluate the stability of the mound's slope were conducted. Addressing these issues required significant effort and expense; in early 1966, officials concluded that the only solution involved relocating all water supply pipes and reservoirs buried within

12120-548: The statue, nearly injuring passersby, and it had tilted approximately 20 centimetres (7.9 in), with further tilting risking collapse. Estimated costs to repair the structural issues were over $ 7 million USD (equivalent to $ 9,664,521 in 2023); however, efforts to secure funding for restoration were complicated by the Great Recession , and previous attempts to allocate government funds for restoration had been undermined by misappropriation. Large-scale restoration work on

12240-646: The street from the Panorama Museum, stands Pavlov's House , another surviving monument to the Battle of Stalingrad. Several monuments and memorials can be found nearby, including a statue of Lenin, a statue in honor of children who survived war and another to the Pavlov's House defenders. The Musical Instrument Museum is a branch of the Volgograd regional Museum of local lore. As a port city along an important and busy trading route, Volgograd has always been

12360-552: The structure if the moisture of its soil remained low. Nikitin noted that the foundation, initially designed for a statue half the height, required an investigation to confirm its suitability. Almost immediately following his report, the Ministry sent a team to Volgograd to thoroughly investigate the issues. Construction on The Motherland Calls commenced in November 1963. The statue, made entirely of reinforced concrete , used

12480-412: The structure. A radio transmitter was installed in the statue's head to transmit data on ground vibrations , surface temperatures, and humidity. Passageways within the statue were built to allow for interior inspections, while the exterior would be visually examined. Initially, crews focused on assembling the metal framework designed to support the internal diaphragms, followed by welding the rebar for

12600-467: The surface being painted with white lead . In November, the scaffolding and the pedestal's slabs were removed, with internal renovations to be finished before Victory Day on 9 May 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of the battle. The restoration of the monument was completed in March 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the reopening ceremony that had originally been planned for Victory Day

12720-441: The sword and its anchoring structure were subjected to lateral forces that had not been accurately accounted for. The sword's tip was observed wavering by nearly 1 foot (0.30 m) in either direction, posing a risk to the integrity of the joint connecting the arm to the metal framework. This movement resulted in visible cracks in the concrete surface around the area. A committee was formed to investigate further, who concluded that

12840-477: The tight spaces. Each 4-metre-high section was capped with a horizontal diaphragm, serving as the foundation for the next section. The statue's head, arms, and scarf were cast separately and attached using cantilevered junctions and large steel bolts, with the metal sword anchored in the right hand. Its stability was ensured by a complex system of steel tension cables to counteract wind forces, monitored by seismographic and meteorological instruments inside

12960-537: The valour of those who fought in the battle, the importance of remembering past sacrifices, and the role of the Red Army in defeating fascism. Premier Leonid Brezhnev 's keynote address framed the monument as a testament to Soviet unity and postwar recovery, while also emphasising the USSR's commitment to peace and culture in contrast to American actions during the Vietnam War . The speeches collectively stressed

13080-475: The warmer months. Across from this Hall, there is a statue called Mother's Sorrow, which depicts a grieving woman holding a fallen soldier in her arms. During the summer months, this statue is surrounded by a small water feature, called the Lake of Tears. Further down the hill of this complex, there is a Plaza of Heroes (also known as Heroes' Square), featuring multiple allegorical sculptures of heroic deeds. This plaza

13200-504: The world: the chapel boat of Saint Vladimir of Volgograd. Spearheaded by Vladimir Koretsky and assisted by a Dutch Orthodox priest who was part of the organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Saint Vladimir was consecrated in October 2004 on the shore of the Volga. Originally a decommissioned landing craft found in a shipyard outside St. Petersburg, it took two years to convert it into

13320-585: Was a major conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front of World War II , fought over six months from July 1942 to February 1943. The battle resulted in a decisive Soviet victory but came at a tremendous cost, with over a million estimated Soviet deaths. The battle was quickly mythologised in Soviet culture, and was widely referred to as the turning point in the war in Soviet history textbooks. The idea of commemorating

13440-408: Was a reinforced concrete membrane varying in thickness from 25 to 60 centimetres (9.8 to 23.6 in). Construction involved pouring concrete in 50-centimetre (20 in) increments into the forms shaping the vertical diaphragms, allowing each layer to harden before proceeding. Workers used small vibrators to settle the concrete, eliminate air pockets, and ensure even pours, working manually due to

13560-531: Was accused of desecrating a Russian military symbol after publishing an edited image of the sculpture with its face and one of its hands recoloured green, mimicking Navalny's appearance after he was targeted by a zelyonka attack . Navalny was later blamed for the incident during a trial in February 2021. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a video game developer company in Belarus removed

13680-408: Was chosen by Vuchetich to be the model for the sculpture, while the face of the statue is believed to have been based on that of Vuchetich's wife. The choice to make The Motherland Calls the primary feature of the monument complex was met with derision from Soviet military officials, including generals Andrey Yeryomenko and Mikhail Shumilov , who believed the statue's design would detract from

13800-450: Was erected on the Mamayev Kurgan (Russian: Мамаев Курган), the hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle. This complex includes the Hall of Military Glory, a circular building housing an eternal flame and bearing plaques with the names of the fallen heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad. This memorial features an hourly changing of the guard that draws many tourists during

13920-418: Was held in Russia. In late 2018, the construction company Glavzarubezhstroy completed preparations for the external restoration of the sculpture, which included creating access for special equipment, fencing off the area for material storage and worker camps, installing a two-metre fence around the sculpture, removing the lawn, setting up external lighting for the duration of the work, and digging trenches around

14040-468: Was left of the Holy Spirit Monastery back to the church. A theological school was established in 1992 and restoration of the site continues today. Construction of the cathedral began on April 22, 1901, with the laying of the foundation stone by Bishop Hermogenes . The domes were installed in 1915 and consecration took place on May 19, 1918. Almost as soon as it was built, the cathedral fell out of use. The Soviet powers closed it down officially in 1929, with

14160-494: Was postponed. A virtual tour of the structure and the surrounding complex was made available online in lieu of public visitations. The monument complex was reopened on 24 June 2020, with a ceremony hosted by Volgograd governor Andrey Bocharov and Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova . In total, the cost of renovating the sculpture alone cost approximately 750 million roubles (equivalent to $ 11,296,607 USD in 2023). In August, Russian designer Artemy Lebedev criticised

14280-641: Was produced between 1954 and 1964; it is still operational and in regular use at the Volgograd Planetarium. The projector was supplemented by a digital system in 2019; the Fulldome Pro model LDX12. Zeiss also provided the 365mm refractor telescope for the observatory, which is still in operation today. The planetarium hosts scientific and educational lectures, provides Fulldome shows, has scheduled tours, features daytime and nighttime observations and runs an astronomy club for children. Across

14400-545: Was written as Царицынъ , with the hard sign . When Vladimir Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin took charge as the General Secretary ; Tsaritsyn was renamed Stalingrad in honour of his role in the defence of the city. The name is derived from the compound of Stalin ( Сталин ; his name) and grad ( град : name for a settlement in Russian). In the aftermath of Stalin's death , Nikita Khrushchev announced

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