The Motherland Calls

Not far from our hotel lies one of the largest statues in the world, with a lot of history behind it.

For those who aren't super up on their war history, Volgograd was the site of a very pivotal battle in World War 2, The Battle of Stalingrad. About 20 years after the end of the war, construction of the memorial was started and completed in 1967 to commemorate those who had fought. "The Родина-мать зовёт! " literally translate from Russian to "Homeland-Mother is Calling!" and at the time was the largest statue in the world. We just had to go and see it.

Right by the tram stop leading to the memorial

About a 30 minute tram ride from our hotel was all it took to get there, I found Russian public transportation pretty easy to use, and cheap. An interesting note about the trains, you actually buy your ticket while riding to your destination.

It was at least a mile or so from the tram to the Statue

You could see, quite clearly, as you came to the station that you were at the correct stop. The park is quite beautiful and well kept.  After some stairs, you can see the long pathway leading to the Motherland Calls Statue. 

The path itself is lined with other rock sculptures, all pretty incredible

This statue represents every Russian soldier. Because he is shirtless he has no rank, but the face is modeled after Vasily Chuickov, who was the commander during the battle. 

Just behind the soldier statue are opposite rock carved walls with various scenes depicted.

The range of things engraved is very interesting

Closer shot

I personally liked the lone soldier standing atop the building. Large portions of the wall were made to look like buildings that were fought in or the rubble of them

One particularly heroic individual 

The tank here mixed in with soldiers

Obviously the carvings show a lot of ranks of men who fought in various styles

At the top of more stairs you can see yourself getting closer, and yet...

Even on your way there is still more priceless art. A reflective pool with more rock carvings. The statues on the right are all themed, usually two men fighting through a struggle together

Even the stairs here had art on them

You can see the circular building at the top of the stairs, inside there is an eternal flame

I do not know the true meaning of this carving, but I do like the stepping stones so people may lay flowers at the base

An inside look at the eternal flame. You can see the guards, always on watch with a change every hour

 Even the ceiling is lined with symbols, figures, and scenes of the battle

The wall itself is actually made up of individual pieces of  stained glass, broken and uneven, some even protrude outward a little

The names of fallen soldiers circle the entire room

The open skylight so the Motherland herself can look inside shrine

And the journey of course ends the the only place that it could. 

It was a heck of a day. a moving tribute to an important part of Russian history.