The Soviets had a unique way of honoring their war heroes who fought against the fascists, including approximately 2,500 German fighters who joined the socialist government and died battling the fascist General Franco during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939.

The monument’s official name is Memorial to the German International Brigades, Gedenkstätte für die deutschen Interbrigadisten, but it is commonly known as the Spanish Civil War Soldier, Spanienkämpfer.

It consists of three bronze elements: a larger-than-life soldier statue, a commemorative plaque, and a relief illustrating scenes from the civil war.

The Spanish Civil War was fought between the Republicans, who supported the socialist government, and the Nationalists, led by General Franco. Ultimately, Franco’s forces triumphed, establishing a fascist dictatorship in Spain.

The Soviet Union backed the Republican side during the civil war and erected this monument in the late 1960s to honor the German fighters who fought against the fascists in Spain.

The monument to the Spanish Civil War Soldier is located at the edge of Volkspark Friedrichshain along Friedenstraße in former East Berlin, which was the Soviet zone after World War II.

The giant soldier statue looks very determined because the Soviets had their own special way of honoring war heroes. Just visit the Soviet War Memorials in Berlin to see how they celebrate their victory over Hitler.

However, they were defeated by General Franco in the Spanish Civil War, a fact that the Soviet occupiers conveniently omitted on the monument to the Spanish Civil War Soldier in Volkspark Friedrichshain.