June 26, 2026

The Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park is the largest of its kind in Berlin in terms of area. You feel small there, surrounded by propaganda and war graves

Around 7,000 fallen soldiers from the Red Army are buried here. Some of them were originally interred at smaller Soviet memorials in Berlin and the surrounding area. Here, they have a majestic resting place.

The entrance to the Soviet war memorial doesn’t look like much, but just wait until you’re all the way inside.

At the top, it says in both Russian and German:
“Eternal glory to the heroes who fallen for the freedom and independence of the socialist homeland.”
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.

The memorial was built on a large playground and sports field that had been constructed in 1896 in connection with the Berlin Trade Exhibition. In 1949, the Soviet war memorial was completed, including the 30-meter-tall colossus at its end.

In addition to the gate leading to the monument, you’ll be greeted by a mighty entrance to the area containing the graves.

The entrance to the graves is decorated with red marble.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.

There are rumors that the red marble on the entrance columns comes from Hitler’s new Reich Chancellery, but this has never been confirmed.

Read about the new Reich Chancellery

The memorial is built around an axis that runs from the entrance columns to the colossus at the far end. The graves are arranged on either side and along the axis.

The axis as seen from the colossus, looking toward the entrance columns.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.

Incidentally, the colossus is known as “the liberator,” and before you enter the memorial, you’ll be greeted by a statue of a grieving woman.

This is just part of the Soviet propaganda that feeds you information about how the Soviet Union saw itself as the heroes who liberated Europe from Nazism.

There are also all the stones on either side of the inner axis, which tell the story of Stalin and all his soldiers.

Stalin and his soldiers from the Red Army.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@flickr. CC BY-SA.

The monument is protected as part of the agreement that the occupation of Germany ended in 1990. Germany has committed to maintaining the Soviet war memorials, and as a result, the memorial in Treptower Park was renovated in 2004.

We visitors should also keep in mind that the memorial is a burial site and show respect for the deceased.

Read about the Soviet war memorials in and around Berlin