“No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten.” These powerful words resonate here at the \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial. This isn’t just a monument. It’s a place of remembrance. It honors those who perished during the Siege of Leningrad.
The \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial at Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery stands as a testament to resilience. It opened on May 9, 1960. Alexander Vasiliev and Yevgeniy Levinson designed this memorial complex.
Imagine over 400,000 civilians and 50,000 soldiers buried here. They lie in 186 mass graves. The sheer scale is staggering. Near the entrance, an eternal flame flickers. It symbolizes unending remembrance. A marble plate tells a grim story. From September 4, 1941 to January 22, 1944, the city endured relentless attacks. Over 100,000 air bombs fell. Almost 150,000 shells exploded. Thousands died from wounds. Starvation claimed over 600,000 lives.
The heart of the \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial is the bronze Motherland monument. Vera Isaeva and Robert Taurit sculpted this poignant figure. Granite steps lead from the eternal flame. They guide visitors along a 480-meter path. This path culminates at the Motherland monument.
Behind the statue, a granite wall stands. Olga Berggolts’s verses are etched into it. Berggolts was a symbol of Leningrad’s resilience. Her words capture the city’s spirit. “Here lie Leningraders. Here are citydwellers – men, women, and children. And next to them, Red Army soldiers.” The inscription continues. It speaks of sacrifice and unwavering defense. “They defended you, Leningrad, The cradle of the Revolution With all their lives.” The verses acknowledge the countless unnamed heroes. “We cannot list their noble names here. There are so many of them under the eternal protection of granite.”
The inscription emphasizes remembrance. “But know this, those who regard these stones: No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten.” The \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial stands on the Avenue of the Unvanquished. This road leads to a place of profound reflection.
The cemetery itself was established in 1939. It predates the start of World War II. As the siege tightened, the cemetery became a repository for the dead. In February 1942, thousands of bodies arrived daily. The memorial serves as a constant reminder. It honors those who died protecting the city from the Nazis.
Inside the \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial are two pavilions. They house a small museum dedicated to the Siege of Leningrad. Among the exhibits are pages from Tanya Savicheva’s diary. This schoolgirl documented the deaths of her family members. Her final entries are heartbreaking. “The Savichevs have died. They all died. Tanya is left alone.”
The \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430 \u043f\u0430\u043c\u044f\u0442\u0438 War memorial stands as a place for remembrance. It urges us to remember. It reminds us of the cost of war. It ensures that no one is forgotten. It underscores that nothing is forgotten.