Imagine the weight of history pressing down as you stand before Der Befreier. This imposing statue isn’t just bronze and stone. It’s a powerful symbol of a pivotal moment in Berlin’s, and indeed the world’s, history.
Der Befreier, also known as the Soviet War Memorial, stands as one of three major Soviet memorials erected in Berlin after World War II. These memorials commemorate the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Berlin. This battle raged in April and May 1945. An estimated 80,000 Soviet troops perished in the fight to take the city.
This particular memorial in Tiergarten was the first to be built. It was dedicated on November 11, 1945, just months after the war’s end. The location itself was strategically chosen. The Red Army intended for the memorial to interrupt the grand Victory Avenue planned by the National Socialists. That avenue would have run along what is now Straβe des 17. Juni.
Note the design of Der Befreier. Sculptors Lev Kerbel and Vladimir Tsigal, along with architect Nikolai Sergiyevsky, created this space. You enter the memorial on Straβe des 17. Juni. Two Soviet T-34 tanks flank the entrance. These tanks symbolize the first vehicles to reach Berlin in 1945. Two artillery guns stand diagonally behind them. These guns represent the victory over the Nazis.
At the heart of Der Befreier, you’ll see a row of pillars. The central pillar is the tallest. It supports an eight-meter-high bronze statue of a Red Army soldier. The soldier’s rifle is slung over his shoulder. This signifies the end of the war. He holds his left hand over the graves of over 2,000 soldiers buried here.
Look closely at the large Russian inscription beneath the soldier statue. It translates to: “Eternal glory to heroes who fell in battle with the German fascist invaders for the freedom and independence of the Soviet Union.”
The memorial was built using stonework from the destroyed Reich Chancellery. This act connects the monument directly to the ruins of the Nazi regime.
Even though Der Befreier stood in the British sector of West Berlin, the Allied Powers supported its construction. Throughout the Cold War, Soviet honor guards from East Berlin watched over the memorial.
Today, Der Befreier remains a place of active commemoration. Wreath-laying ceremonies occur on VE Day, marking the victory in Europe. It’s also a place of pilgrimage for war veterans. The City of Berlin maintains the site.
A sign explains in English, German, and Russian that more than 2,000 Soviet soldiers are buried here. The location is central. It is in clear sight of the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. These are both symbols of Berlin.