The memory of the past is the basis and guarantee of the future. From how we relate to it, the future will be happy or not. There is no future without the past. So said Academician D. S. Likhachev.
What is a monument?
We have long been accustomed to the fact that the monument is a monument of enormous size. Such an adjective as “monumental”, that is, large forms, also comes from this meaning. However, in fact, the meaning of this concept is much wider. First of all, a monument is considered a building or a sculptural image that perpetuates the memory of people or events. And therefore, “monumental” can also be interpreted as created for centuries, durable and significant. In Veliky Novgorod, this is the Victory Monument and many other monuments that preserve the memory of its long and complex history.
The main monuments of Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod is one of the most ancient cities of the Russian land, preserving the memory of its centuries-old history, which means that it itself can be considered a monument or monument. Indeed, for such an amount of time and in the course of terrible events, difficult for Russia-Russia, he stood and remained in full splendor, versatility and significance from the point of view of preserved memory.
The ensemble of Veliky Novgorod, of course, begins from the Kremlin walls, but does not end there. Traveling through historical districts and new buildings, you come across many objects of sculptural and architectural significance that preserve the memory of different milestones in the history of the city and country, about its people. Among them, a considerable number are devoted to monuments of military history.
One of these monuments is the unique building of Anikushin's work “Millennium of Russia” on the territory of the Kremlin. This monument is a monument to the birth and development of Russia-Russia, the rise of its culture and national identity, wars and victorious battles of different historical eras. These monuments include the monument to the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, who gave his life in the fight against the Horde khans for the benefit of Ancient Russia.
The events of the war between Russia and Napoleon are immortalized in the monument "Monument to the militia of 1812." And a whole group of monuments is dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War: an obelisk in honor of the feat of Gerasimenko, Krasilov, Cheremnov, soldiers of the Soviet Army, who gave their lives in battles against the Nazis near Veliky Novgorod; the stela "Hero of Military Glory" and the Victory Monument.
Veliky Novgorod in the history of the Great Patriotic War
Novgorod is one of those strategic points that prevented the Nazis from quickly approaching Leningrad and destroying it. Therefore, Hitler threw the best forces of his army to destroy him. From the beginning of the war, the city was subjected to fierce bombing. Due to the inequality of forces, Russian troops were forced to retreat to Maly Volkhovets and defend there for seventeen months, after which Novgorod was captured and almost completely destroyed. Many residents who did not have time to evacuate were sent to concentration camps. Novgorod was liberated only at the beginning of 1944. The contribution of the hero city to the fight against the Nazis and the defense of Leningrad is invaluable. Therefore, in the Novgorod region, as in Veliky Novgorod, the Victory monuments remind us of its heroic history.
History of the creation of the memorial
The monument is located on the territory of the Kremlin, in the southern part of the park, and is dedicated to the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. It was established in the 70s of the XX century according to the project of G.V. Nerod and A. Filippov. The construction was carried out by Novgorod and Leningrad builders in the winter season.
The sculptural composition of the Victory Monument in Veliky Novgorod rises above Volkhov. It is located on the so-called Catherine Hill, or Spassky Bastion. Earlier, a wooden pavilion was erected on this site according to the project of the nobleman Obolyaninov, built specifically to store the gift of Catherine II - a yacht on which the empress took a walk along the Vyshnevolotsky water system.
Victory Monument in Veliky Novgorod: description
The basis of the monument is an artificial granite platform on which a pedestal of rectangular granite blocks is mounted. The pedestal has entrance doors to the interior and to the spiral staircase leading to the balustrade and roof. On a pedestal there is a bronze horseman on a rearing horse - a Russian warrior with a sword in his raised hand is a symbol of the defender of the Motherland. Under the belly of the horse is a twisted swastika as a symbol of the defeat of the Nazis at the hands of the Russian army.
A granite tower was erected behind the monument in the background, on which an image of an old Russian boat is installed and military attributes are placed along the perimeter of the roof. This is, first of all, a series of spears turned with their tips into the sky as a symbol of readiness to defend the Motherland, and a flagpole with a standard. On the standard is a five-pointed star with a round medallion inside, outwardly resembling a Hero Star - a military award of the Soviet state. A memorial plaque and an overlay in the form of a burning torch as a symbol of the struggle for peace are attached to the shafts of copies. The facade of the tower is decorated with bas-reliefs that depict the main battles of the Great Patriotic War.