One of the main attractions of the capital, by which even foreigners recognize Moscow, is the Kremlin Wall. Originally created as a defensive fortification, now it performs, rather, a decorative function and is an architectural monument. But, besides this, in the last century the Kremlin wall also serves as the burial place of prominent people of the country. This necropolis is the most unusual cemetery in the world and has become one of the most important historical monuments of the capital and a place of visiting for thousands of tourists.
History of the Kremlin wall
It took on a modern look only at the beginning of the 16th century. The Kremlin wall of red bricks was built on the site of the ancient white-stone, and only in the eastern direction the territory of the Kremlin was slightly expanded. It was built according to the project of Italian architects. In shape, the wall repeated the outlines of the Kremlin fortress and had the appearance of an irregular triangle. Its length is more than two kilometers, and its height is from five to twenty meters. The highest walls were from the side of Red Square. On top of the Kremlin wall is decorated with teeth that have the shape of a dovetail. There are more than a thousand of them, and almost all have narrow loopholes. The wall itself is wide, about six meters, it has many embrasures and passages. Outside, it is smooth, made of massive red brick. More than 20 different towers are built into the wall. The most famous of them is Spasskaya, on which the Kremlin chimes are located. In addition to its architectural and historical value, the Kremlin Wall now attracts tourists with the necropolis created in the last century. It is a kind of cemetery that has become a memorial.
Creation of the Kremlin Necropolis
The first two mass graves near the Kremlin wall appeared in November 1917. They were located on Red Square between Nikolsky and Spassky gates. About 200 nameless soldiers who died during the October Revolution were buried in them. Over the next ten years, more than ten mass graves appeared near the wall. And of the three hundred Bolsheviks buried in them, only 110 names are known. Many streets and squares in the capital and other cities were named after them. Until 1927, revolutionaries who died and even died by their death were buried near the Kremlin wall. Solitary burials of famous people of that time also appeared.
Who is buried near the Kremlin wall in the early years?
- The first solitary grave at the Kremlin wall appeared in 1919. Ya. M. Sverdlov was buried in it.
- At the beginning of the 1920s, many well-known figures of the party and government were buried in solitary graves: M.V. Frunze, F. E. Dzerzhinsky, M. V. Kalinin, and others.
- In the early years of the creation of the necropolis, foreign communists were also buried near the Kremlin wall. Here John Reid, Klara Zetkin, Inessa Armand and Sam Katayama are buried.
- Since 1924, the center of the Kremlin necropolis was the Mausoleum, in which the body of V.I. Lenin rested. This place subsequently became a platform for prominent statesmen.
Burials of the 30-80s
After 1927, it was decided to bury at the Kremlin wall only outstanding members of the party and government, as well as great scientists. The mass graves ceased, but until 1985, many famous people were buried in this necropolis.
- party and government members: Budyonny, Suslov, Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko;
- in the early 60s, the body of IV Stalin was taken out and buried near the Kremlin wall from the Lenin Mausoleum ;
- all deceased in the rank of Marshal, for example Zhukov;
- outstanding pilots, for example Chkalov, astronaut Gagarin and many others;
- famous scientists Karpinsky, Kurchatov and Korolev;
- visitors to the necropolis who are interested in who is still buried near the Kremlin wall can see the names of Lenin's mother, his wife N.K. Krupskaya, writer M. Gorky, people's commissar of education Lunacharsky and many others.
How was they buried in a necropolis?
Until the beginning of the 80s, the Kremlin wall was used to bury famous people. The graves near her were of two types:
- To the right of the Mausoleum near the Kremlin wall are the graves of particularly prominent party and government figures. They are decorated with sculptural portraits - busts by famous sculptors Merkurov, Tomsky, Rukavishnikov and others. The last person buried near the Kremlin wall was K.U. Chernenko, who was buried there in 1985.
- Most buried in the necropolis are cremated. The urns with their ashes are embedded in the Kremlin wall on both sides of the Senate Tower. Their names and dates of life are embossed on memorial plates. In total, the ashes of 114 great people - scientists, military, politicians and astronauts - lie in the wall. The last was buried in this way D.F. Ustinov.
What else is the Kremlin wall famous for?
Burials that attract tourists are not only in Red Square. The necropolis near the Kremlin wall includes the memorial "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", located in the Alexander Garden. It was created in 1967 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Moscow. The ashes of an unknown soldier on a gun carriage as part of a funeral procession was delivered from near Zelenograd.
The memorial did not immediately take on the modern look. A tombstone with a cast bronze composition was installed on the soldier’s grave. On the folds of the combat banner lies a soldier's helmet and a laurel branch.
The eternal flame at the Kremlin wall complements the composition. Later, an alley with porphyry blocks was added under which the land of ten hero cities is stored, and in 2010 a 10-meter granite stele appeared in the memorial. It also symbolizes the memory of hero cities. An important part of the entire composition of the memorial is the Kremlin wall itself. Photos of this place are known not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Necropolis history
For almost a hundred years this peculiar cemetery has existed. His appearance changed several times, and in the 50s they even wanted to close him and transfer the ashes of those who were resting there to another place. They planned to create a special Pantheon for this, but this project was soon closed. The fate of the necropolis was not much reflected in the political events taking place in the country. Although politicians in disgrace were not buried near the wall, existing burials were not liquidated. Since 1974, the necropolis was included in the number of state monuments, and it began to be protected by the state. And part of it - the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - has become the most popular place for tourists and visits of foreign statesmen. For many years they have been talking about liquidating the necropolis and transferring the ashes buried there to ordinary cemeteries. This is due not only to religious, but also to political considerations. But in accordance with the current legislation of Russia, for this it is necessary to obtain the consent of relatives, which in most cases is impossible. Therefore, now the necropolis has become an architectural and historical monument. Many tourists are eager to visit the Kremlin wall.
The value of the necropolis
From the first years of its creation, it became the oath of warriors, parades were held in front of the Mausoleum. During the holidays, wreaths are laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And in recent years, a standing guard of honor from the soldiers of the presidential regiment has been standing near her. This place is visited by foreign delegations and ordinary tourists, not only on holidays, but also on ordinary days. Not everyone knows who is buried near the Kremlin wall, but the fact that such a memorial exists is known not only in Russia but also abroad. This necropolis has become one of the most popular attractions in Moscow.