Slavín

Slavín is a memorial monument and military cemetery in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is the burial ground of thousands of Soviet Army soldiers who fell during World War II while liberating the city in April 1945 from the occupying German Wehrmacht units and the remaining Slovak troops who supported the clero-fascist Tiso government. It is situated on a hill amidst a rich villa quarter of the capital and embassy residences close to the centre of Bratislava.

It was constructed between 1957 and 1960 on the site of a field cemetery, and opened on April 3, 1960 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the city's liberation. The monument was constructed similar in kind to the Palace of Culture and Science in Stalinist architectural style. In 1961 it was declared a National Cultural Monument. Its designer was Ján Svetlík.

2016 5-ruble steel coin of Russia, featuring Slavín memorial complex.

History

The monument was inaugurated in 1960 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the liberation of the city by the Soviet army. Cities with dates of their liberation are listed on its walls. 6,845 soldiers are buried in the cemetery.

Description

This monument and cemetery of soldiers of the Soviet Army who were killed in deliverance of Bratislava during the Second World War has been designated the National Cultural Monument. On top of the 39.1 metre high pylon stands an 11 metre high sculpture of a soldier by A. Trizuljak. The bronze caisson door of the memorial auditorium is decorated with reliefs by R. Pribiš.

The site consists of:

• A solemn staircase
• A cemetery with graves (6 mass graves, 278 individual graves) of 6,845 Soviet soldiers who fell while liberating Bratislava
• The central solemn hall with various statues, inscriptions, and a symbolic sarcophagus made of white marble. It also features a 39.5 m high obelisk topped with a statue of a Soviet soldier, and on the outside walls are inscriptions of the dates of liberation of various places in Slovakia during 1944–45.

Other facts about Slavín:

• This monument is situated in Malé Karpaty and it is very often visited because of its beautiful view.
• In the area of Slavín there are also more statues of Slovak famous artists, such as Jan Kulich, Tibor Bártfay and Jozef Kostka.
• In 2005, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, visited it during his meeting with G. W. Bush in Bratislava.
• The day of Bratislava's liberation is 4 April, when people and president show their honor to fallen Soviet soldiers.

See also

• Devín Carpathians

Panorama from Slavin Memorial.