The Motherland Calls
Colossal Soviet war memorial on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd.
The Motherland Calls is a massive war memorial on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia, built in a neoclassicist and socialist realist style. Sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich led its design, with architect Yakov Belopolsky assisting. Made of concrete, it honors those who died in the Battle of Stalingrad and serves as the centerpiece of a larger monument complex featuring several plazas and other sculptures. From the base of its pedestal to its highest point, the statue measures 85 meters tall, making it the world’s tallest statue when completed in 1967, and it remains Europe’s tallest if the pedestal is included. The entire complex was dedicated on 15 October 1967, and since 2014, it has been a tentative candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.
The sculpture shows a female figure representing Russia, often called "Mother Russia." She wears a windswept shawl that resembles wings and raises a sword in her right hand, while her left hand extends outward, urging the Soviet people to fight. Originally, the plan was for a 30-meter-tall granite statue of a Red Army soldier kneeling and offering a sword to Mother Russia, who would hold a folded banner. But in 1961, the design shifted to a concrete structure nearly double that height, a change criticized by Soviet military officials and writers. The figure was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek statue of the goddess Nike.
Construction began in 1963 under structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin. The project faced many difficulties, including assembling the statue’s framework and its detailed features, made worse by its immense size. Cold weather and unexpected geological problems caused delays, requiring stronger foundations and the relocation of water systems. The sword also caused trouble, needing a redesign because of wind resistance. Despite these issues, the memorial was finished in 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.
After its dedication, the statue underwent several changes and repairs. In 1972, the sword was replaced with one made of higher-grade steel to better handle wind. By 1986, the statue had tilted noticeably from its original axis. Early in the 21st century, concerns grew about its structural stability, as it was in poor condition and at risk of collapse. Major restoration work began later, and by 2020, the monument had been extensively repaired, tho
- Height
- 85 metres (279 ft) from base of pedestal to peak
- Material
- Concrete
- Completion Year
- 1967
- Location
- Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd, Russia
- Designers
- Yevgeny Vuchetich (sculptor), Yakov Belopolsky (architect)
- Structural Engineer
- Nikolai Nikitin
- UNESCO Status
- Tentative candidate since 2014
Lore & Background
The Motherland Calls was designed primarily by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich with assistance from architect Yakov Belopolsky. The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia, commonly called 'Mother Russia,' wearing a windswept shawl resembling wings and holding a sword aloft in her right hand, with her left hand extended outward as she calls upon the Soviet people to battle. It was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike. The original plan was for a 30-metre (98 ft) granite statue of a Red Army soldier genuflecting before Mother Russia holding a folded banner, but the design was changed in 1961 to a large concrete structure at nearly double the height, a decision criticised by Soviet military officials and writers.
Reader's Guide
The Motherland Calls stands as a monumental symbol of Soviet sacrifice and victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, a decisive conflict on the Eastern Front of World War II. Upon its completion in 1967, it was the tallest statue in the world, and it remains the tallest statue in Europe if including the pedestal. The sculpture has been featured on various official Russian symbols, commemorative coins, stamps, and postcards. Despite its iconic status, the statue has faced significant structural issues, including tilting and disrepair, leading to extensive restoration efforts that concluded by 2020, though post-renovation critiques and new structural issues have since arisen. It has been listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites since 2014.
Did You Know?
- The statue was originally planned to be 30 metres (98 ft) tall and made of granite, but was changed to a concrete structure nearly double that height in 1961.
- The design was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of Nike.
- The statue's sword had to be redesigned due to problems with wind resistance, and was replaced in 1972 with a higher-grade steel alloy version.
- Valentina Izotova, a 26-year-old waitress, was chosen by Vuchetich to be the model for the sculpture.
More in Sculptures And Statues 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record