Monument "Motherland" - "visiting card" of Kiev

The idea to organize a museum that would "tell" about the heroic exploit of the Ukrainian people in the Second World War was approved at a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR as early as June 12, 1942, that is, long before the end of the war. At that time the territory of Ukraine was still occupied by the Nazis, so the exposition was temporarily decided to be placed in the Lenin Museum in Moscow.

But it so happened that the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Began its work in Kiev only on May 9, 1981. Together with it, the "Motherland" monument was also opened, one of the highest monuments in the world. In Ukraine, sculptures above this have not yet been created, and hardly anyone will have such a desire and there will be an opportunity.

Almost any place on the left bank of the Dnieper in the city allows you to see "a woman with a sword." 102 meters of stainless steel and stone - the height of the monument "Motherland". For comparison, the world-famous Statue of Liberty in American New York has an "increase" of just 93 meters. The very figure of the woman of the Kiev monument, however, reaches a height of only 62 meters, but the pedestal on which the monument "Motherland" is installed is another 40 meters. Weighs 450 tons of this colossus , and the structure on which the pedestal stands has a diameter of 34 meters and a depth of 17.8 meters. It is at the base of the monument that the museum itself is located. It is estimated that every year the memorial complex is visited by about 750 thousand people from Kiev and guests of the city.

The monument "Motherland-Mother" inside has two elevators. The first - vertical - rises to the very head of the pedestal, the second moves at an angle of 75 degrees. Previously, visitors could admire the wonderful views of the city from two observation sites, one of which is located on the sword of the monument, the second - in the shield. The height of the latter is 92 meters. The lifting of excursions to observation platforms was permitted in 2002, but, unfortunately, in 2003, due to an accident, access to them was again prohibited for a long time. Only in 2010 they opened a viewing platform in the shield for visitors, which was previously equipped with a grill for safety. Today all the tourists to get there, face-control. Elderly people, pregnant women, children under 12 years on the observation deck are not allowed. The reason - part of the way you need to climb up the vertical ladder.

As mentioned above, the monument "Motherland" is part of the memorial complex, which occupies the territory of more than 10 hectares. In addition to it, the complex includes the square and the alley of hero cities, composite sculptures "Transfer of weapons" and "Forcing the Dnieper", military equipment available for public viewing, a bowl with the Eternal Flame and other sights. And near the expositions "Another's War" and "Valor of Afghanistan" every year on Victory Day, veterans gather.

As the designers say, "Motherland" is a monument that will last at least 150 years. It can withstand huge dynamic and seismic loads. And to counter the strong gusts of wind inside the 16-meter sword a pendulum weighing 9 tons is installed!

"Motherland" is a "visiting card" of Kiev, which will "tell" about the courageous feat of the Ukrainian people in the Second World War for many generations.