The Motherland Calls

A giant statue stands on a hill.

It is a woman called Mother Russia. She holds a sword up high. Her shawl looks like wings.

This statue honors people from a big war. It was built with concrete. It was once the tallest statue in the world. Many workers helped build it. It is a very special place to visit.

A giant statue stands on a hill in Russia.

Its name is The Motherland Calls. It honors people who died in the Battle of Stalingrad. This was a very big war. The statue shows a woman called Mother Russia. She wears a shawl that looks like wings.

This look was inspired by an old Greek statue. The goddess was named Nike. Mother Russia holds a sword high in her right hand. Her left hand reaches out to call her people.

Building the statue was not easy. The size made it very hard. Builders had to fix the ground and water pipes. They also had to fix the sword. Wind was a big problem for the sword. In 1972, they made a new sword from strong steel.

The statue was finished in 1967. At that time, it was the tallest statue in the world. It is made of concrete. People have worked hard to fix it many times. It is a very important place for history.

The Motherland Calls is a massive war memorial in Volgograd, Russia.

It stands on a hill called Mamayev Kurgan. This site was where the Battle of Stalingrad took place. That battle was a major part of World War II. The sculpture honors the many people who died there. It is a very important symbol for the people of Russia. The statue is part of a larger monument complex. This complex includes many plazas and other sculptures.

The statue shows a woman who represents Russia. People often call her "Mother Russia." She looks like she is moving through a strong wind. Her shawl flows behind her like wings.

This design was inspired by an ancient Greek statue of Nike. Nike was the goddess of victory. Mother Russia holds a sword high in her right hand. Her left hand reaches out to call her people to battle. The face of the statue was based on the wife of the designer. The body was modeled after a young woman named Valentina Izotova.

Designing the statue was a long and difficult process. Sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and architect Yakov Belopolsky worked on it. They first planned a smaller statue made of granite. This original design showed a soldier kneeling before Mother Russia. However, the plan changed in 1961. The new design was a huge concrete structure. It was nearly double the height of the first plan. This change happened because leader Nikita Khrushchev wanted a very tall statue. It was meant to be taller than the Statue of Liberty.

Building such a huge statue brought many hard jobs.

Engineer Nikolai Nikitin led the construction team. The workers faced very cold weather during the work. They also had to deal with tricky ground and water systems. The soil on the hill was a concern for the foundation. Even the sword had problems with the wind. The wind was so strong that they had to redesign it. In 1972, they replaced the sword with one made of strong steel. This helped the statue stand up to the wind better.

The statue was finished and dedicated in 1967. At that time, it was the tallest statue in the world. It is still the tallest statue in Europe if you count the base.

Because it is so big, it needs constant care. The statue has tilted over time and faced many repairs. Workers have done extensive restoration to keep it safe. Today, you can see the statue on Russian coins and stamps. It remains a powerful way to remember history. It is even a candidate to become a World Heritage Site.

The Motherland Calls is a colossal war memorial sculpture located on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia.

It is a work of neoclassicism and socialist realism, which are specific artistic styles used to create grand, heroic images. The monument commemorates the massive casualties from the Battle of Stalingrad. This battle took place between July 1942 and February 1943. It was a major conflict on the Eastern Front of World War II. The battle was a turning point in the war, but it came at a tremendous cost. Over one million Soviet casualties were estimated. The sculpture is the main part of a larger monument complex. This complex includes several plazas and other sculptural works.

The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia, often called "Mother Russia." She is shown in a dynamic pose, wearing a windswept shawl that resembles wings. This design was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess Nike.

In her right hand, she holds a sword aloft. Her left hand is extended outward in a gesture to call the Soviet people to battle. The physical features of the statue were based on real people. The body was modeled after a 26-year-old waitress named Valentina Izotova. The face is believed to have been based on the wife of the sculptor, Yevgeny Vuchetich.

Designing the monument involved many changes and debates. Initially, Vuchetich and architect Yakov Belopolsky planned a granite sculpture. That original design featured a Red Army soldier genuflecting before Mother Russia. However, the plan changed in 1961 to a massive concrete structure. This new design was nearly double the height of the first plan. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered the increase in height. He wanted the statue to be taller than the Statue of Liberty to show dominance during the Cold War. This decision increased the project's cost, which had already exceeded its budget. Some military officials and writers criticized the change, fearing it would detract from other parts of the memorial.

Construction of the statue began in 1963 under the leadership of structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin. The project faced many technical and environmental challenges. The team had to assemble a massive framework and manage intricate details. Cold weather and unforeseen geological issues caused significant delays. The hill, Mamayev Kurgan, contains mellite clays. Nikitin had to ensure the foundation was stable by keeping the soil moisture low. The team also had to relocate water systems to protect the structure. Even the sword presented a problem. It had to be redesigned because of high wind resistance.

The monument was completed and dedicated on 15 October 1967. This date marked the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Upon completion, it was the tallest statue in the world. If the pedestal is included, it is the tallest statue in Europe. The scale of the monument is truly massive. It serves as a permanent reminder of the intense conflict fought on that specific burial mound. Because of its historical importance, it has been a tentative candidate for UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list since 2014.

Maintaining such a large structure is a constant struggle. The statue has undergone many alterations and restoration attempts since its dedication. In 1972, engineers replaced the original sword with a version made of a higher-grade steel alloy. This was done specifically to reduce wind resistance. By 1986, the statue had tilted significantly from its original axis. In the early 21st century, the monument was in disrepair and faced the risk of collapsing. Extensive restoration efforts were carried out, including a major project completed by 2020. However, new structural issues and critiques have appeared following the renovations.

The Motherland Calls is more than just a piece of engineering; it is a deep cultural symbol. The image of the statue appears on many official Russian items. These include commemorative coins, stamps, and postcards. It connects the history of the Battle of Stalingrad to the modern identity of the nation. The memorial stands as a testament to the skill of the engineers and artists who overcame great obstacles. It remains a site where people go to honor the memory of those who fought and died.