Photo credit: mega-u.ru
Russian diplomats have laid wreaths to the monument to Soviet soldiers-liberators in Vienna, TASS reports. The solemn ceremony dedicated to the anniversary of the liberation of the city was held on Monday, April 13.
This year the celebration was held without guests. The large-scale event was prevented by restrictive measures aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus infection.
In Austria, the day of the liberation of the capital is not a holiday. Most of the country for some time remained under the control of the Nazis, and the fighting continued. But this day can be called the beginning of the restoration of state and political institutions.
The monument to Soviet soldiers was erected in the center of Vienna back in 1945. It was created by architect Yakovlev and sculptor Intizaryan. It is dedicated to Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of the city.
About 17.000 soldiers and officers of the Red Army were killed during the Vienna offensive operation. The monument is a figure of a soldier twelve meters high with a Shpagin submachine gun on his chest and a golden helmet on his head. In one hand he holds the Victory Banner, in the other - a golden shield, which shows the emblem of the Soviet Union.
A significant part of the historical buildings of Vienna was saved thanks to the Soviet troops who conquered the city from house to house. Before the arrival of Soviet soldiers, industrial enterprises and infrastructure facilities in the suburbs of Vienna were subjected to periodic bombardment by US aircraft, which sometimes dropped bombs on the city itself.
Russkiy Mir
