View source for Mausoleum of the Soviet Soldiers Cemetery

{{Short description|War cemetery in Poland}}
{{Infobox cemetery
| name        = Mausoleum of the Soviet Soldiers Cemetery
| image       = Cmentarz Mauzoleum Zolnierzy Radzieckich Warsaw 2022 aerial.jpg
| caption     = Aerial view of cemetery main passage from the west. Soldiers' mass graves lie to the sides of the [[obelisk]].
| map_type    = Poland
| map_size    = 180
| map_caption = Location of the Soviet Military Cemetery within Poland
| established = 9 May 1950
| country     = [[Poland]]
| location    = ul. Żwirki i Wigury 51<br />[[Mokotów]], Warsaw,<br />[[Mazovian Voivodeship]]
| coordinates = {{coord|52.2025|N|20.9867|E|source:kolossus-plwiki|display=inline}}
| type        = Military
| style       = [[Socialist realism]]
| owner       =
| size        = {{Convert|19.2|hectare|acre}}
| graves      = 834; 294 individual and 540 mass graves<ref name="stolica">{{Cite web|url=https://zielona.um.warszawa.pl/tereny-zielone/parki/park-mauzoleum-cmentarz-zolnierzy-radzieckich|title=Park Mauzoleum-Cmentarz Żołnierzy Radzieckich|publisher=Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa|language=pl|access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref>
| interments  = 21,668
| website     =
}}
The '''Mausoleum of the Soviet Soldiers Cemetery''' ({{langx|pl|Cmentarz Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich}}) in [[Warsaw]], Poland, is the burial place of over 21,000 [[Red Army|Soviet soldiers]] who died fighting against [[Nazi Germany]]. It is the largest Soviet war cemetery in Poland and contains one of the first major monuments to be built in Warsaw to those who fought in the [[Second World War]].<ref name="metro">{{Cite web|url=https://metrowarszawa.gazeta.pl/metrowarszawa/7,141637,21531490,zdewastowali-najwiekszy-cmentarz-zolnierzy-radzieckich-swastyka.html|title=Zdewastowali największy cmentarz żołnierzy radzieckich. Swastyka i dwie czerwone stopy|publisher=Merto Warszawa|language=pl|date=2017-03-22|access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref> It is an example of [[Socialist realism|socialist realist]] architecture.
==Inception==
[[File:Uroczystość otwarcia Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich w Warszawie 1950.jpg|left|thumb|Ceremonial opening of the mausoleum on 9 May, 1950]]
The cemetery was built in 1949–1950, located in Warsaw's [[Mokotów]] district. It contains the ashes of 21,668 soldiers of the [[1st Belorussian Front|1st Belarusian Front]] who died either in battle or as a result of injury and/or disease sustained during battles for Warsaw against armies of the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] in 1944–1945.<ref name="mórawski">{{cite book|last=Mórawski|first=Karol|date=1991|title=Warszawskie cmentarze: przewodnik historyczny|trans-title=Varsovian cemeteries: A historical guide|language=Polish|location=Warsaw|publisher=Wydawnictwo PTTK "Kraj"|pages=162–163|isbn=8370053335}}</ref> Their ashes were [[Burial#Exhumation|exhumed]] from local cemeteries and transferred to the mausoleum in 1949. The necropolis was designed by architects [[Bohdan Lachert]] (who planned the general layout) and Władysław Niemirski (who worked on the greenery), whereas its monumental sculptures were made by [[Jerzy Jarnuszkiewicz]] and Stanisław Lisowski.<ref name="piguła">{{Cite web|url=http://warszawawpigulce.pl/mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich-tylko-wiatr-pamieta-o-poleglych/|title=Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich – tylko wiatr pamięta o poległych|publisher=Warszawa w pigułce|language=pl|date=2015-11-01|access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref>
The mausoleum was opened on the 5th [[Victory Day]] (9 May 1950), which since 2015 is celebrated in Poland on [[Victory in Europe Day|8 May]] instead of the previously used date of [[Victory Day (9 May)|9 May]].<ref name="mórawski" /> Troops from the following formations of the 1st Belarusian Front are buried here:
* [[8th Guards Combined Arms Army#World War II|8th Guards Army]]
* [[28th Army (Soviet Union)|28th]], [[47th Army|47th]], [[48th Army (Soviet Union)|48th]], [[North Western Operational Command#History|65th]], [[69th Army (Soviet Union)|69th]], [[70th Army (Soviet Union)|70th]] Armies
* [[2nd Guards Tank Army]]
* [[6th Air Army|6th]] and [[16th Air Army]]
* 46th Marksmen Corps
* 2nd and [[7th Guards Cavalry Corps|7th Cavalry Corps]]
* [[1st Guards Tank Army (Russia)#Second Formation|1st Guards Tank Army]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/5262/Soviet-War-Cemetery-Warsaw.htm|title=Soviet War Cemetery Warsaw|last1=Metz|first1=Kaj|last2=Popławski|first2=Piotr|publisher=Traces of War|access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref>
==Architecture==
[[File:Sculpture details of Soviet Military Cemetery, Warsaw.png|left|thumb|Details of sculptures]]
[[File:Sowfried22 DSC0926.JPG|thumb|View from the side]]
===Design===
The Soviet Military Cemetery was constructed in a [[Socialist realism|socialist realist]] style, which was common in countries of the [[Warsaw Pact]] at the time. This can be seen in [[Jerzy Jarnuszkiewicz|Jarnuszkiewicz]] and Lisowski's sculptures of [[Red Army]] soldiers as well as reliefs showing workers with tools and other civilians greeting victorious soldiers near the main entrance to the complex. Ashes of the soldiers were buried in 834 graves, 294 of which are individual graves while the other 540 are mass graves.<ref name="stolica" /> The central part of the cemetery is a wide avenue that leads through three terraces to a 35 metre tall granite obelisk.<ref name="mórawski" /> The obelisk inscription, changed in 2015 (see [[Mausoleum of the Soviet Soldiers Cemetery#Further developments|Further developments]] section), originally read:
:"''Ku wiecznej chwale bohaterskich żołnierzy niezwyciężonej Armii Radzieckiej, poległych w bojach z hitlerowskim najeźdźcą o wyzwolenie Polski i naszej stolicy Warszawy''." ([[Polish language|Polish]])
:"To the eternal glory of heroic soldiers of the invincible Soviet Army, fallen in battles with the Hitlerite invader for the liberation of Poland and our capital Warsaw."<ref name="piguła" />
The [[:Image:Waw-soviet-military-cemetery-dedication.jpg|cemetery dedication]] on the right side lists (in Polish) the units to which the dead belonged. The same dedication appears on the left, in [[Russian language|Russian]], along with [[:Image:Waw-soviet-military-cemetery-relief.jpg|another relief]]. The cemetery is surrounded by artistically composed greenery, the work of Władysław Niemirski, as well as a park.<ref name="stolica"/>
===Further developments===
In 2015, the obelisk inscription was changed to
:"''Pamięci żołnierzy Armii Radzieckiej poległych o wyzwolenie Polski spod okupacji niemieckiej w latach 1944–1945''." (Polish)
:"To the memory of Soviet Army soldiers fallen in liberating Poland from German occupation in the years 1944–1945."<ref name="piguła" />
In 2023, there were controversial plans to build [[tower block]]s in the green area on the edge of the complex, plans that were being opposed by the ''Miasto Jest Nasze'' association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvn24.pl/tvnwarszawa/mokotow/warszawa-na-skraju-zabytkowego-cmentarza-mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich-powstana-pieciopietrowe-bloki-st7218081|title=Na skraju cmentarza mają stanąć pięciopiętrowe bloki|date=2023-07-13|website=tvn24.pl|publisher=[[TVN Group]]|access-date=2024-10-12|language=pl}}</ref> The greenery, which constitutes an important area in the natural system of Warsaw, was finally protected in September of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvn24.pl/tvnwarszawa/najnowsze/warszawa-radni-uchwalili-plan-miejscowy-budowa-apartamentow-przy-cmentarzu-mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich-zablokowana-st7356171|title=Radni uchwalili plan miejscowy. Budowa apartamentów przy cmentarzu zablokowana, ogródki działkowe zostają|date=2023-09-22|website=tvn24.pl|publisher=[[TVN Group]]|access-date=2024-10-12|language=pl}}</ref> This move effectively blocked the construction of the planned residential estate, thus preserving the gardens and natural environment around the mausoleum.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvn24.pl/tvnwarszawa/mokotow/mokotow-nie-bedzie-blokow-na-obrzezach-cmentarza-zolnierzy-radzieckich-st7869688|title=Nie będzie bloków w parku na obrzeżach cmentarza|date=2024-04-15|website=tvn24.pl|publisher=[[TVN Group]]|access-date=2024-10-12|language=pl}}</ref>
==Activism and vandalism in the 21st century==
===Remembrance and Reconciliation initiative===
In the aftermath of the [[Smolensk air disaster]] of 2010, as part of a Polish initiative called ''9 maja. Pamięć i Pojednanie'' ("9th May. Remembrance and Reconciliation"), personalities from the world of Polish culture, politics, science, and journalism appealed "against the relativising of history" and "for reconciliation between Poland and Russia to be born in the name of the memory of all those who died tragically"; signatories of the appeal included [[Agata Bielik-Robson]], [[Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz]], [[Rafał Dutkiewicz]], [[Adam Michnik]], [[Daniel Olbrychski]], [[Wisława Szymborska]], [[Józef Życiński]], and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://histmag.org/Apel-o-nowe-otwarcie-w-stosunkach-polsko-rosyjskich-4212|title=Apel o nowe otwarcie w stosunkach polsko-rosyjskich|last=Grzesiczak|first=Łukasz|date=2010-05-05|website=histmag.org|publisher=[[Histmag]]|access-date=2024-10-12|language=pl}}</ref> The initiative urged people to light [[grave candle]]s on the graves of Red Army soldiers who had died while fighting against Nazi Germany in occupied Poland. The Varsovian mausoleum was one of the many cemeteries where this took place, with many [[Polish people|Poles]] of various ages attending to pay their respects. Flowers were left and at least one candle was lit at every grave during this event, which was one of the largest visits to the mausoleum in years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://histmag.org/Znicze-na-Cmentarzu-Mauzoleum-Zolnierzy-Radzieckich-4228|title=Znicze na Cmentarzu Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich|last=Leszkowicz|first=Tomasz|date=2010-05-09|website=histmag.org|publisher=[[Histmag]]|access-date=2024-10-12|language=pl}}</ref>
===Vandalism and protests===
Also in 2010, the cemetery was vandalised with graffiti sprayed on the base of some of the sculptures that in Polish said: "Tusk we want the truth about Smolensk"; the text addressed then Prime Minister of Poland [[Donald Tusk]], referring to [[Smolensk air disaster#Allegations of political assassination|conspiracy theories]] surrounding the [[Smolensk air disaster]] that claimed the crash was an assassination of Polish government officials by the Russian authorities and that Tusk was apparently involved in covering it up.<ref name="metro" /> In the wake of Russian aggression against [[Ukraine]] that began with the [[War in Donbas]], the mausoleum has been vandalised several times in the following years. However, official commemorations at the cemetery in 2014 proceeded without any disturbance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kzwp.waw.pl/uncategorized/9-maja-cmentarz-mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich/|title=9 maja – Cmentarz Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich|publisher=Koło nr 6 Żołnierzy 2 Armii Wojska Polskiego|language=pl|date=2014-05-12|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref>
In March 2017, the necropolis was vandalised again, this time by three unidentified people who left 15 instances of [[stencil graffiti]] around the complex; the graffiti showed a swastika on top of an [[Flag of Israel|Israeli flag]] with two red footprints on each side. The Russian Embassy as well as Poland's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Poland)|Ministry of Culture and National Heritage]] commented on the matter. Police began to guard the Soviet Military Cemetery as a result.<ref name="metro" /> In September of the same year, bases of the sculptures were yet again vandalised, this time sprayed with political slogans in Polish: "Death to traitors of the nation", "''Paszoł won''{{efn|''[[wikt:paszoł won|Paszoł won]]'' is a borrowing that is essentially a Polish phonetic spelling of the Russian phrase "пошёл вон", which means "begone" or "go away".}} from our country", and "Stalin's flunkeys". Police stated that it was likely that the perpetrators committed the acts of vandalism on the 78th anniversary of the [[Soviet invasion of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://warszawa.wyborcza.pl/warszawa/7,54420,22388559,zdewastowany-cmentarz-mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich-szukamy.html|title=Zdewastowany cmentarz Mauzoleum Żołnierzy Radzieckich. Rzecznik: "Szukamy sprawców"|publisher=[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]|language=pl|date=2017-09-18|access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref>
In 2022, leading up to that year's Varsovian [[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]] celebrations, the mausoleum was vandalised with anti-Russian slogans (including the words "Kill [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]" sprayed in the colours of the [[Flag of Ukraine|Ukrainian flag]]). This was likely in connection with the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], which had started less than three months prior, as the cemetery is attended annually by political representatives of the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] to commemorate the fallen Soviet soldiers. The graffiti was promptly removed by local authorities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polska/warszawa/warszawa-napis-zabic-putina-na-mauzoleum-zolnierzy-radzieckich/lr47q3r|title=Antyputinowskie graffiti na mauzoleum żołnierzy radzieckich w Warszawie|publisher=[[Fakt]]|language=pl|date=2022-05-09|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref> 9th May celebrations at the cemetery were also disrupted by anti-war protests in 2023 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/9503961,kosci-i-krew-przywitaly-rosyjskiego-ambasadora-na-cmentarzu-w-warszawi.html|title=Kości i krew przywitały rosyjskiego ambasadora na cmentarzu w Warszawie|publisher=[[Dziennik Gazeta Prawna]]|first=Piotr|last=Celej|language=pl|date=2024-05-09|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref>
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Soviet military cemetery in Warsaw}}
[[Category:Cemeteries in Warsaw]]
[[Category:World War II cemeteries in Poland]]
[[Category:Soviet military memorials and cemeteries in Poland]]
[[Category:Poland–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Mokotów]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:Cemeteries established in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1950]]
[[Category:Socialist realism]]
[[Category:Controversies in Poland]]