Tallinn Trip – Soviet Second World War Memorial (Maarjamäe Memorial Complex)

This is the Soviet War Memorial at the Maarjamäe Memorial Complex in Tallinn. It’s a complex site which was erected in the 1960s to commemorate Soviet sailors and soldiers who died during the Second World War, but it has been somewhat uprooted by the construction of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism next to it. This Soviet memorial is now falling apart and has been vandalised, whilst the memorial to the victims of communism is in immaculate condition, but more of that soon in another post. The memorial was designed by Allan Murdmaa and Matti Varik, originally on a theme of liberation.

Some of the graffiti on the monument.

I can’t make this out, but I asked Google AI and it says it reads “war on vandal”. That may or may not be what it actually says….

Attempts have been made to remove older graffiti.

It’s in a poor state and no real efforts are being made here to keep it well maintained.

Crumbling.

Someone has pulled down the metal fencing which is there to keep people off. This obelisk once symbolised victory and remembrance, but it’s now slowly falling into disrepair. There was once an eternal flame, but that has long since been extinguished.