Maarjamäe memorial, Soviet memorial in Kadriorg, Estonia
Maarjamäe memorial is a Soviet monument in Tallinn featuring a 35-meter limestone obelisk flanked by dolomite walls and grass slopes. The complex sits along Pirita Road between the Lasnamäe Plateau and Tallinn Bay.
The memorial was completed in 1975 and honors soldiers who defended the Soviet Union during World War II, including crews of minesweepers Avtroil and Spartak. It emerged from the need to mark wartime events in Estonian history.
The memorial carries names linked to Soviet seafarers and displays bronze seagull sculptures that visitors touch with their hands. These contact points create a bridge across time between those remembered and those who visit today.
The grounds are open year-round and provide space for reflection at the edge of the city. Visitors can walk freely through the site and view the complex from different angles without obstacles.
The obelisk was designed by four Estonian architects who left their mark on local architecture. This collaborative effort shows how Estonian professionals found space to create and express themselves even during Soviet rule.
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