Monument to Soviet Tank Crews, War memorial in Týnec nad Sázavou, Czech Republic
This memorial displays an IS-2m heavy tank, a Soviet fighting vehicle, mounted on a stone pedestal five meters high. The tank bears the number 23 and its gun barrel points westward.
Soviet General Ivan Konev inaugurated this memorial on July 29, 1945, to honor the Red Army's role in liberating Prague from Nazi occupation. It marked the Soviet victory over Nazi forces in the region.
The original roadside location made this memorial a daily sight for commuters traveling toward Prague. For decades it served as a solemn reminder of Soviet presence in the region.
The memorial now stands at the Military Museum Lešany, where it can be viewed alongside other military vehicles and exhibition pieces. The location is well-accessible and provides context about Soviet-Czech history.
In 1991, art student David Černý painted the tank bright pink and added provocative elements, transforming it into a symbol of resistance against Soviet influence. This unconventional artistic intervention sparked debate about how societies interpret war memorials.
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