Minsk Hero City Obelisk

The Minsk Hero City Obelisk is a 45-meter-tall granite structure topped with a golden star and decorated with laurel branches at its base. Its slender form rises prominently from Victory Square, anchoring the memorial complex that surrounds it.

The memorial commemorates 1,100 days of Nazi occupation that Minsk endured from 1941 to 1944 during World War II. The city received its Hero City designation in 1974, an honor that the monument was built to mark permanently.

The monument draws crowds each May 9 for remembrance ceremonies honoring those lost during the war years. Visitors and residents gather here to pay respects and reflect on the city's resilience during occupation.

The obelisk sits near several public transportation stops, making it easy to reach by bus or metro. An adjacent pedestrian walkway connects it directly to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, allowing visitors to explore both sites in one visit.

The obelisk stands above an underground network of World War II bunkers and tunnels that still remain beneath Victory Square. This hidden infrastructure tells a parallel story of survival and resistance that existed beneath the city streets.

Location: Minsk

Inception: 1985

Architects: Viktar Kramarenka, Вячеслав Евгеньевич Евсеев

Creator: Valentin Zankovič

Official opening: May 8, 1985

Height: 45 m

GPS coordinates: 53.91590,27.53810

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29