Statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky in Warsaw

The Statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky was a bronze monument that stood in Warsaw beginning in 1951, depicting the founder of the Soviet secret police. The approximately 20-foot (6-meter) work was positioned at a central location where people passed by daily.

The monument was erected in 1951 when the Soviet Union held strong control over Poland. It was taken down in 1989 as communism collapsed and Poland moved toward democracy.

For decades, this monument represented Soviet control over Poland and made many residents deeply uncomfortable. Its presence embodied the connection to Soviet secret police methods that had caused suffering in the country.

The site where the statue once stood is easily accessible to visitors today and can be explored without special preparation. It helps to read about local history beforehand to better understand why this location matters to Warsaw.

Its removal in 1989 was one of the first physical acts through which Poles symbolically shook off Soviet rule. This event marked the beginning of a new era and inspired similar actions across other countries under Soviet control.