Monument to tankmen volunteers, Military monument in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
The Monument to Tankmen Volunteers stands at the intersection of Komuny and Kirova streets in Chelyabinsk, on the pedestrian stretch known as Kirovka. It shows a five-metre bronze figure of a volunteer standing by a stylized bronze tank turret, wearing a tank helmet and boots and raising an arm as if calling to battle. The figure rests on a three-metre pedestal faced with black dolomite.
The monument was unveiled in 1975 to honor the volunteers who served as tank crews during the Second World War. Chelyabinsk was one of the main centers of Soviet tank production during the war, which made this city a natural place for such a tribute.
The name of the monument refers to volunteers who signed up to serve in tank crews, which gives it a more personal tone than a typical war memorial. People often stop here quietly for a moment, and school groups come to hear about what this choice meant for those who made it.
The monument is easy to find on foot since it sits at a central crossroads in Chelyabinsk, along streets that connect to the city center. It is accessible at any time of day, and the open layout around it makes it comfortable to visit even with a group.
The bronze figure is five metres tall and stands on a three-metre pedestal of black dolomite. The stylised turret cast in bronze shows a tank-building worker wearing a tank helmet and boots, raising his arm as a call to battle. The monument marks the spot from which the 63rd Chelyabinsk Volunteer Tank Brigade left for the front on 9 May 1943.
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