Geography of the USSR. Minsk under the german occupation

[TabsTabs1964]

In front of the Government Palace stands a bronze statue 7 meters high, with the figure of Lenin. For years it was the highest in the entire USSR.
The Lenin Statue, the work of sculptor Matvey Manizer, was placed in the center of the Independence Square in 1934.
In 1941 it was demolished by the German occupants, awake and moved to Germany. After the war, a reproduction of the original statue was placed in its place.
While in most post-Soviet countries, Lenin's monuments have been progressively removed, in Minsk it remains presiding over the building of the Government of Belarus. There it continues until today.



Still stands
Not like in many other places



Kharkov (Ukraine) September 2014. (In the background the Gosprom Building)..... But that will be a new geography lesson of the USSR

[TabsTabs1964]

Before de war. Minsk 1939: T-38 in a military parade. (original statue)



After the war. Minsk 1947: IS-2 in a military parade. (statue reproduction)

I hope you enjoy.
Best regards.
Santi

[Anderson]

The Lenin statue was removed to Germany you say. Is much else known of it's fate? I presume cut up and the bronze recycled.

[TabsTabs1964]

As far as I Know, cuted in sections and recycled the metal, as you say.

[HoundsTooth]

Great photos. Thanks for posting.
Nick

[TabsTabs1964]

To complete the post #7 I found in the Bundesarchiv collections, these two images of the visit to Minsk in 1943 by the infamous Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski.
In one he is reviewing the troops formed; and in the other, delivering a speech. Both images in front of the "Leninhaus". We can appreciate part of the facade and the entrance portal to the building, respectively.

[Woolgar]

Excellent! Thank you for this fascinating insight

Nick

[Boycie]

Thanks for sharing these pictures.

I live in Minsk and can report that whatever happened to the original Lenin Statue, he's very much back in the original spot.

[Boycie]

I thought this worth adding to a thread on wartime Minsk.

I drive past this giant concrete cone most days...



I recently found out that rather than being socialist realist art, it was once in fact a German Gun Bunker covering a major route into the city.



I suppose it was designed this way to stop gravity holding a shaped charge to the roof (as well as deflection properties maybe).

It turns out there are a few ex-German bunkers around the city but you have to look quite hard to find them as some were incorporated into the foundations of new buildings.

[thecyclist64]

As ever, your historical threads are a joy to read and your photographic collection seems to be second to none.