‘Star’ Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial Complex
Location: Brest, Belarus
Completed: 1971
Architects: Vladimir Karol, Viktor Volchak, Valentin Zankovich, Yuri Kazakov, Oleg Stakhovich, Georgy Sysoev (architects), Alexander Kibalnikov, Andrei Bembel and Vladimir Bobyl (sculptors)
Genre: Soviet memorial, former USSR
The defence of Brest Fortress (22-29 June 1941) was the first battle of Operation Barbarossa, the code word used by the Nazis for their all-out attack on the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War (World War II). ‘Star’ is the main entrance to the memorial complex and the five-pointed star, which is carved into a reinforced concrete block, symbolises military honour. The Soviet war song ‘Holy War’ (composed in 1941 by Alexander Aleksandrov (music) and Vasilii Lebedev-Kumach (lyrics)), along with an archive propaganda message about Nazi Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union (read by Yuri Levitan, who was the primary radio announcer in the Soviet Union during and after World War II) plays on a continual loop in the passageway. More information about Brest Fortress.
Did you know?… We also have an Instagram account and Facebook page that are dedicated to all things Architectonic. Join our community for daily photos of Brutalist architecture, Soviet memorials, abandoned buildings, classic modernism and gargantuan monuments. Just click on the links below.
Stay Posted
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our latest architecture posts as well as our latest news from the road less travelled...