Description of the attraction
In the city of Velikie Luki, in July 1960, a monument was opened: on the banks of the Lovat River, an obelisk of brown stone was erected, reaching a height of 23 m. On the obelisk, a 5-pointed star was identified, the height of which is 3 m. The total height of the monument reaches 26 m …
The monument was built of limestone, which was brought from the island of Saarema, which is located in Estonia. The monument is erected on a rampart, the height of which exceeds 20 meters above the level of the Lovat River. This is the highest point in the city.
The author of the monument is the sculptor Mark Port, a native of Estonia. According to the architect's idea, the Obelisk of Glory is a symbol of the fortress of the military brotherhood, the fact that the common Victory was accomplished through the joint efforts of soldiers and officers of different nationalities.
The pedestal is semicircular, powerful pylons are installed on it, they carry a high-flying faceted column ending in a five-pointed star. On the base of the obelisk there is an inscription in Russian and Estonian. The Obelisk of Glory is located at the site of the brotherly burial of soldiers of 26 nationalities who died during Velikie Luki. This obelisk was erected in honor of the officers and soldiers of the 3rd Shock Army of the Kalinin Front, which included the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps.
The initiator of the construction of the monument was the Ministry of the Estonian SSR. Laying flowers at the Obelisk of Glory, those present remember that the soldiers and commanders of Estonian military units, together with soldiers of other nationalities, displayed great heroism in the battles for Velikiye Luki.
In the winter of 1942-43, taking part in the liberation of the city, the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps received its first baptism of fire. Together with other troops of the Soviet Army, the Estonian corps defeated the enemy garrison and cleared Velikiye Luki from the centers of enemy resistance. The training battalion of the 249th Estonian division, commanded by Colonel H. Virit, distinguished himself in the battles for the city. The battalion held back counterattacks by enemy troops near the village of Alekseikovo on December 22-23, 1942, when the enemy tried to penetrate into Velikiye Luki. In this battle, not allowing themselves to be broken, all the cadets of the first training company of this battalion took a heroic death. The artillerymen of the Estonian Corps also fought excellently: with direct fire from short distances, they destroyed the enemy's long-term defensive structures in the city, which was a guarantee for a successful offensive of the troops. Having started their combat path here, the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps took part in the battles for the liberation of Narva, Tallinn, Tartu and the island of Saarem. Over the entire wartime, more than 25 thousand servicemen of the corps received military awards. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to five soldiers of the corps. The local history museum contains relics donated by Estonian veterans who participated in the battles for Velikiye Luki. A special place in the museum exposition is given to the military exploits of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps, its role in the liberation of the city is highlighted. According to the documents, Estonians, Russians, Jews, Swedes and representatives of other nationalities fought in the 7th and 249th Estonian divisions.
The Obelisk of Glory is the symbol of the city. The majestic white monument, towering over the river bank, symbolizes the indivisibility of peoples of different nationalities in the fight against fascism and the greatest victory in the war, which claimed many lives and covered the defenders of the Motherland with inextinguishable glory.
