While I was talking about the cruise on the m/v "Alexander Suvorov", I very often thought about my collection of monuments to Lenin. And now I decided to show this “mysterious” collection of mine. I won’t lie, the idea to put together such a collection appeared quite a long time ago, back when I was studying at the river technical school. During my internship, I then noticed that in any Volga city, in order to find a wine and vodka point or drinking establishment, it is enough to find a monument to Lenin and go in the direction that it shows and sooner or later what you are looking for will be found. But you won’t take me for a complete alcoholic, these are just observations.
I would like to start with this monument Lenin at the Bolshaya Volga pier on the Moscow Canal.
The monument to Lenin, standing at the entrance to lock No. 1 of the Moscow-Volga canal, is the second tallest monument to Lenin, and possibly to a person who has ever lived. The “champion” monument is located in Volgograd (the height of the pedestal is 30 meters, the height of the sculpture is 27 meters) and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest monument to a real person. The Dubna monument is not much smaller: height - 25 m (including the pedestal - 37 m), weight - 540 tons. When you stand next to him, you feel all these meters and tons well
The monument greets ships entering the last lock of the Moscow-Volga Canal, after which they will finally exit into the Volga. Usually ships pass this place early in the morning, when passengers are still sleeping. The monument is the same age as the canal, was built in 1937, sculptor Merkurov.
At first there were two monuments: opposite Lenin stood Stalin of the same size. In 1961, they decided to dismantle Stalin, but the drawings necessary for dismantling could not be found. Then it was simply blown up. As a result of an explosion in the tunnel that runs under the Canal. Moscow and is the main road connecting the right-bank and left-bank parts of Dubna, a crack has appeared, and the dam of the Ivankovskaya hydroelectric power station, according to unconfirmed observations of residents, is quite warped. Now all that remains of Stalin is a pedestal, from the steps of which teenagers bathe. Some of the debris fell into the water, so people still have legends about the leader’s head resting at the bottom.
Near the Lenin monument there is a nice park and beautiful views of the Moscow Sea. This place, although located within the city, is remote from residential areas, so it is usually not crowded. Nevertheless, it is worth a visit.
Further, I cannot help but note monument to Lenin in Rybinsk
Monument to V.I. Lenin. The monument to the leader of the world proletariat was unveiled on November 6, 1959. Sculptor Khas Bulat Nukhbekovich Askar Sarydzha. The monument is different from all others famous images Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin). One of the few where the leader is in winter clothes. The bronze sculpture is installed on a red granite pedestal in the form of a truncated pyramid. The pedestal was made for another sculpture - a monument to Alexander II, in 1918 it was replaced by a monument to labor with the image of a hammer and sickle, then a plaster bust of Lenin (1923), and then in 1934 a sculpture of Lenin was installed in full height with his right hand raised as if pointing in the right direction.
People also call him “Lenin in Winter”
And now another monument with a twist. Monument to Lenin in Kostroma
The monument to Lenin is located in the city park. Lenin. The huge figure of the leader towers over the low buildings of the city and can be compared in height with nearby churches. A peculiar clash of eras can be seen not only in the height of the “cult” buildings. Interesting fact is also the fact that in 1927 Lenin was placed on a pedestal prepared back in 1913 for a monument dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, but the construction of which, of course, was stopped with the beginning of the revolution. Sketches of the unbuilt monument have been preserved; from them one can judge its size and beauty. The monument to the “leader of the world proletariat” in Kostroma is one of the first monuments in the country. But for most subsequent similar monuments, this one is significant - primarily for its size. The leader’s disproportionately large hand is especially prominent, pointing to the “bright future” of the country.
Of course, it is best to look at this “miracle” from the Volga, or rather from the side of the ship, and then you will be able to see in what unnatural pose it stands. For myself, I dubbed him “Lenin with radiculitis” or “Lenin with lumbago” - whoever you like better.
Well, since we ended up in Kostroma, we should also get into the outskirts of Kostroma. To begin with, the monument to Lenin in Sudislavl, Kostroma region
Sudislavl is a town, the regional center of the Kostroma region. Population 5 thousand people. (2010). Known since 1360. Was a city until 1925
Sudislavl is one of the “mushroom capitals” of Russia; before the revolution, the city flourished in the mushroom trade.
This is almost a typical Ilyich, but... look where he points with his hand? And he points to the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord
I still wonder how such a monument could be erected in the country of the Soviets, where the church was separated from the state. And here is direct anti-Sovietism - Lenin points to God’s temple.
Monument to Lenin in Puchezh, Ivanovo region
Here Lenin was offended by his native Soviet power and turned his back to it.
Monument to Lenin in the village of Pesochnoye, Yaroslavl region.
The most ordinary typical monument, but read the sign behind him: “You are welcome! Welcome to visit,” and Ilyich points in the opposite direction, saying, “Scratch where you came from.”
Monument to Lenin in Orel (I apologize for the quality, I had to shoot almost while running)
Orel is one of the first cities where a monument to Vladimir Ilyich was erected during his lifetime. The opening of the first monument took place on November 7, 1920. at the entrance to the city boulevard (now V.I. Lenin Square). All pre-war monuments were destroyed. February 22, 1949 On the square in front of the building of the regional drama theater (now the "Free Space" theater), the opening of a new monumental monument to V.I. Lenin took place. Author of the project famous sculptor N.V. Tomsky was present at his grand opening. In 1961, the monument was moved to the newly created central square, named after V.I. Lenin. The pedestal made of gray granite with a bronze bas-relief was designed by architect N.L. Golubovsky.
Monument to V.I. Lenin on Sovetskaya Square in Vyazma, erected in 1981.
And of course, replenishment of the collection of monuments to Lenin from the last cruise
He looks towards the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery.
But one hand is behind his back and it seems that he is scratching in one place and even leaning forward
Please note that this monument seems to consist of four parts: the bust, the body to the waist, the legs to the knees and the legs below the knees. It was not possible to find out why this happened.
Our excursion began from the Lenin monument on Theater Square. My collection is growing. I have never seen Lenin with such a gesture anywhere. "And now Hunchback! I said Hunchback"
I was able to photograph this Lenin not far from the building of the Volgograd City Administration
And of course, the highlight of Lenin Square is Lenin himself (the collection has been replenished with one more)
Well, in general, looking at this Ilyich, I immediately remember an old joke about a Ukrainian wife and an Uzbek husband
“- And if I have my hands on my hips, then I don’t care what eye you have the skull cap on.”
The monument to V.I. Lenin was installed on the square named after V.I. Lenin. Opening date: November 6, 1958. According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR dated May 11, 1957 No. 309. Authors of the monument: sculptor - Azgur Zair Isaakovich, architect - Ananyev Vasily Mikhailovich
Basic Description
The height of the sculpture is 5.6 m, the height of the pedestal is 6.2 m. The sculpture is made of bronze, cast according to a stucco model. Pedestal and stele (1.9 x 3.4) made of polished gray-pink granite, from the Karelian Isthmus, with a lead gasket. Details of the monument: a wreath and bronze letters. The first information about the establishment of a monument to V.I. Lenin dates back to 1941. The following information appeared in the Kommunist newspaper on March 27, 1941: “A message was received from the Department of Arts under the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR that, according to the union plan, it is planned to open a monument to V.I. .Lenin. The district arts department was asked to nominate a sculptor and copy the site plan for this building. Project work should be completed in 1941. Construction of the monument is proposed to begin in 1942."
One of the most satisfying attractions of Astrakhan is, no matter how trite it may seem, the monument to Lenin. Unlike
Most of the monuments to Lenin, local Vladimir Ilyich stands in a position atypical for himself - slightly hunched over and with his hand in his pocket. Let me remind you that in most cities Lenin stands with his hand outstretched and points to some administration building. Old-timers of the city explain this atypical setting by the fact that a few houses in front of Lenin there is a pre-trial detention center (in
people - " White Swan") and the outstretched hand, usually pointing the way to a bright tomorrow, thus unambiguously hinted that “you will all be there.” They say that the outstretched hand took place at first, but then someone whispered something, and the monument was covered with scaffolding , and when they were removed, the hand was already in the pocket. So this is not so, or not at all - it has not yet been possible to find out for sure.
Typical monument to Lenin in Gorodets (Nizhny Novgorod region)
Another Lenin from Volgograd. Monument on the square of the same name
In the background you can see the Bayonet monument near the panorama building Battle of Stalingrad, as well as a semicircular colonnade on the back side of Pavlov’s house.
Well, I managed to get to the Muzeon park. Here are a few Ilyichs from there. Although, to be fair, besides Vladimir Ilyich, there was also Leonid Ilyich. But the latter is not the subject of my collection.
So, in one small area, as many as three Lenins gathered: one young and two older.
Let's start young
Then there will be an older Ilyich. And even in more or less good shape
And this Ilyich was clearly sculpted from Veronika Mavrikievna
And finally, a bust of Lenin. I would call it “Lenin in a burka”, or “Greetings from the Caucasus”
Monument to Lenin in Samara on Revolution Square
Outstanding Soviet sculptor folk artist USSR, laureate of USSR State Prizes, vice-president of the USSR Academy of Arts M.G. Manizer (1891-1966) - author of numerous monuments in the country and in the Volga region. There are his creations in Kuibyshev (Samara).
The son of the artist, Matvey Genrikhovich graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics of St. Petersburg University and the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. He warmly welcomed the Great October Socialist Revolution and was one of the first to respond to V.I. Lenin’s call to create a new monumental revolutionary propaganda in the country. The sculptor devoted, in essence, his entire life to the implementation of this idea.
Back in the early 20s. Manizer planned to create in bronze the image of the great leader of the proletariat. He began this intense work while living in Leningrad. Then a project for a monument to Vladimir Ilyich at the Finlyandsky Station appeared, and then statues of Lenin were made, which were installed in Pushkin, Samara, Kirovograd, Khabarovsk.
The news about the monument to V.I. Lenin commissioned by the sculptor Manizer was greeted by Samara residents with great joy. They collected funds for the manufacture of the monument, enthusiastically welcomed Manizer, who came to the city to inspect and finish the pedestal, to install the monument.
The opening of the monument took place on November 7, 1927, on the day of the 10th anniversary of the Great October Revolution socialist revolution. To the square that witnessed revolutionary events, rallies, political demonstrations and demonstrations, thousands of people came. Bands and loudspeakers thundered, flags fluttered. After the parade of troops of the Samara garrison, the gates of the park opened. Signal flares flew into the sky. The buglers sounded. And then a white blanket fell from the monument. A bronze figure of V.I. Lenin on a high pedestal opened up to the eyes of those gathered... A rally took place at the monument. It was also attended by those who saw and knew Vladimir Ilyich in Samara, who met him in subsequent years. This was the first Soviet monument in Samara, a monument to the leader, and its opening was celebrated with special solemnity.
The figure of V.I. Lenin is installed on a pedestal made of polished pink Finnish granite. The sculpture depicts Vladimir Ilyich Soviet years, he is in a suit and cap, in one of his typical poses. A vest is visible from under an unbuttoned jacket; Lenin holds onto the side of the jacket with his left hand, right hand in your trouser pocket. The sculptor was happy when from the lips of Lenin’s sister A.I. Ulyanova-Elizarova he heard the words: “I personally like this monument. It is very similar and worthy of the memory of Ilyich.”
The monument stands where Lenin often visited, near the building of the former Samara District Court, where he worked as an assistant attorney while living in Samara. Not far from the monument there are several Lenin places marked with memorial plaques. The monument is surrounded by a cozy shady park. At its foot there is a flower garden. At night, the sculpture on the pedestal is illuminated by spotlights.
The monument to V.I. Lenin by the sculptor M.G. Manizer was declared a monument of republican significance by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR dated August 30, 1960 and taken under state protection.
Monument to Lenin in Elabuga on Kazanskaya Street
On November 7, 1925, a monument to V.I. Lenin was opened in Yelabuga. On a stone base, lined with multi-colored slabs in the shape of a star, a high rubble stone was installed, on top of which there was a bust of the leader. Sculptor S.D. Merkurov.
Monument to Lenin in Elabuga on Khlebnaya Square
As the guide told us, this monument to Lenin has its own history. The fact is that he was supposed to go to Cuba as a gift, it seems, for the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s birth. But the Cubans refused this gift. The reason for the refusal is that the monument is too small compared to the love and gratitude of the Cuban people to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. Later (in 1980), this monument ended up in Elabuga on the square named after Lenin himself, which in 2011 again acquired its historical name - Khlebnaya. The author of the monument is sculptor A.P. Kibalnikov.
And now in addition to the story sphynx I want to show you about the first monument to Lenin in Odessa one of the last monuments to Lenin in the USSR. Installed in the city of Poshekhonye, Yaroslavl region
This sculpture of Vladimir Ilyich is one of the last in the Soviet Union. It took a lot of effort for local authorities to defend its installation in the late 80s. When such monumental manifestations of respect for the leader of the world proletariat were no longer relevant.
The story of the appearance of the Lenin monument in Poshekhonye is similar to a legend. It all started in the late 80s. The previous plaster Vladimir Ilyich, installed in 1938, began to literally fall apart before our eyes. According to rumors, one quiet night they removed him from the pedestal and buried him. It’s just that this is a place that no one wants to report, even under torture. And then the local authorities turned to Moscow to the Ministry of Culture. But it turned out to be impossible for the Poshekhonites to reach the capital’s officials. Chance helped. In August 1985, Valentina Tereshkova visited Poshekhonye. At that time, the Yaroslavl Chaika headed the Committee Soviet women under the government of the country. Antonina Mochalova, who was then the secretary of the Poshekhonsky branch of the Communist Party, decided to turn to her with a request. She told the distinguished guest about the problem. Valentina Vladimirovna was inspired and invited Antonina Petrovna to Moscow. There the issue was resolved at the level of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers. As a result, Lenin appeared in Poshekhonye not from plaster or cast iron, but from pink granite. But then came the dashing 90s. The local Municipal Unitary Enterprise for Housing and Communal Services was declared bankrupt and so that it could somehow pay off its debts, it was decided to put up for auction this monument to Lenin, the Walk of Fame and two bridges. The monument to Lenin was valued at 400 thousand rubles and even a buyer was found for it. But under pressure from the public, the auction did not take place. And now this monument stands in the very center of the city next to the Trinity Cathedral
And another Lenin. This time from Uglich.
It stands in a small park on Rybinskoye Highway next to the Chaika watch museum and, I suspect, next to the factory entrance. I filmed it in the dark, so forgive me for the quality and angles. Ilyich here is the most ordinary - typical, but he has his own charm
Ilyich from Yoshkar-Ola.
In the center of Yoshkar-Ola in front of Marisky national theater drama named after M. Shketan there is a monument to V.I. Lenin. The pedestal of the monument is made of granite. On the pedestal is a bronze figure of the leader of the world proletariat. The height of the monument with pedestal is 11 meters. Ilyich's gaze is directed into the distance, his figure, frozen in confident movement, is full of spiritualizing power and human simplicity.
With the name V.I. Lenin is associated with the emergence state form existence Mari people. On November 4, 1920, V.I. Lenin and M.I. Kalinin signed a decree “On the formation of an autonomous region of the Mari people,” and by a decree of November 25, the city of Krasnokokshaysk was declared the administrative center of the Mari Autonomous Region.
The opening of the monument to V.I. Lenin in Yoshkar-Ola took place on November 6, 1966. In honor of the significant event, a crowded meeting of Yoshkar-Ola workers and representatives of the regions of the republic took place on the Central Square of the city. In connection with the opening of the monument to the leader, Central Square began to be called V.I. Lenin Square, and Institutskaya Street was renamed Leninsky Prospekt.>
The creators of the monument - sculptor M.G. Manizer, architect I.E. Rozhin and the team of the Leningrad plant "Monumentsculpture" - were awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Presidium Supreme Council Mari ASSR.
And in the Central Park of Culture and Leisure of Yoshkar-Ola there is this Lenin
It so happened that it snowed in the city almost all week, and therefore I got Ilyich with a “fur collar”. Previously, it stood on the central alley, but after it appeared in the city sculptural composition“Tree of Life” Lenin moved a little to the side and settled down in a small square, as always showing the way to a bright future. But this is a bright future - Eternal flame at the memorial dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War.
And I photographed this Lenin during a recent business trip to Nizhny Novgorod. Is he worth it? at the central entrance of the Bor Glass Factory
Just yesterday (May 31) I had the opportunity to visit the village of Sokolskoye, Nizhny Novgorod region. In the central square of the city, on the banks of the Gorky Reservoir, this monument to Lenin was erected
Lenin from Kaliningrad
In 1958, on one of the central squares - Victory Square. The author of this monument is the sculptor V.B. Topuridze. In 2004, reconstruction of the square began. Behind Ilyich a new one was supposed to grow Orthodox church and such proximity seemed inappropriate to the authorities. The monument was dismantled and sent to one of the private workshops for more than two years. At this time, the mayors were looking for a new location for the monument. And so in the spring of 2007, right on April 22 (Lenin’s birthday), the monument took its new place near the city House of Arts. Let's take a look at it
Lenin in Baltiysk (Kaliningrad region)
At the very beginning of Lenin Avenue, near the administration building of the Baltic City District, on a granite pedestal there is a monument to the founder and first leader of the Soviet state, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924). Its authors, Ukrainian sculptors, whose names are unfortunately unknown, managed to convey not only historical image political figure, formed from books, films, memoirs of contemporaries, but also psychological condition a person speaking before the people. The figure of the leader of the world proletariat is directed forward, his right hand raised to chest level - an expressive gesture of an orator.
The bronze figure of Ilyich was supposed to replace the small plaster bust that stood in the park of the garrison Officers' House. After the initiative of local authorities to install the monument was approved in Moscow, the search began for a suitable monument, which was soon discovered in the art fund of the city of Kyiv. Ordered for one of the districts of Leningrad, for some reason it was not in demand there.
The finished plaster mold was cast in metal at the Mytishchi Art Casting Plant (Moscow Region), whose specialists, with the participation of workers from the Baltic ship repair plant and garrison military personnel, installed the monument on the pedestal.
The architectural design of the monument was carried out by one of the first Kaliningrad architects - Arseny Vladimirovich Maksimov.
Opening of the monument to V.I. Lenin took place on April 22, 1961, the leader’s birthday. In May of the same year, Gvardeisky Avenue, at the beginning of which the monument was erected, was renamed Lenin Avenue.
Monument to Lenin in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
The monument to Vladimir Lenin appeared in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 42 years ago on November 6, 1970. The monument to the leader, designed by the famous sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, still remains one of the largest in the country.
The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Lenin in accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR "On the plan for the construction of monuments of national significance in 1967-1970."
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was lucky - the most eminent sculptor of the country of that time - Hero - took on the project Socialist Labor, People's Artist of the USSR, full member of the USSR Academy of Arts, laureate of Lenin and State Prize USSR, sculptor Evgeniy Vuchetich. He was the author of such famous compositions such as the Monument to the Soldier-Liberator in Treptower Park in Berlin and the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd.
Nine-meter sculpture of V.I. Lenin is made in bronze and installed on a square monolithic reinforced concrete pedestal, lined with red granite blocks.
The monument was included in the unified State Register objects of historical cultural heritage and is under state protection.
Lenin on Kunashir Island (Yuzhno-Kurilsk village)
According to tradition, the bust of the leader of the world proletariat is installed in front of the local administration building
I couldn’t find any information about it on the Internet, but this little bust itself made a pretty big impression on me. strong impression. He's not at all like good grandfather Lenin, rather like his “strict” follower I.V. Stalin
Try to mentally remove the beard from his face, and instead of the high forehead, imagine the hairstyle of Joseph Vissarionovich. That's the same thing.
Lenin in Irkutsk
Made according to the design of the sculptor N.V. Tomsky and architect L.G. Golubovsky in 1952. The bronze sculpture was cast at the figure casting plant at mint in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). The author made the original monument in 1940 for Voronezh, and the author’s copy - for Leningrad, Vilnius and Irkutsk.
I would especially like to note that, unlike most other monuments, this one is not a cultural heritage site. It was excluded from the lists of monuments of federal significance by decree of the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin back in 1997. However, that decree had one caveat: the monument could be given the status of a cultural heritage site of local significance. But the local administration is in no hurry to assign him this status. In this regard, in 2015, the initiative group came up with a proposal to demolish the monument and restore the church building in its place (which was there).
But let's digress for a second and see where Lenin is pointing?
Now he points to one of the university buildings. But previously this building housed a bank. Everyone will draw their own conclusions :)
Karelian Lenin
How can one do without a monument to Lenin in Petrozavodsk, the restoration of which was one of the points of signing the act of surrender of Finland and concluding a peace treaty with the USSR
The monument to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin is located in the center of Lenin Square. On July 18, 1930, the Kar trade union council decided to build a monument and raise funds for its construction. The project was commissioned from the famous Soviet sculptor Matvey Genrikhovich Manizer, the pedestal was completed by the architect Lev Aleksandrovich Ilyin. The monument is made of 14 blocks of gray granite mined by Gulag prisoners on Goltsy Island in Lake Onega. Its total weight exceeds 140 tons, the height of the Lenin figure without a pedestal is 6.5 meters, and with a pedestal - 11 meters. It is the largest monument on the territory of the Republic of Karelia.
During the Finnish occupation of Petrozavodsk (1941-1944), the figure of Lenin was dismantled and severely damaged, and a cannon was installed on the vacant pedestal. After the liberation of the city, the monument was restored with the participation of Matvey Manizer. On November 16, 1945, the monument was reopened. In 1957, another renovation of the monument was carried out.
Udmurt Lenin
Not long ago, I was lucky enough to visit the city of Sarapul. This is a small provincial town in which, as it turns out, there are quite a lot of monuments to the leader. I will show only one - on Red Square in the park in front of the local Administration building
Agree, it is somewhat reminiscent of Irkutsk. It’s just the face... either it’s just me, or there’s something national about it.
That's all for now. The collection, although not large, is constantly updated. The only condition of my collection is that only monuments photographed by myself are placed in it. For this very reason, the monument to Lenin in Kineshma, pointing to the local police station, and also, of course, the largest monument to Lenin at the entrance to the Volga-Don Canal, were not included here.
Countries around the world periodically compete to build the tallest architectural objects. The winners are included in the Guinness Book of Records. The height limit was 25 meters. There is a list of the tallest statues in the world. This list includes the most big monument Lenin in the world.
Above 25 meters
This list includes 58 objects, or rather statues, whose height is equal to or exceeds 25 meters. All statues are built to full height, and their height is calculated without a pedestal.
The world's tallest statue depicts It is located in Henan Province of the People's Republic of China. Its height is 128 meters without the pedestal. The monument was built in 2002. The idea to build such a statue appeared after the Taliban explosion in Afghanistan. China condemned such barbaric and systematic destruction of the Buddha's heritage.
It is noteworthy that the top three world monuments consist of Buddha statues. The second tallest (115.82 meters) Buddha statue is located in Myanmar (built in 2008), and the third, one hundred meters high, is in Japan, in the city of Ushiku, 50 kilometers from Tokyo. It was built in 1995.
The largest monument to Lenin in the world ranks 53rd on this list.
Russian statues
The Russian monument “The Motherland Calls!” is one of the ten tallest statues in the world. This 85-meter monument is dedicated to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad and was built on Mamayev Kurgan in Russian city Volgograd. This allegorical image A homeland that calls its sons to battle with enemies. It was built in 1967.
By the way, the New York statue is significantly inferior to the Russian statue. Its height is 46 meters. But the Ukrainian “Motherland”, standing on the high bank of the Dnieper in Kyiv, reaches 62 meters.
Among the largest Russian statues are the 35.5-meter "Alyosha" (memorial complex in Murmansk), as well as the largest monument to Lenin in the world - 27-meter - in Volgograd, - and "Soldier and Sailor" (monument to the defenders of Sevastopol, 27 meters).
Finally, the list of the world's tallest statues concludes with two 25-meter tall Russian monuments- “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” and another monument to V.I. Lenin in Dubna.
Where is the largest monument to Lenin
It would seem that the largest monument is located somewhere in Moscow or St. Petersburg. But still, the largest monument to Lenin in the world is located in Volgograd. It is not just tall, it is truly gigantic: together with the pedestal it is 57 meters in height, and the sculpture of the leader itself is 27 meters. Finding it is not difficult: the building is located right on the banks of the Volga in the Krasnoarmeysky district.
It is interesting that previously, in the place of the giant Lenin, there stood another political leader of the Soviet Union - Joseph Stalin. This monument was erected in 1952, in honor of the opening of the Volga-Don Canal, during Stalin's rule. The authorship belonged to a famous Soviet who also developed the Mamayev Kurgan project. Stone Stalin was much shorter than Lenin - only 24 meters. However, its uniqueness lay in the fact that the rarest native copper was used to create it. However, the monument stood for only nine years (until the fall of the Stalinist regime), and then was destroyed overnight. All that remained was an empty pedestal, which was popularly called the “stump.”
And in 1973, the largest monument to Lenin in the world was erected on this very spot (photo above). By the way, the famous Vuchetich took up the project again. Initially they planned to make only a bust of the leader. But then this idea was discarded, and Volgograd had its own “whole” Lenin. To create the monument, monolithic concrete was used, and the pedestal was covered with tiles. By the way, Volgograd Lenin weighs nine thousand tons! It is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records, because the largest monument to Lenin is the largest monument ever created in honor of a real person.
Second by size
The second largest monument to Lenin is located in the science city of Dubna. It was created by the sculptor S. M. Merkurov, who, by the way, is the author of another the highest monuments Lenin in the world. It was built in Yerevan, its height is 19.5 meters.
The monument in Dubna was built in 1937 and installed on the banks of the Volga, where the Moscow-Volga canal begins. It's made from natural stone. The height of this giant is 25 meters, and together with the pedestal - 37 meters. It weighs 540 tons.
Old-timers of Dubna still remember when on the opposite bank of the river there was a second, equally large monument to another leader - Stalin.
However, in 1961 it was removed, or rather blown up, since it was not possible to dismantle it due to the lack of drawings.
Act of vandalism
In September of this year, radical participants in a rally called “For the Unity of Ukraine” destroyed the largest monument to Lenin in the world (in Kharkov). The vandals had to tinker for a long time. First, they sawed off the statue’s legs, and only then, using cables, pulled it off the huge pedestal. At the same time, representatives law enforcement They silently watched the situation from the sidelines and did not even intervene.
It is still not clear what the stone Lenin did to the protesters, but a year earlier attempts were made to demolish it. The authorities promised to punish the perpetrators, but so far nothing has been done. They did not restore the monument, but decided to dismantle it completely, along with the pedestal.
Monuments to Lenin in different countries
The Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper cited data that in Russia in 2003 there were about 1,800 monuments to Lenin, as well as a large number of busts. It is clear that all the former ones also had monuments to the leader of the proletariat. Although after the collapse of the USSR some of them were demolished.
Surprisingly, the monument to V.I. Lenin was erected in many foreign countries. According to some sources, there were 23 such countries. And even in Antarctica there is a monument to Lenin, it was built on the site of an Antarctic station called the “Pole of Inaccessibility”.
There are monuments to Lenin in Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, India, Mongolia and other countries of the world. But the largest monument to Lenin in the world rightfully belongs to Russia. Because the figure of the revolutionary leader played big role in the historical past of a huge country.
This monument, depicting Lenin in full height, also distinguished itself in the artistic aspect, is unique and does not resemble the typical monuments that can be found in other cities.
On the memorial plaque installed next to the monument it says: “The world's first monument to V.I. Lenin. Opened on January 22, 1924", on back side— “The author of the monument is Glukhovka worker F.P. Kuznetsov.”
On the pedestal of the monument there is an inscription: “More trust in the forces of the working class. We must ensure that every woman worker can run the state.”
The monument is located on the territory of the Glukhovskaya manufactory, access to it is open from 11.00 to 15.00. A more precise location can be found in the article "The world's first monument to Lenin."
In Noginsk, near Moscow, there is the world's first monument to Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin).
Conceived as a lifetime gift to the leader from the urban proletariat, by a fateful coincidence it became the first monument - it was unveiled on January 22, 1924, the day after Lenin's death.
It so happened that the world’s first sculptural Lenin is not in Ulyanovsk, not in St. Petersburg or Moscow, but in Noginsk, where the real Lenin never visited in his life. And of all the residents of the city - at that time Bogorodsk - few saw him.
In 1920, when the famous textile production founded in Bogorodsk by the Morozovs began to collapse, and the workers began to starve, it was decided to write to Lenin. Glukhovtsy (the manufactory is located in the former village of Glukhovka - it became part of the city, but they still say “on Glukhovka", meaning a certain area) asked to equate their rations to Moscow. There were good reasons for this: by that time, the manufactory had an unprecedented number of workers - 12 thousand. Glukhovka could only be compared with the Nikolskaya manufactory in Orekhovo-Zuevo, but after the famous Morozov strike there was a special attitude towards it.
The request of the Glukhov workers was granted. “The supply of raw materials has begun, the supply of electricity has resumed, the supply of food has really become equal to that in Moscow,” says Tatyana Avinnikova, an employee of the Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center. - It was decided to build a tram line to transport workers.
And in 1922, the workers of Glukhovka turned to the government to name the plant after Lenin.
And in 1923, a story happened that was included in all the biographies of Lenin. On November 2, a delegation set off from Bogorodsk to Gorki - four workers from the Glukhovskaya manufactory and two, so to speak, from the management. They brought with them cherry seedlings - “a real proletarian gift, expressed in several copies of “Spanish cherries” grown in the factory’s greenhouses by the calloused hands of workers,” as the accompanying note stated.
On November 2, 1923, Glukhov workers visited Vladimir Ilyich in Gorki. The delegation brought V. I. Lenin cherry seedlings as a gift, as well as a letter from Glukhov textile workers. It contained the following lines: “Comrade. Lenin, the great leader of the working world, teacher and comrade. You, whose name, like a banner, like a guiding star, is lovingly kept in the heart of not only every member of the RCP (b), not only every member of the RKSM, but also every worker and peasant. We need you... in days of labor, in days of sorrow, in days of joy...”
When the Glukhovites returned home, they, of course, held a meeting about this at the manufactory.
It was then that it was decided to create a sculpture of Lenin.
The author chosen was Fyodor Kuznetsov, a painter and decorator at the factory club. Now this “factory club” sounds frivolous, but at that time the Glukhov cultural and educational institution even included its own Theatre of Drama And art school. Kuznetsov worked at this school almost all his life, although art education he didn’t have one - the author of the first monument to Lenin was self-taught.
Even more surprising is the fact that, unlike Matvey Kharlamov, the author of the first St. Petersburg monument to Lenin, who saw Ilyich twice, Fyodor Kuznetsov knew about him only by hearsay. “Kuznetsov really never saw Lenin,” says Tatyana Avinnikova. - Kuznetsov was part of the delegation that went to Gorki, but he has the same last name.
At that time, as you understand, photographs were scarce, so Fyodor Kuznetsov created sculptures mainly based on stories - just as an identikit is now made.
By the way, he later made a sculpture of the famous sailor Zheleznyak, but he probably knew Anatoly Zheleznyakov, who worked at our manufactory, personally.
The opening was scheduled for the 22nd anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
In the morning, despite the 30-degree frost, people gathered for a rally, not yet knowing that Lenin had died the night before.
Coordinates: N48 31.65 E44 33.534.
Countries around the world constantly compete to build the tallest and largest architectural projects. However, the title of one of the tallest monuments in the world, be that as it may, was given to one of the buildings in the city of Volgograd: it is here that the largest monument to Lenin in the world is located. This stone giant is located in the Krasnoarmeysky district, on the Volga embankment. The height of the monument together with the pedestal is 57 meters, and the Lenin sculpture is 27 meters.
It is worth noting that the pedestal is much older than the figure of the leader. Earlier, standing in Lenin’s place, a completely different person looked into the distance of the Volga political figure– J.V. Stalin. The monument to Stalin was opened simultaneously with the completion of the construction of the Volga-Don Canal, in 1952. The monument to Stalin was erected next to the Volga-Don Canal, which connects the two deep rivers Volga and Don, for a very logical reason: the canal was created precisely during the period of Stalin’s rule. The author of the sculpture of the second leader of the Soviet Union was the sculptor Vuchetich, one of famous projects which was the construction of Mamayev Kurgan. The height of the monument to Stalin, in contrast to the sculpture of Lenin, was slightly lower - only 24 meters. The uniqueness of this architectural structure was also that the monument to Stalin was cast from the rarest native copper.
The sculpture of Stalin stood for only nine years, and after the fall of the Stalin regime and the renaming of Stalingrad to Volgograd, it was demolished overnight. After the monument to Stalin was demolished, the pedestal was still long years remained empty. Meanwhile, the Krasnoarmeysky district of Volgograd was growing, new high-rise buildings were being built, and the pedestal against their background was increasingly associated with a stump: since then, “stumps” has been the unspoken name for this area of the city.
In 1973, a new object “grew” on the pedestal - a monument to Lenin (Volgograd). Vuchetich was again appointed the author of this project. Initially, it was planned to install only a bust of Lenin, but this idea was soon thrown aside. The largest monument to Lenin is made of monolithic reinforced concrete, and the pedestal is lined with tiles. The total weight of the sculpture reaches 9000 tons!
It is very problematic to see the monument to Lenin in Volgograd from land: you can get a more complete look at the majestic sculpture of Lenin from the water, sailing on one of the tourist ships making a regular cruise along the Volga-Don Canal. The monument to Lenin (Volgograd) is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest monument to a real person.
Photo: Ilya Shuvalov, Vladimir Kochkin, deljfin26, Tatiana Kulaeva
Born 143 years ago Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. During Soviet power thousands of absolutely identical monuments were erected to him, which today we simply do not pay attention to. But sometimes among them there are unique ones. 7 of them are in our selection.
1. The biggest
The largest monument to the leader of the world proletariat is not located in Moscow or in former Leningrad, as it would be logical to assume, but in the former Stalingrad, now Volgograd, at the entrance to the Volga-Don shipping canal, named after Vladimir Ilyich. The height of the monument is 57 meters (27 meters - the sculpture itself and another 30 - the granite-lined pedestal on which, ironically, the monument to Stalin previously stood). Volgograd Lenin, unveiled in April 1973, is the world's largest monument depicting a real person. Above him are only Christ and Buddha.
2. The most big-headed
Apparently, not having the funds for a whole huge monument, but also wanting to have the very best thing associated with Lenin, the authorities of Buryatia in November 1971 installed the world’s largest head of Ilyich on the Square of Soviets in Ulan-Ude. In the urban folklore of the residents of the Buryat capital, there was even an anecdote about this, as if Far East they were going to erect a giant monument to Lenin, but while transporting it by helicopter, the cable broke and the head fell, and a city was built around it. Perhaps this sculpture, 7.7 meters high and 4.5 meters wide, weighing 42 tons, was intended to emphasize the greatness of the brain and the scale of thought of the founder of the USSR.
3. Most mechanical
The leader can be seen on the most unusual pedestal in Moscow, in front of the locomotive depot near the Leningradsky station. The statue itself was made in the workshop of the famous sculptor Sergei Merkurov in 1925, and the structure rotating using a system of gears from wheel pairs, steel beams and other locomotive parts, on which Ilyich stands, was built by workers at the depot. Thanks to the built-in electric motor, the pedestal could move on rails. Now, however, it is laid up, and it will not be possible to rotate the statue either, because the mechanism is heavily covered with paint.
4. The most “insulated”
While the sculptors representing different peoples immense Soviet Union, gave their monuments to Lenin subtle national traits, be it the Mongoloid shape of the eyes or the Caucasian nose with a hump, residents of some northern regions tried to prevent the leader from freezing, “dressing” him instead of the usual jacket in a coat and a hat with earflaps. Of the four thousand statues of Ilyich in Russia, there are only a few of these: in Rybinsk (Yaroslavl region), in Biysk ( Altai region), in Minusinsk ( Krasnoyarsk region) and in Petrozavodsk (Karelia). Due to the enormous distance of these cities from each other, most of their residents have never heard of the existence of another “insulated” Lenin and sincerely believe that their Ilyich is one of a kind. So that they do not argue, we will give the title of the most “insulated” monument to the leader of the world proletariat to the statue in the village of Yaropolets, Volokolamsk district, Moscow region, since here the sculptor dressed not only Vladimir Ilyich in a warm hat, but also Krupskaya next to him.
5. Most colorful
A small, approximately human-sized, but very colorful monument to Lenin stands in the resort village of Morjim in Goa. Morjim is one of the most popular places in India for Russian tourists. There are many Russian guesthouses, Russian restaurants in the village, there is even a Russian kindergarten. It is not surprising that in the 2000s, on the initiative of Russian residents of the resort nostalgic for their homeland, a monument to Lenin appeared here. It is made of wood and, according to local customs, decorated with bright colors.
6. The most blasphemous
Sculptural images of Lenin in the USA, due to the Americans’ dislike for communism, are not officially classified as monuments, but are considered simply statues that perform a decorative function or express a certain artistic idea or the views of the initiators of their installation. That is why, next to the Russian restaurant “Red Square” inside the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas, it became possible to see a headless bronze Lenin, smeared with imitation bird droppings.
7. The very best
In December 1958, through the efforts of the third Soviet Antarctic expedition, a bust of the leader of the world proletariat appeared at the southern pole of inaccessibility - at the point farthest from all shores of Antarctica. The polar explorers hoisted him onto the roof of the cabin, facing towards Moscow. Considering that the average annual air temperature here is about −57°C, this plastic Lenin is at the same time the southernmost, most inaccessible and most rarely visited monument (no more than 40 people saw it live) monument on Earth, which is also located in one of the most cold spots of our planet.
