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The Motherland Calls

Short answer: The Motherland Calls is a reinforced-concrete war memorial on Mamayev Kurgan, a hill in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), Russia.

It is the centerpiece of a memorial complex to the Battle of Stalingrad, fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany from July 1942 to February 1943 and won by the Soviets at enormous cost. Sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich designed it with architect Yakov Belopolsky, and structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin led construction, which began in 1963. The statue shows a female personification of the homeland striding forward with a sword raised in her right hand and her left arm outstretched, a design inspired by the ancient Greek Winged Victory of Samothrace. The figure itself is 52 meters tall; with its pedestal and sword it reaches 85 meters (279 feet). Wikipedia, citing historian Scott Palmer, reports that Nikita Khrushchev wanted it taller than the Statue of Liberty. The sword caused trouble: the original stainless-steel blade swayed in the wind and was replaced in 1972 with a slotted steel version. The complex was dedicated on October 15, 1967, timed for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was the world's tallest statue until 1989, and Wikipedia describes it as still the tallest statue in Europe when the pedestal is counted. A major restoration was finished in 2020, and the complex has been on UNESCO's tentative list since 2014. The footage shows the statue on its hilltop above the city and the Volga.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

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What should you know about The Motherland Calls?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The Motherland Calls reaches 85 meters (279 feet) from the pedestal base to the sword tip.

    DD-590-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit C (85 meters)

  2. The memorial was dedicated on October 15, 1967.

    DD-590-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit D (Dedicated in 1967)

Video transcript: The Motherland Calls: Built to Stand Taller Than Lady Liberty

DID YOU KNOW? The colossal statue known as the Motherland Calls, stands prominently atop Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. Completed in 1967, this monument commemorates the Soviet victory in the battle of Stalingrad during WWII. Designed by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and engineer Nikolai Nikitin, the statue portrays a woman stepping forward with a raised sword, symbolizing the motherland calling her children to defend the nation. Standing at a total height of 85 m, or 279 ft, from the base to the tip of the sword, it was the tallest statue in the world at the time of its unveiling, and remains the tallest in Europe. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 33.7s Reel ·

Video coming soonThe Motherland Calls · Instagram Reel
The Motherland Calls: Built to Stand Taller Than Lady Liberty Instagram Reel · · 33.7s

The write-up

Built to stand taller than Lady Liberty. At 85 meters to the sword tip, it was the world's tallest statue when it was dedicated in 1967.

  1. Exhibit A

    On Mamayev Kurgan

    The statue tops Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, a hill fought over during the Battle of Stalingrad.

  2. Exhibit B

    Vuchetich and Nikitin

    Yevgeny Vuchetich designed it, and engineer Nikolai Nikitin led construction from 1963.

  3. Exhibit C

    85 meters

    The figure is 52 meters tall, or 85 meters (279 feet) including pedestal and sword.

  4. Exhibit D

    Dedicated in 1967

    The memorial complex was dedicated on October 15, 1967.

  5. Exhibit E

    A troublesome sword

    The first sword swayed in the wind and was replaced in 1972 with a slotted steel blade.

Questions people ask about The Motherland Calls

On which hill does The Motherland Calls stand?

In Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (On Mamayev Kurgan) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls

Which sculptor designed The Motherland Calls?

Nikolai Nikitin led the engineering.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Vuchetich and Nikitin) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

How tall is the statue including pedestal and sword?

That's 279 feet.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (85 meters) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

When was the memorial dedicated?

For the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Dedicated in 1967) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

Why was the sword replaced in 1972?

The new blade has slots to cut wind resistance.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A troublesome sword) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. On which hill does The Motherland Calls stand?

    1. Mamayev Kurgan
    2. Sparrow Hills
    3. Poklonnaya Hill
    4. Mount Elbrus
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Mamayev Kurgan In Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (On Mamayev Kurgan) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls

  2. Which sculptor designed The Motherland Calls?

    1. Yevgeny Vuchetich
    2. Vera Mukhina
    3. Zurab Tsereteli
    4. Auguste Rodin
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Yevgeny Vuchetich Nikolai Nikitin led the engineering. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Vuchetich and Nikitin) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

  3. How tall is the statue including pedestal and sword?

    1. 85 meters
    2. 46 meters
    3. 120 meters
    4. 30 meters
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 85 meters That's 279 feet. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (85 meters) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

  4. When was the memorial dedicated?

    1. October 15, 1967
    2. May 9, 1945
    3. February 2, 1943
    4. June 22, 1991
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. October 15, 1967 For the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Dedicated in 1967) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls; Palmer, How Memory Was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, The Russian Review (2009)

  5. Why was the sword replaced in 1972?

    1. It swayed in the wind
    2. It was stolen
    3. It rusted through
    4. It was struck by lightning
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. It swayed in the wind The new blade has slots to cut wind resistance. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A troublesome sword) · Wikipedia: The Motherland Calls

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Motherland Calls." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-590, last updated Jun 6, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-motherland-calls/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-motherland-calls/ · Last updated

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