Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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On behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, an open creative competition has been announced for the best architectural and artistic concept for a monument dedicated to the victory of the Red Army in the final battle of World War II. The monument will be erected on the Kuril Island of Shumshu. The organizers are the Russian Military Historical Society and the Office of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District.
"This year our country celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. We honor the feat of our fathers and grandfathers who shed their blood for the freedom of the Motherland and a peaceful sky above their heads, the feat of workers who forged Victory in the rear. One of the most important tasks facing us is not just to remember the heroism of our people, but to pass on the memory of this to our descendants. World War II ended in the Far East. Here, on the Kuril island of Shumshu, the Kuril landing operation was carried out. During the war, Shumshu was an almost impregnable fortress. According to the laws of military art, in order to take fortified positions, the attackers must have at least a threefold superiority in forces. But here it was exactly the opposite: the Japanese troops were many times superior to the Soviet landing force. But we won, and our country put an end to World War II. Now, on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, a military-historical memorial complex dedicated to the Kuril landing operation is being created on Shumshu. A decision has been made to erect a monument dedicated to the victory of the Red Army in this battle on the top of Mount Severnaya on Shumshu Island – in close proximity to the historical battlefield of Soviet paratroopers with Japanese tanks. A competition has been announced for this purpose. I am sure that there will be a great response from sculptors, artists and other creative people," said Yuri Trutnev.
The competition will be held until August 29, 2025 inclusive. Concepts will be accepted until 18:00 Moscow time on August 8, 2025. The expert committee will sum up the competition and announce its results on August 29, 2025.
There are several requirements for the concept of the monument. The main artistic idea of the monument being created is the image of the rapid advance of the Red Army, breaking through the line of defense of the Japanese troops in the final battle of World War II. The composition must be visually readable from all directions and become a key point of the space of the memorial ensemble.
The location of the monument was not chosen by chance. The most difficult moment of the Kuril operation was the landing of Soviet troops on the northernmost island of the ridge – Shumshu – with numerous defensive fortifications, underground tunnels and pillboxes.
The liberation of the Kuril Islands put an end to the Soviet-Japanese War and became one of the bloodiest operations of August-September 1945. The 2nd Far Eastern Front and the Pacific Fleet participated in the Kuril landing operation. The Soviet landing force landed on the islands without tanks and artillery, and had only light weapons.
The bloody battles for the capture of Shumshu Island lasted for several days. After the capitulation of the Japanese garrison of Shumshu on August 23, 1945, the islands of the northern and central part of the ridge were liberated, and a successful operation was carried out to capture the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai.
The operation to liberate the Kuril Islands ended on September 1, 1945, one day before the end of World War II. Many soldiers distinguished themselves in valiant battles, 52 people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
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