Soviet War Memorial Treptower Park
Germany's largest Soviet war memorial, opened 8 May 1949 in Treptower Park, southeast Berlin. A working military cemetery for ~7,000 Red Army soldiers, it stuns visitors with its monumental scale: triumphal arch, weeping-Mother-Homeland statue, red-granite flags, 16 sarcophagi, and a 12-metre bronze soldier crowning a mausoleum hill. Free, open 24 hours.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 00:00–23:59 |
|---|---|
| Price | free |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | S-Bahn S Treptower Park (lines S8, S85, S9, S41, S42) — 10–15 min walk to the memorial; ~20 min from Alexanderplatz |
| Time needed | 45–90 minutes to walk the full axis at a respectful pace |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings in daylight — quieter and better light for reading the relief carvings; avoid low-light visits as the site is a cemetery |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Locals Score
- Value8.5
- Freshness5.9
- Crowd level8.5
- Authenticity8.0
- Accessibility6.5
Frequently asked questions
- Is there an admission fee for the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park?
- No. Entry to the memorial and its grounds is completely free. It is an open public monument and military cemetery with no ticketing or booking required.
- What are the 16 sarcophagi along the sides?
- The 16 sarcophagi represent the 16 republics of the Soviet Union at the time. They are inscribed with war motifs and quotes by Josef Stalin in both Russian and German.
- What exactly is buried here — is it really a cemetery?
- Yes. Around 7,000 Red Army soldiers who died in the Battle of Berlin (April–May 1945) are buried on the site, largely beneath the sunken lawns flanking the central axis. Visitors should treat it with the same respect as any active cemetery.
- When is the best time to visit — are there special commemorations?
- Weekday mornings offer the most contemplative atmosphere. The most significant annual event is 9 May (Victory Day), when politicians and members of Berlin's Russian-speaking community gather to lay wreaths in honour of the fallen soldiers.
- How large is the memorial site and how long does a visit take?
- The memorial grounds cover roughly ten hectares, stretching from Puschkinallee to Am Treptower Park. Most visitors need 45–90 minutes to walk the full central axis, read the reliefs, and visit the mausoleum interior.
- How do I get there by public transport?
- Take the S-Bahn to S Treptower Park station (lines S8, S85, S9, S41, S42). From the station it is a 10–15 minute walk into the park to the memorial — roughly 20 minutes total from Alexanderplatz.
- What are the opening hours?
- The memorial grounds are accessible 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Daylight visits are strongly recommended to appreciate the scale, reliefs, and inscriptions.
- What is the tall statue at the end of the memorial?
- It is a 12-metre bronze sculpture by Soviet sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, depicting a Soviet soldier standing over a shattered swastika while cradling a German child in one arm. It crowns a mausoleum hill and serves as the centrepiece of the entire complex.
Nearby in Ask Berlin
- Treptower ParkPark0.86 km · 11 min walk
- Görlitzer ParkPark2.32 km · 29 min walk
- Michelberger RestaurantRestaurant2.35 km · 29 min walk
- NeuköllnNeighborhood2.37 km · 30 min walk
- KlunkerkranichBar2.55 km · 32 min walk
Where to stay near Soviet War Memorial Treptower Park
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