PM Modi Pays Tributes At The Tomb Of The 'Unknown Soldier' In Moscow: The Story Behind The War Memorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Russia, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Tuesday and paid his tributes.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located at the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, and dedicated to the Soviet soldiers, who lost their lives during World War II.

WHO WERE THESE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS

After World War II, millions of Russian soldiers were reported missing or pronounced dead. In their memory, a tomb was erected, with the monument being unveiled to the public on May 8, 1967. The Day of the Unknown Soldier has been celebrated in Russia since December 3, 2014.

FEATURES OF THE TOMB

In 1997, the Guard of Honour of the Kremlin Regiment, which had previously guarded the Lenin Mausoleum, was restored at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by a federal law enacted on December 8, 1997. A Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at the tomb every hour.

The memorial is marked by a dark red porphyry monument adorned with a bronze sculpture of a laurel branch and a soldier’s helmet placed upon a banner. It was designed by architects DI Burdin, VA Klimov, Yu R Rabayev and sculptor Nikolai Tomsky.

In front of the monument lies a five-pointed star in a square field of labradorite, which emanates the Eternal Flame from its centre.

This flame, transported from the Eternal Flame at the Monument to the Fighters of the Revolution in Saint Petersburg, illuminates a bronze inscription that reads, “Имя твоё неизвестно, подвиг твой бессмертен” (transliteration: Imya tvoyo neizvestno, podvig tvoy bessmerten, meaning “Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal”).

HISTORY BEHIND TOMBS OF UNKNOWN SOLDIERS

The tradition of Tombs of the Unknown Soldier began in France and Britain in 1920 and spread globally after World War II. Today, more than 50 countries have such memorials, which have become national shrines symbolising the collective grief and pride of nations.

These tombs honour the unidentified soldiers who gave their lives, ensuring their deeds are remembered even if their names are not.

These memorials serve both national and individual mourning purposes. They provide a place for bereaved families to honour their loved ones and for nations to pay tribute to their heroes. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Russia is meant to stand as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during World War II.

Although more people were killed in the Great War than in any previous conflict, there was a consensus among both victorious and defeated nations that every fallen soldier deserved a proper burial and recognition.

The problem of identifying remains was prevalent, as many bodies were destroyed beyond recognition. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier concept provided a solution by creating a national symbol for the unidentified fallen, allowing families to mourn as if the unknown soldier were their own loved one.