The Motherland Calls

*The Motherland Calls*
The Motherland Calls
Russia
	For the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad
Unveiled	15 October 1967
Location	48°44′33″N 44°32′13″E / 48.74250°N 44.53694°E; near Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd, Russia
Designed by	Yevgeny Vuchetich, Yakov Belopolsky, Nikolai Nikitin
	; 3D model (click to interact)
	Statistics source: UNESCO

The Motherland Calls (Russian: Родина-мать зовёт!, romanized: Rodina-mat' zovyot!) is a colossal neoclassicist and socialist realist war memorial sculpture on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. Designed primarily by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich with assistance from architect Yakov Belopolsky, the concrete sculpture commemorates the casualties of the Battle of Stalingrad, and is the predominant component of a larger monument complex, which includes several plazas and other sculptural works. Standing 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of its pedestal to its peak, the statue was the tallest in the world upon its completion in 1967, and is the tallest statue in Europe. The statue, along with the rest of the complex, was dedicated on 15 October 1967, and has been listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites since 2014.

The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia, commonly referred to as Mother Russia. She wears a windswept shawl resembling wings, and holds a sword aloft in her right hand. Her left hand is extended outward, as she calls upon the Soviet people to battle. The statue was originally planned to be made of granite and to stand only 30 metres (98 ft) tall, with a design consisting of a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before Mother Russia holding a folded banner, but was later changed to be a large concrete structure at nearly double the height, a decision that was subject to criticism from Soviet military officials and writers. It was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike.

The construction of The Motherland Calls began in 1963, and was led by structual engineer Nikolai Nikitin. The project faced numerous challenges, including the intricate assembly of the statue's framework and detailed features, which were compounded by the statue's size. Delays were caused by cold weather and unforeseen geological issues, necessitating extensive foundation reinforcement and relocation of water systems. Additional complications arose with the statue's sword, which was required to be redesigned due to problems with wind resistance. Despite these obstacles, the memorial was completed in October 1967 for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.

After its dedication, the sculpture underwent numerous alterations and restoration attempts. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version to reduce wind resistance, and by 1986, it had tilted significantly from its original axis. Concerns about the statue's structural integrity arose by the early 21st century, with the statue in disrepair and at risk of collapsing. Comprehensive restoration efforts began later in the century, and by 2020, the monument had undergone extensive restoration, although post-renovation critiques and new structural issues have since persisted.