This 1987 Soviet double-panel postcard depicts the “Nepokorenye” (The Unbowed) memorial complex in Krasnodon (now Sorokyne), erected at the execution site of the “Young Guard” underground resistance members.
What is shown on the postcard
The left panel of the postcard shows a concrete-paved alley leading to the tragedy site. At the beginning of the alley, a low dark pedestal with the volumetric numbers “1943” is placed with flowers laid in front of it. A cone-shaped reddish-brown waste heap (terrikon) rises in the background on the right. A single female figure is walking along the path. The right panel displays a close-up of the “Nepokorenye” monument, a multi-figure sculpture consisting of towering grey concrete pylons, with visitors standing at the base.
Historical note
The “Nepokorenye” memorial was opened in October 1982 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the anti-fascist underground organization “Young Guard”. The monument is located directly next to the shaft of the closed Mine No. 5, where in January 1943 Nazi occupation forces threw the bodies of dozens of tortured young underground fighters. The pylons reach up to 25 meters in height, symbolizing the resilience and courage of the youth resistance.
Present day
In 2016, as part of decommunization laws, the city of Krasnodon was officially renamed Sorokyne by the Ukrainian Parliament. Since 2014, this territory has been under Russian occupation. The memorial complex at the shaft of Mine No. 5 remains preserved as a local historical landmark.
Location (map)
Address: Komsomolska Str, Sorokyne (Krasnodon), Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.286100, 39.736400
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the ‘Nepokorenye’ memorial at the shaft of Mine No. 5 in Sorokyne (Krasnodon).
Questions and answers
- What is shown on the left side of the postcard? The left side shows a concrete path with a ‘1943’ commemorative sign and a waste heap in the background.
- When was the ‘Nepokorenye’ memorial opened? The memorial complex near the shaft of Mine No. 5 was officially opened in October 1982.
- What is the modern name of the city of Krasnodon? In 2016, the city of Krasnodon was officially renamed Sorokyne.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Sorokyne from 1987.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.