A 1972 Soviet postcard depicting the memorial complex “Brest Hero-Fortress”, which was officially opened a year earlier.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard shows a section of the “Brest Hero-Fortress” memorial. In the background, the “Courage” monument—a large concrete sculpture of a soldier’s head—is visible. In the foreground are the granite plates of the memorial cemetery with laid flowers, wreaths, and ribbons. The inscriptions on the plates clearly read “Lieutenant NAGANOV Aleksey Fedorovich” and “UNKNOWN” (in Russian). Silhouettes of visitors are visible on the left. At the bottom, there are inscriptions in several languages and an image of the Gold Star medal.
Historical note
The “Brest Hero-Fortress” memorial complex was officially opened on September 25, 1971. The construction of this monumental ensemble was led by the People’s Architect of the USSR, Aleksandr Kibalnikov. The remains of the fortress defenders who perished in June–July 1941 rest beneath these granite plates. Aleksey Naganov, whose name is carved on the plate, commanded the defense of the Terespol Gate and died during the first hours of the invasion; his remains were recovered during excavations in a ruined tower in 1949.
Present day
Today, the memorial remains the primary historical and tourist site in Brest. The appearance of the memorial plates and the “Courage” monument has been fully preserved. The complex is registered as a historical and cultural treasure of the Republic of Belarus.
Location (map)
Address: Brest Fortress, Brest, Belarus
Coordinates: 52.082725, 23.655183
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the ‘Courage’ monument and memorial plates on the Ceremonial Square of the Brest Fortress..
Questions and answers
- Whose grave is visible in the foreground of the postcard? The foreground shows the plate of Lieutenant Aleksey Fedorovich Naganov, one of the leaders of the fortress defense in 1941.
- When was the memorial depicted on the postcard opened? The ‘Brest Hero-Fortress’ memorial complex was officially opened on September 25, 1971.
- What monument is shown in the background? In the background stands the main monument of the complex, named ‘Courage’—a massive concrete sculpture of a soldier’s head.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Brest from 1972.
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