The 1986 postcard features the Monument to the Four Communards, located in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR. The monument was a significant element of Soviet monumental propaganda in the city.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground of the postcard displays a bronze monument consisting of four full-size figures standing on a massive rectangular pedestal made of polished stone. The figures are depicted in a realistic manner, representing various members of the working class and the communist movement. Behind the monument, dense green park foliage is visible, forming a natural backdrop. In the lower part of the frame, blurred red flowers are seen, adding a colorful accent to the composition.
Historical note
The Monument to the Four Communards was dedicated to the Lithuanian communists Karolis Požela, Juozas Greifenbergeris, Rapolas Čarnas, and Kazys Giedrys, who were executed in 1926 for their political activities. The monument was erected in 1973 in Ramybės Park (formerly the Park of Culture and Recreation) in Kaunas. The author of the sculptural composition was the People’s Artist of the Lithuanian SSR, Bronius Pundzius. It was one of the most significant works of monumental art of the Soviet era in Lithuania, symbolizing the struggle for communist ideals.
Present day
Following the restoration of Lithuania’s independence in 1991, the Monument to the Four Communards was dismantled as part of decommunization efforts. Today, the monument is part of the open-air Museum of Soviet Sculptures in Grūtas Park, which collects other artifacts from the Soviet era. The area where the monument once stood in Ramybės Park has retained its layout but is now without the central monument, becoming part of the updated urban landscape.
Location (map)
Address: Ramybės Park, Kaunas, Lithuania
Coordinates: 54.897000, 23.905500
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Approximate historical location of the monument in Ramybės Park, Kaunas..
Questions and answers
- Who were the Four Communards dedicated by the monument? The monument was dedicated to the Lithuanian communists Karolis Požela, Juozas Greifenbergeris, Rapolas Čarnas, and Kazys Giedrys, who were executed in 1926.
- When was the monument installed in Kaunas? The monument was installed in 1973 in Ramybės Park (formerly the Park of Culture and Recreation) in Kaunas.
- What happened to the Monument to the Four Communards after 1986? After Lithuania regained independence in 1991, the monument was dismantled and moved to the open-air Museum of Soviet Sculptures in Grūtas Park.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kaunas from 1986.
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