A 1975 Soviet collectible postcard, published in the Ukrainian SSR, depicting the memorial obelisk near the pit of Mine No. 5 in Krasnodon (now Sorokyne).
What is shown on the postcard
The image shows a reddish-brown four-sided obelisk with a tapered top, erected on a concrete base. A memorial plaque with text is attached to the front face of the obelisk. The monument is surrounded by dense green trees. In the foreground, in front of a low white decorative concrete fence with an arched pattern, a group of four Soviet pioneers (two boys and two girls) wearing school uniforms and red pioneer ties is shown walking along an asphalt path. In the background, an open landscape with a field and a gentle hill is visible.
Historical note
The pit of the inactive Mine No. 5 became the site of the tragic execution of members of the underground Komsomol organization ‘Young Guard’ in January 1943, when German occupying forces threw the bodies of the executed activists down the shaft. The first wooden memorial sign was erected here immediately after the liberation of the town in 1943. In 1954, it was replaced by a permanent stone obelisk, which is depicted on this 1975 postcard.
Present day
In 1982, for the 40th anniversary of the ‘Young Guard’ organization, the area surrounding the pit was reconstructed. The old obelisk was dismantled, and a large-scale memorial complex featuring the ‘Undefeated’ (also known as ‘The Bereft’) sculptural composition, designed by Luhansk architects and sculptors, was opened in its place. The site remains preserved as a historical landmark.
Location (map)
Address: Komsomolska Str, Sorokyne (Krasnodon), Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.293600, 39.754400
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the memorial complex at the site of Mine No. 5 pit in Sorokyne (Krasnodon)..
Questions and answers
- What is depicted on the 1975 postcard? The postcard depicts the memorial obelisk at the pit of Mine No. 5 in Krasnodon, erected to commemorate the executed members of the ‘Young Guard’ underground organization.
- Who is shown in front of the monument? A group of four Soviet pioneers in school uniforms with red ties is depicted walking along the path in front of the decorative fence.
- Does this obelisk still exist today? No, this obelisk was dismantled during the 1982 reconstruction of the site, when a larger memorial complex was established in its place.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Sorokyne from 1975.
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