Operation of the Eastern Prussian army of the Red Army
In the defense system of East Prussia, Braniewo was one of the most important strategic points. The city and poviat were part of the so-called Lidzbarski triangle, stretching along the line leading to the Vistula Lagoon. Braniewo itself, located on an important communication route connecting ElblÄ…g with KrĂłlewiec, had a significant military garrison, including Infantry and armored troops were stationed here. Victory in fierce fighting in the period January - March 1945 Soviet troops have suffered significant casualties. In the area of Mamonowo - Tolkmicka - Frombork - Braniewo 20 926 Soviet soldiers died. [source: Wikipedia, 3381523]
History
The cemetery was built in 1945-1957, and the ashes contain 31 237 Soviet soldiers of the 2 Belorussian Front and 3 Belorussian Front who died in East Prussia in World War II. It is a cemetery where the largest number of soldiers of the Soviet army were buried in Europe in the winter of 1945 on the banks of the Vistula Lagoon, in Pasłęk, Elbląg, Górowo Iławecki, Kętrzyn, Barczewo, Reszel, and Nidzica. The soldiers were buried in 250 [ According to the source of the Tomb of Soldiers of the Soviet Army who died in Poland in World War II, there are 750 collective graves there. ] collective graves and 20 individual. Among the buried 4054 soldiers are people with a fixed identity. Most of the accommodation is unnamed. The last funeral took place on February 20, 2009. At the cemetery, a Soviet soldier was buried, whose remains were found at the military range in Braniewo. The funeral took place with the participation of two clergy in the Orthodox rite. Every year, on Sunday, close to 9 May, ceremonies commemorating the fallen soldiers are held at the cemetery. The ceremony is attended by the Polish authorities and the Kaliningrad District. Tradition has become since 2010 the congress of Russian motorcyclists to Braniewo for this ceremony, headed by the governor of the Kaliningrad oblast Nikolay Tsukanov. During the joint celebrations, wreaths and ecumenical prayers are given. [source: Wikipedia, 3381523]
Architecture
The cemetery is built on a rectangular plan; occupies 6.5 ha area. Soldiers were buried in 250 (or 750 - see note a. And footnote) collective graves in the shape of identical rectangles. Mogil's individual is 20, they are located next to the central accent. The tombs were framed with concrete and each of them was marked with a starboard. The construction of the cemetery was completed in 1968 - at that time, an artistic accent was built in the form of a sandstone obelisk, placed on a small elevation encased in stone and with two sculptures depicting corners depicting a group of soldiers. At the entrance to the cemetery, a plaque containing information about the fallen and places of battles fought was placed. The author of the project is a visual artist, Bolesław Marszal
Drive
The cemetery is located at the entrance to Braniewo, at ul. ElblÄ…ska, by the provincial road No. 504: ElblÄ…g - Frombork - Braniewo. [source: Wikipedia, 3381523]
