Valley of Glory

In 74 kilometers from Murmansk, in the valley of the Western Face River, there is a memorial complex "Valley of Glory". At one time, it was called differently-"The Valley of Death". Because of the terrible events that unfolded here during the Great Patriotic War.

According to the plan of the fascists, Murmansk was to be quickly captured in order to leave the USSR without a non-freezing port city. But the attack on the Kola Peninsula did not turn out to be rapid. The invaders were stopped at the Western Litsa, on a flat area between hills with rivers and swamps.

Here there were fierce battles and the front line was laid. The battles began in July 1941. General Dietl's "Norway" Jaeger corps was supposed to cross the river and go further to Murmansk through the tundra, but it was repulsed at the cost of the lives of many of our soldiers. According to the military archives, about 2 thousand fighters fell in Death Valley, but in fact their number is higher.

On September 8, 1941, a fateful battle took place. The enemy gathered all his forces and rushed to the attack, but the Soviet soldiers forced him to turn and go on the defensive.

Nowadays, the memorial complex "Valley of Glory" has become one of the main places for events in honor of the Victory Day. The first monument-the sculptural composition "Two Warriors" - was inaugurated here in 1969. Then in 1974, the monument "Three Bayonets" appeared — a symbol of the unity of different branches of the armed forces during the war years.

The valor of the guards is dedicated to the monument "Three Banners" in 1984. In 1999, the IS-2 tank was brought to the territory of the complex and installed on a pedestal, and in 2001, a monument to the Grieving Mother was opened.

One of the central objects of the valley is the memorial wall with the names of the fallen soldiers and the military cemetery.

In 2010-2011, the complex was renovated and reburied the heroes who fell in the battles of the Western Litsa. To this day, you can still see trenches and trenches on this land — scars that remind you of the war. And at the mass grave are the helmets of Soviet soldiers. They already show a touch of time, many of them are leaking. But they are not removed, as a reminder of the sacrifice we made for peace.

In the complex there is an obelisk with a memorial plaque "To the Heroic defenders of the height 314.9", next to which there are cartridge cases, fragments of air shells and other signs of the war. In the Valley of Glory, parts of Soviet and German equipment are also met, and search engines find the remains of fighters.

Celebrations here in honor of the Victory Day are usually held in three or four days. Thousands of people gather for a rally, laying flowers and wreaths, fighting reenactors and other events.