The "Mound of Glory" memorial complex was erected at the 21st kilometer of Minsk-Moscow highway (M1) to commemorate the completion of the operation to liberate Belarus from the Nazi invaders. Four fronts participated in the operation, codenamed "Bagration": the 1st Belorussian, 2nd Belorussian, 3rd Belorussian, and 1st Baltic Fronts, under the command of renowned commanders K. Rokossovsky, G. Zakharov, I. Chernyakhovsky, and I. Bagramyan, as well as sailors of the Dnieper River Flotilla and the Normandie squadron of French volunteer pilots. Belarusian partisans provided invaluable assistance to the army.
As a result of Operation “Bagration”, our troops completely liberated the territory of Belarus, part of Lithuania and its capital Vilnius, part of Latvia, part of Polish lands, and reached the borders of Germany.
In designing the "Mound of Glory of the Soviet Army—the Liberator of Belarus" complex, sculptors Andrei Bembel and Anatoly Artimovich, and architects Lev Mitskevich and Oleg Stakhovich, strove for austere and strict simplicity. It was precisely this approach that brought the earth, concrete, and metal to life and spoke, recalling the heroic deeds of the Soviet people in their fight against the enemy.
The foundation of the Mound was laid with the soil of the hero cities of Moscow, Leningrad, Volgograd, Sevastopol, Odessa, Kiev, and the Brest Hero Fortress.
The grand opening of the Mound of Glory took place on July 5, 1969.
In 2015, a large-scale reconstruction of the memorial complex was carried out, including updating the lighting system and installing a cascade of solar panels.
In connection with the major renovation work that began in 2023, an open-air museum exhibition was created on the territory of the memorial complex, focusing on the military events that took place in Belarus during the Great Patriotic War.
The Mound of Glory of the Soviet Army – the liberator of Belarus – is included in the state list of historical and cultural values of the Republic of Belarus.
The Mound of Glory on Belarusian land is one of the most famous memorials dedicated to Soviet soldiers-liberators.
On August 18, 1966, the Government of the Republic announced the start of construction of a memorial.
The first handful of earth was thrown into the foot of the future Mound of Glory on September 30, 1966. Soil was brought here from places steeped in military glory, located within Belarus and beyond: from the hero cities Moscow, Leningrad, Volgograd, Sevastopol, and Odessa. Soil from the Brest Hero Fortress is stored at the foot of the mound. Thousands of people came here, to the 21st kilometer of Moscow Highway, to honor the memory of those who fought for peace and to contribute to the construction of the memorial.
The project proved unique: to prevent the monument from sinking or leaning, a 30-meter-long pillar foundation was laid inside the mound. To prevent landslides, as the slope is quite steep—35 degrees—it is covered with a special grass whose roots create a sturdy framework for the mound.
The Mound of Glory was unveiled on July 5, 1969—the twenty-fifth anniversary of the liberation of Belarus, the same day as Khatyn. Its creators were sculptor A. Bembel, architect O. Stakhovich, sculptor A. Artimovich, architect L. Mitskevich, and engineer V. Laptsevich.
The decision to undertake a large-scale reconstruction of the Mound of Glory was made in May 2003 at a meeting of the Republican Organizing Committee for the 60th Anniversary of Belarus's Liberation from Nazi Invaders. The Federation of Trade Unions assumed primary responsibility for organizing and overseeing the restoration work.
In June 2004, an open-air museum of military equipment was created on the territory of the memorial complex "Mound of Glory".
The renovated Mound of Glory opened on July 1, 2004. The presidents of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine attended the ceremony.
On November 14, 2009, a linden alley was laid out on the territory of the MK "Mound of Glory" - the Alley of Heroes of Minsk Region.
The memorial complex acquired its current appearance in May 2015. Thanks to the efforts of the FTUB, its member organizations, and concerned citizens, the grass covering on the slopes of the Mound was completely replaced in time for the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory. The worn steps of the stairs were extensively repaired and reconstructed. The bas-relief images of Soviet soldiers and partisans were restored, as was the inscription "Glory to the Soviet Army, the Liberator Army!" on the inner part of the decorative ring.
The improvements to the Mound of Glory didn't end there. In 2017–2018, eight information boards were installed here about Operation “Bagration”, the greatest offensive of the Great Patriotic War, and the military leaders who led it.
55 years have passed since its opening, but the memorial complex continues to attract visitors of all social and age groups. Following major renovations that began in 2023, an open-air museum exhibition was created on the memorial complex grounds, focusing on the military events that took place in Belarus during the Great Patriotic War.
The memorial complex "Mound of Glory" is included in the state list of historical and cultural values of the Republic of Belarus.
