Victory Park and Poklonnaya Hill with World War II Memorial


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 The Poklonnaya Mountain is the flat hill in the western part of Moscow, between rivers Setun and Filka. Once the Poklonnaya Mountain was far beyond the borders of Moscow, and from its top one could see the city panorama. Travelers and merchants often climbed the mountain to see Moscow and to bow to the city. "Bow" is "poklon" in Russian, hence the name of the mountain - Poklonnaya.
 The Poklonnaya Mountain was first mentioned in chronicles of the 16th century. At that time it was called the Poklonnaya Mountain on Smolenskaya Road. It was on Poklonnaya Mountain that Napoleon was vainly waiting for the keys to Moscow. During World War II the solders passed by the Poklonnaya Mountain leaving for the front to defend Russia.
 In 1942 it was suggested to put a memorial on the Poklonnaya Mountain, but during that time it was absolutely impossible because  of the war. On February 23, 1958, the Poklonnaya Mountain was marked with a sign saying "Here the Monument to Victory of Soviet people in World War II 1941-1945 will be constructed". And it was at the very beginning of the Victory Park laying.
 It took many years to project and construct the memorial complex on the Poklonnaya Mountain in Moscow. Its solemn opening was dated for the 50th Victory celebration that took place on the 9th of May, 1995.


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