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Alyosha Monument, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, October 2017

Альоша Монумент Бунарджик

This is an 11-m tall reinforced concrete statue of a Soviet soldier on Bunarjik Hill in Plovdiv. The statue tops a 6-m pedestal lined with granite. The memorial commemorates Soviet casualties incurred during the Soviet occupation of Bulgaria (which had been an Axis ally) in World War II.It was installed in 1954-57.

In fact, the Soviet Army did not fight an extensive campaign in Bulgaria. A new and Pro-Soviet government was established by the Bulgarians themselves, followed - almost immediately - the Soviets crossed the Bulgarian border and the Red and Bulgarian Armies became allied. While there was scattered and bitter fighting, mostly between Bulgarians, German attempts to hold Bulgaria were relatively desultory and ineffectual and a large Soviet campaign in Bulgaria was in fact not required.

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Uploaded on October 22, 2017
Taken on October 12, 2017