The work on the creation of the monument to Matrosov, erected in 1951 in Ufa, was entrusted to the graduate of the All-Russian Academy of Arts Leonid Yulievich Eidlin. The choice of the young sculptor was not accidental. His thesis, dedicated to this Hero of the Soviet Union, completed four years earlier, was highly appreciated by the commission and brought him his first success. In 1947, a graduate of the CVC became a member of the Union of Artists, and his "Figure of Alexander Matrosov" was acquired by the Russian Museum.
Monument to Matrosov in Ufa
Having received the task to create a monument to be installed in the city, from where the young soldier Matrosov went to the front, Leonid Yulievich did not repeat his graduation project. Having already studied the image of his hero, his biography, having felt the character and love for the country and life, the author created a completely new work. In September 1949, the project was approved by the Union of Artists and recommended forexecution in bronze. The casting was made in Leningrad at the "Monumentskulptura" plant. The architect of the monument was A. P. Gribov.
The grand opening took place in Ufa on May 9, 1951. The city park was chosen as the installation site, which at the same time received the name of Alexander Matrosov.
Description of the monument
A figure of a soldier is installed on a pink granite pedestal. Its height of 2.5 meters does not create the appearance of a gigantic size. A fighter in full uniform, in a helmet and raincoat, with a military weapon in his hands is perceived by others not as a thunderstorm of the Nazis, but as a young thin guy who volunteered to defend our Motherland.
Residents of the city consider this monument to Alexander Matrosov the best in the city. Describing the care with which the smallest details are made, giving the authenticity of the pose, facial expression, details of clothing, they call this work of the sculptor ingenious.
Their opinion coincides with the opinion of high-level specialists. Repeated castings of the sculpture were installed in 1951 in Leningrad in the Victory Park, and in 1971 in the city of Halle (GDR).
To the 100th anniversary of the birth of L. Eidlin
In 2018, a vernissage of the works of the outstanding Leningrad sculptor took place in St. Petersburg. Many words were said about the first works of the talented author, working notes of the sculptor were read out. The creative intelligentsia of the country believes that Eidlin, when creating monuments to Matrosov, managed to very reliably embody an unforgettable imageDefender of the Fatherland, who received wide recognition.
Leonid Eidlin's grandson Mikhail, speaking at the opening of the exhibition, called this work of the sculptor his main work. He told how he went with his grandparents to look at the monument to Matrosov in Victory Park in Leningrad, was proud and rejoiced at the assessments of others. The enthusiasm and at the same time the pathos of the Victory, the hero's impulse forward, the inspiration of his compatriots from the feat he had accomplished were keenly felt in the post-war years. “There was no such strong feeling in later years.”
The life and exploits of Alexander Matrosov
All Soviet people knew this name: his short life and the feat he accomplished were studied and discussed in all schools of the country.
Born on February 5, 1924 in the Ukrainian city of Yekaterinoslavl, which later became Dnepropetrovsk, he wandered around the country a lot as a child. Several orphanages, the Ufa children's labor colony, a difficult life tempered the boy's character. When the war began, he began to ask for the front, but due to his youth he was refused.
Until September 1942, he worked as an apprentice fitter at a factory, as an assistant teacher in a colony. At the age of 18 he was drafted into the army and sent to study at an infantry school near Orenburg. A month later he was already at the front.
On February 27, 1943, as part of the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 91st Siberian Army, Alexander participated in the liberation of the small village of Chernushki, Pskov Region. From the forest to the village, it was necessary to cross an open space, through and throughenemy bunkers. Two of the three managed to blow up, the third covered the path to the offensive. People died.
The order to destroy the German firing point was given to privates A. Matrosov and P. Ogurtsov. On the way, Alexander's partner was seriously wounded, but, remaining in place, he was able to reliably testify to the feat accomplished by his comrade. When the fighter who got close to the bunker managed to throw grenades, the fire stopped. But as soon as the fighters went on the attack, it began with renewed vigor.
Left without grenades, Alexander rushed forward and covered the embrasure of the enemy firing point with his chest. The attack was swift, the village was recaptured from the enemy. Compatriots gratefully erected monuments to Alexander Matveevich Matrosov in the cities of the country.
Illumination of the feat of A. Matrosov
A 19-year-old boy, a pupil of an orphanage, who did not hesitate to give his life for his homeland and friends, became a widely known hero, thanks to an article published in the newspaper by a military journalist who was present at the forefront at that time. The Soviet Government highly appreciated his feat, posthumously awarding him the Star of the Hero and the Order of Lenin.
The personality of the young fighter has become an example of courage, courage, love for the Motherland and comrades. The feats accomplished during the war years did not always become well known, but after all, they were not performed for the sake of glory. The image of Matrosov was chosen to instill high patriotism in the hearts of the Soviet people, and he achieved his goal. Many defenders of our country on the battlefieldthey covered enemy fire with their chests, rammed German columns with burning planes, rushed under tanks with grenades. We must remember them.
New monument to Alexander Matrosov in Ufa
In early 1980, after reconstruction, Matrosov Park in Ufa was renamed V. I. Lenin. The monument to the hero was moved to the territory of the school of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Around the same time, in the city in the Victory Park, a memorial was opened in memory of the heroes A. Matrosov and M. Gubaidullin, who repeated the feat of his fellow countryman in 1944 in the Kherson region. The famous work of L. Yu. Eidlin was soon returned to Lenin Park on the side path.
The memorial complex, opened in 1980, was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Great Victory. Its authors, sculptors Lev Kerbel and Nikolai Lyubimov, worked in collaboration with architect Georgy Lebedev.
The new monument to Matrosov and Gubaidullin in Victory Park looks more significant and solemn. On the 25-meter pylon there are bronze portraits of two heroes who gave their lives for their Motherland. Above them is the highest award of the country. On a low pedestal next to the pylon is a falling soldier. His tent cape shot up from behind in a fiery whirlwind.
The area in front of the huge red granite pedestal is paved with large concrete tiles, the Eternal Flame is lit here. The area of the memorial complex, together with the composition, playground, lawn design, is two hectares.
