UA
The mass grave of Soviet soldiers, among whom I.H. Vdovitchenko is buried. – Hero of the Soviet Union and a monument to country soldiers
Full name of the monument :

The mass grave of Soviet soldiers, among whom I.H. Vdovitchenko is buried. – Hero of the Soviet Union and a monument to country soldiers

Region :
Sumy region
Address of the monument :
the center of Samotoivka village, Sumy district
Status :
Historical monument of local significance
Monument installation year (s) (if available) :
1958
Time classification according to the installation epoch :
Soviet period (1922-1991)
Person/event, object the monument is dedicated to :
real person(s)
Gender :
mixed group
Social status :
persons of war
Components of the monument :
sculpture - 2.7 m, pedestal - 3.22 m
Material :
mixed materials
Type of art composition :
one-figure composition
Artistic approach :
figurative art
Main text, additional text (if available) :
Yes
memorial inscription
Language(s) of the text :
Ukrainian
Narrative commemorates :
Honoring the culture of war victims, including memorialization
The preservation state of the monument at the time of the research :
exists
Institution responsible for maintenance :
Sumy city council
Institution’s website :
https://smr.gov.ua/uk/
Free text that contains data valid for interpretation :
377 soldiers who died during the first attempt to liberate the village in March - May 1943 were buried; soldiers who died of wounds in March 1943 and soldiers who died during the liberation of the village from the German-Nazi invaders in August 1943. The village was finally liberated on August 9-10, 1943. The names of 368 dead are known. In 1957, the remains of the dead from different places were transferred to a mass grave. In 1958, a reinforced concrete sculpture of a soldier on a brick pedestal and a plaque with the names of fallen liberating soldiers were installed on the grave. In 1973, on both sides of the mass grave, plaques were installed on concrete bases with inscriptions and names of 401 country soldiers of the Samotoiv Rural Council who died during the Second World War. Among the buried - Ivan Hryhorovych Vdovidchenko - Hero of the Soviet Union (January 10, 1944, posthumously). Vdovichenko, tying himself with anti-tank grenades, rushed under the enemy tank.