Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Moscow

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a national memorial dedicated to Soviet servicemen who died during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The remains of an unidentified soldier were transferred in December 1966 from a mass grave near the 41st kilometer of the Leningrad Highway, close to Zelenograd, where fighting occurred during the Battle of Moscow.

The completed memorial was unveiled on May 8, 1967, during commemorations of the defeat of German forces near Moscow. At its center is a dark red stone tomb bearing a bronze composition of a soldier’s helmet and laurel branch resting on a military banner. In front burns the Eternal Flame, lit in 1967 from the flame on the Field of Mars in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. The inscription reads, “Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal.” Nearby granite blocks commemorate Soviet Hero Cities, while a later stele recognizes additional Cities of Military Glory, extending the memorial’s geographical symbolism. Since December 12, 1997, the site has held Post No. 1, the country’s principal ceremonial guard post, transferred from Lenin’s Mausoleum. Soldiers of the Presidential Regiment maintain the guard beside the Eternal Flame, with a formal change every hour.

Wreath-laying ceremonies take place during Victory Day commemorations, military anniversaries, and official state visits. The tomb and Eternal Flame provide a focal point for remembrance of unidentified soldiers and others who died during the war.