Liberation gave easily understandable legitimacy to the growing Soviet influence and thus to the growing power of communist politicians. Therefore, in this period, statues and monuments remembering or celebrating liberation were commonly used in public art. This is exemplified by the first lemniscate promenade in the park that exhibits only these types of statues, and is called the Endless Promenade of Liberation Memorials.
Source: kozterkep.hu
The Soviet soldier holding a flag was a side figure of the Liberation Memorial on Gellért Hill, Budapest. It was designed on the order Marshall Voroshilov, leader of the Soviet forces. The statue designed by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl - a well-known sculptor of the period - was modelled on a Soviet private. It was demolished during the 1956 Revolution, but was re-erected in 1958 at its original place. It was permanently removed from the female figure of the Genius of Freedom composition after the fall of communism.
Look at the statue again.
- What does the statue convey about Soviet soldiers?
- Why do you think the statue was placed on the top of Gellért Hill?