On behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, an open creative competition has been announced for the best architectural and artistic concept for a monument dedicated to the Victory of the Red Army in the last battle of World War II. The monument will be erected on the Kuril Island of Shumshu. The organizers are the Russian Military Historical Society and the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District.
There are several requirements for the concept of the monument. The main artistic idea of the monument being created is the image of the rapid advance of the Red Army, breaking through the line of defense of the Japanese troops in the final battle of World War II. The composition must be visually readable from all directions and become a key point of the space of the memorial ensemble.
The liberation of the Kuril Islands put an end to the Soviet-Japanese War and became one of the bloodiest operations of August-September 1945. The 2nd Far Eastern Front and the Pacific Fleet participated in the Kuril landing operation. The Soviet landing force landed on the islands without tanks and artillery, having only light weapons.
The bloody battles for the capture of Shumshu Island lasted for several days. After the capitulation of the Japanese garrison of Shumshu on August 23, 1945, the islands of the northern and central part of the ridge were liberated, and a successful operation was carried out to capture the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai.
The operation to liberate the Kuril Islands ended on September 1, 1945, one day before the end of World War II. Many soldiers distinguished themselves in valiant battles, 52 people were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.