Vienna
- Monument (probably the one constructed
after the war in honor of the
Soviet Army) on the Schwarzenbergplatz in 1948.
(Who can confirm?)
Soviet Army) on the Schwarzenbergplatz in 1948.
(Who can confirm?)
I can confirm, it is the Victory Monument constructed by the Soviet Army after World War 2. It is right next to the former building of the International Police Headquarters. I am a 20 year old student, currently participating in a reserve officers training course in the Austrian Armed Forces. I also own an old 1942 Willys Jeep of the Military Police.
My grandma told me yesterday evening the following story: The monument is called "Hochstrahlbrunnen", because there is a fountain in front of it. The fountain is illuminated in the night in the summertime. The monument itself is called "Erbsenkönig" (meaning King of Peas). This was the inofficial viennese term given to it after the war, because the first ones (occupation troops) to arrive in Vienna after the end of WW2 were the Russians. They didn't take CARE-boxes with them or Army rations. They brought peas, tons of peas with worms in them. The people had to throw the peas into boiling water to kill the worms. Then they dryed the peas, took a needle and pea and often the whole family was sitting around the table taking out dead worms of the peas. Afters this procedure finally they were able to eat them. Compared to the CARE-boxes this was horrible.
By the way, the Austrian Government is not allowed to remove the monument because of the contract the foreign minister of the 4 Allied nations signed. The so called Staatsvertrag of 1955 prohibits its removal.
(Source:
Dr. Hubert Prigl, Vienna, Austria)