10 – The Victory Monument

This monument, built opposite Argaman Beach in Netanya, commemorates the soldiers of the Red Army who gave their lives during the Second World War, a war with a death toll of tens of millions of lives, including 6 million Jews. The funding for the construction of this monument was contributed by Keren Hayesod, the Russian-Jewish Congress, and the Netanya Municipality. It is a site where visitors come to pay homage, especially from the Former Soviet Union. The monument was built by Israeli artist and Netanya native Chen Winkler, and designed by three Russian artists. The design effort was led by Salavat Sherbakov. The site itself was constructed by the Netanya Municipality via its development fund.
In June 2012, an impressive ceremony was held to inaugurate the monument. In attendance were Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, Shimon Peres, the President of Israel, and Miriam Feirberg-Ikar, the Mayor of Netanya.
The monument integrates two primary elements that symbolize the transition from darkness to light, representing the connection between the Russian army’s victory over Nazi Germany and the establishment of the State of Israel.
World War II itself is represented as a black bunker. The right-hand wall depicts the Jewish Holocaust, while the left-hand wall shows the war between Germany and the Soviet Union from its outbreak on June 22, 1941 until it ended in May of 1945.
The second part of the monument features two tall, white wings – symbolizing victory, hope and peace. The dove’s wings are a famous symbol of peace and hope, and also evoke the classical artistic image of Nike, goddess of victory – an element that often appears in Soviet monuments commemorating the victory over the Nazis.
The address of the monument is Oved Ben Ami Boulevard, adjacent to Bet Yad LaBanim.
5 Simcha Erlich Street.