It so happens that I translate reports into English about large museums, located primarily in Moscow and its suburbs. This is understandable: Moscow is not only the largest city in Russia, but also in all of Europe. Its location and population can ensure the required flow of visitors.
However, our country also has large museums outside the capital region. I’ve previously introduced you to one of these, the museum in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, and I continue to share news about its exhibitions. Today, I’d like to introduce you to another provincial museum of considerable size: the Museum of Military and Labor Valor in Victory Park in Saratov.
This isn’t the most well-known museum in our country. Personally, I only learned about it while preparing for my trip. What struck me most was the size of this park. I told you about Moscow’s G.O.R.A. Park. Well, these two parks are practically the same size.
Moscow Park — 95,553 square meters:
Saratov Park — 95,498 square meters
The maps are presented at the same scale.
Trying to understand how this was possible, I was surprised to discover that Saratov is the second-largest city in Russia by area, after Moscow. In terms of population, it’s only 17th, with a population of about 886,000.
A distinctive feature of this report is that it is not a translation of the Russian version, but rather a separate and specially created one. That is precisely why it will be published here over a longer period and at a slower pace.
And this was done because I want to try to take you for a walk through the park, and not present it as a list of exhibits and their signs. Firstly, there’s quite a lot of equipment here. Secondly, they’re quite common. I’ll provide descriptions of rare or unique exhibits. Thirdly, there are no bilingual plaques here, and I’m too lazy to translate them all.
I think this list of arguments is sufficient. At least for me.
Well, let’s begin!
It’s practically impossible to miss the turnoff to Victory Park—it’s marked by a Yak-38 airplane perched on a pedestal. Everything is explained very simply — these planes were made in this very city.
This is what the plaque on the pedestal informs us about.
Further on, a fairly long alley leads into the park.
Text on the banner: “Victory Park”.
The first thing that greets us is an armored train.
Text in white: “Forward! For the Motherland!”
Text in red: “Death to the fascists!”
It has a very simple combination of railway cars: the first car has an anti-aircraft gun, the last one has a howitzer. And they protect the ambulance car,
which can be visited for a small additional fee (adults — 60 rubles, students — 30 rubles, schoolchildren — 20 rubles).
Next comes the expected armed boat. The city is situated on the Volga, and we will see the river later.
Text on the ship: “For Mother Volga!”.
The park’s territory is large, so, as in other establishments of this size, a shuttle disguised as a steam locomotive runs for children and seniors.
And further on, a small anti-aircraft battery awaits us, camouflaged, as it should be, among trees.
(57mm anti-aircraft gun S-60, 100mm anti-aircraft gun KS-19, 37mm anti-aircraft gun 61-K mod1939, Anti-aircraft searchlight station 3-15-4)
On the other side is a small island of rocket artillery,
(BM-21 “Grad”, BM-24, BM-13N, BM-13)
complemented by a searchlight
and a trailer kitchen.
It’s worth noting that most of the exhibits here are distributed among similarly compact thematic locations, with rare exceptions.
