Looking for statue....

[Araich]

I caught the tail end of a documentary on TV yesterday, that showed a massive (said to be the largest) memorial statue in France (I think).
A giant classical figure drapped in cloth, overlooking a field.
Does anyone know of it?
I'm trailing through Google now...

[anne (bxl)]

I made a post on a artist forum in french.
waiting for answers.

[Araich]

Thanks Anne :)

I only caught a glimse of it, but now I think about it, it may have been a warrior woman in a flowing costume, wearing a helmet. But it was huge - looked like several stories high. It was hard to tell as it was a panning shot from a helicopter.

I'd just like to see it again.

Also, there is a (remote) chance it could have been Russia.

[fritchie]

Araich - I'm pretty sure this is Russian, probably memorializing some aspect of World War II. It may be a Stalingrad memorial, commemorating the most humanly destructive battle of the war, on both Russian and German sides. (The name Stalingrad is gone, for sure, but I can’t recall the original name, probably restored today.)

[fritchie]

I think this is the piece you saw. It is in Volgograd, the earlier and current name for Stalingrad. According to reports I found today, the figure is 52 meters high, and she holds a sword 33 meters in length. The report says total height is 85 meters, but that must be exaggerated slightly. The whole is on a base 16 meters high, for an elevation above ground of 101 meters (about 110 yards or 330 feet). Reports said the figure is made of metal and concrete.

It is in fact a war memorial, and we are near a 50-year anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad, so that’s probably why you saw the report.

[Araich]

the tallest freestanding statue in the world. This...statue is three times as large as the Statue of Liberty, and has become the symbol of Volgograd. Thanks Fritchie, that's the one. I cannot believe I'd not seen it before.

http://www.volgograd.ru/eng/images/mamayspring.jpg

Yes, that is a crowd at the base.

PS Apologies about France.

[anne (bxl)]

no prob for france, araich.
happy you found the answer.

[anne (bxl)]

I know that's not the one you were searching for, but could be interresting too. It's a canadian world war 1 memorial located in north east of France near Arras