Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum
Encyclopedia
The Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum in Sofia
, Bulgaria
was built in 1949 to hold the embalmed body of the Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov
(1882–1949). The construction of the Mausoleum was begun right after the news of Dimitrov's death. It was built for a record time of just 6 days, the time it took for Dimitrov's body to return to Sofia from the USSR. The body of Bulgaria's first Communist leader remained there until August 1990, when he was cremated, and buried in the city's Central Cemetery. The Mausoleum was destroyed by Ivan Kostov
's UDF
-led government in 1999 as a consequence of heated nation-wide debate.
Destroyers of the mausoleum were accused of fascism, barbarism, and vandalism.
The Prime-Minister and his party were claiming that the Mausoleum was inappropriate after the fall of Communism in 1989, because it was a monument which stood for what they claimed was Bulgaria's repressive past. Within the government, there was much opposition to UDF's decision, and various propositions were given for what to do with the building — including turning it into a museum, or an even a gallery. These people felt that, though it was a symbol of the Communist government, it was not worth destroying a building of such stature and glamour, which contributed to the overall unique atmosphere of the capital city's center. Though an opinion poll showed that two-thirds of the population were against the demolishing of the prestigious white-marbled Mausoleum, the UDF-controlled government proceeded to take it down.
It took the government four attempts to demolish the massive white marble building on Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
in August 1999. The first three attempts failed, as they relied on a single powerful blast to take down the Mausoleum that was reputedly designed to withstand a nuclear attack. It did not budge even after the first two attempts, while the third one managed to make the building tilt slightly to one side. The fourth (and successful) attempt was carried out using a number of consecutive less powerful detonations and bulldozers.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
was built in 1949 to hold the embalmed body of the Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov , also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov , was a Bulgarian Communist politician...
(1882–1949). The construction of the Mausoleum was begun right after the news of Dimitrov's death. It was built for a record time of just 6 days, the time it took for Dimitrov's body to return to Sofia from the USSR. The body of Bulgaria's first Communist leader remained there until August 1990, when he was cremated, and buried in the city's Central Cemetery. The Mausoleum was destroyed by Ivan Kostov
Ivan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
's UDF
United Democratic Forces
The United Democratic Forces were a center-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Union of Democratic Forces.-Members of the coalition:1997 *Union of Democratic Forces...
-led government in 1999 as a consequence of heated nation-wide debate.
Destroyers of the mausoleum were accused of fascism, barbarism, and vandalism.
The Prime-Minister and his party were claiming that the Mausoleum was inappropriate after the fall of Communism in 1989, because it was a monument which stood for what they claimed was Bulgaria's repressive past. Within the government, there was much opposition to UDF's decision, and various propositions were given for what to do with the building — including turning it into a museum, or an even a gallery. These people felt that, though it was a symbol of the Communist government, it was not worth destroying a building of such stature and glamour, which contributed to the overall unique atmosphere of the capital city's center. Though an opinion poll showed that two-thirds of the population were against the demolishing of the prestigious white-marbled Mausoleum, the UDF-controlled government proceeded to take it down.
It took the government four attempts to demolish the massive white marble building on Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
Prince Alexander I Square , often called simply Battenberg Square is the largest square of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria...
in August 1999. The first three attempts failed, as they relied on a single powerful blast to take down the Mausoleum that was reputedly designed to withstand a nuclear attack. It did not budge even after the first two attempts, while the third one managed to make the building tilt slightly to one side. The fourth (and successful) attempt was carried out using a number of consecutive less powerful detonations and bulldozers.