Monument of Lihula

The expertise commissioned by the Estonian Police to analyse the Second World War memorial known as the Monument of Lihula, which initiated a lot of controversy in society.

2004
Commissioned by the Estonian Police.

Background

The monument depicts a soldier in the uniform of the Estonian Legion of the German Waffen SS in German uniform holding a gun on his chest. The tablet on the monument reads: "To Estonian men who fought in 1940-1945 against Bolshevism and for the restoration of Estonian independence.” The memorial was originally erected in Pärnu, from where it was moved to Lihula cemetery due to social controversy. It was taken down by the government without waiting for the results of the expertise. It is currently located in the Museum of Fight for Estonia's Freedom in Lagedi.

Semiotic Expertise

The aim of the semiotic expertise was to analyse the historical and cultural meaning of the symbols depicted on the monument, and to determine whether the statue as a work of art has a hateful meaning towards the Republic of Estonia.

Media


Ekspert Peeter Torop: Lihula mälestussammas pole natslik. Õhtuleht, 14.09.2004
Semiootik Torop: Lihula sammas pole natslik. Err, 14.09.2004
PEETER TOROP: Lihula semiootika. Eesti Päevaleht, 12.10.2004
Lihula samba järelvaataja: sambale võib järgi tulla vaid peaministri allkirjaga. Urmas Lauri. Lääne elu, 9.07.2019.