Freedom Monument in Plungė Memorial site

The Freedom Monument on Laisvės Alley in the city of Plungė began to be built around 1928 by the artist Kleinauskis to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. The project was completed in 1931 and recognized as the tallest (18 m) Freedom Monument in Samogitia.
The idea of the monument did not satisfy the Catholic community of the city, as the main figure of the monument – a plaster sculpture of a winged angel with a sword and a crown in his hands – seemed too vulgar and naked. For this reason, the initial idea of building the Freedom Monument in front of the church was resisted, and the latter was eventually built on Laisvės alėja. It is said that the citizens would throw stones at the sculpture. The monument did not please the city authorities either – Independence Day celebrations were held near the St. Florian statue, ignoring the Freedom Monument.
Finally, the ruined sculpture was dismantled around 1936, and around 1950-1953. The Soviet occupation authorities, fighting against the manifestations of the ideas of freedom, blew up the remains of the monument. In 1992, the monument was restored and consecrated, with the new sculpture and coat of arms cast from brass. The author of the restored monument is sculptor Vilimas Ketvirtis. The sculpture of the angel was cast in St. Petersburg, and the coats of arms of Plungė were cast in Kaunas.