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GLAVNY SHTAB (THE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS)
The building of Glavny Shtab (the General Headquarters) is situated on the Palace Square, and it embraces the square by its semicircle.
The construction of Glavny Shtab lasted from 1819 up to 1829. The building was constructed for governmental and military-administrative institutions in place of private houses facing the Palace Square.
The building consists of two houses connected with an arch. The façade of the building is about 600 meters. Facades of buildings of the XIXth century were usually decorated with sculpture, but there is no sculpture on this facade. It is concentrated at the arch in the middle of the building. The sculpture emphasizes the triumphal character of Glavny Shtab - the magnificent monument to the victory of Russia in the war of 1812.
There is military armor (shields and spears) below, on the sides of the arch. There are warriors’ figures on the second floor, between the columns, and flying figures of geniuses of Glory with palm branches and laurel wreaths on the flatness of the wall, above the arch. The building is crowned with the figure of Victory which staying in a chariot confidently and stately drives six protruding horses.
There were the General Headquarters, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance in the building of Glavny Shtab. In 1917 there was the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs there. Now there are Headquarters of Leningrad Military Circuit in the building of Glavny Shtab. The building is planned to be passed to the Hermitage.
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