Schönholzer Heide was in the 19th century a popular recreation area. During the Second World War the place was turned into a work camp. After the war the north-western part of the area was used to build the third largest Soviet war memorial in Berlin, together with the memorials in Treptower Park and Tiergarten. On both side of the main axis, which at its end one finds a 33,5 meter tall obelisk made of syenite, there are placed 8 burial chambers where 1182 soldiers are buried. Under the Honor Hall inside the obelisk there are buried two Soviet colonels.