The memorial is located on the Zeleny Mys hill, a stronghold of the Soviet troops during the Great Patriotic War where they repelled enemy attacks. The complex is dominated by a tall statue symbolically depicting a soldier wearing a helmet and a rain cape, with a submachine gun slung over his shoulder. The combined height of the monument and pedestal is more than 42 metres.
The memorial was unveiled in Murmansk in 1974 to mark the 30th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi troops in the Arctic. A year later, in 1975, the remains of an unknown soldier were reburied there and the eternal flame was lit.
In 2004, the memorial was expanded to include the Alley of Glory, lined with plaques commemorating hero cities.