Zagreb, Croatia: Monument to Executed Hostages

What with Croatia's turbulent history over the years, you'd expect some somber statues in the nation's capital. This certainly qualifies.

"The Monument to Executed Hostages" debuted in 1954. It notes that more than 7,000 civilians were put to death during World War II by the Ustaše regime and Axis forces. The statue was the first to be unveiled after the war had ended. If you look closely, you can see some of the figures are standing tall and defiant while others in the group are falling to their deaths.

For those visiting, it's certainly worth a close-up look ... particularly if you know the story behind it.