>Around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall, unknown persons vandalised parts of the memorial with anti-Soviet graffiti. The Spartakist-Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands claimed that the vandals were right-wing extremists and arranged a demonstration on 3 January 1990, which the PDS supported; 250,000 East German citizens participated.

>In 2003–2004, the memorial underwent a thorough renovation. The main statue was removed and sent by boat to a workshop on the island of Rügen for refurbishment, at a cost of approximately €1.5 million. On 4 May 2004, ahead of Victory in Europe Day celebrations on the 8th, the statue was returned to its position in the park, having been cleaned using water jets and glass beads, a patina restored and protective wax coating applied, had 2200 screws replaced, and an additional stainless steel structure added.