Victory Day (День Победы)

Victory Day is an annual celebration on 9th May to commemorate the victory of Union over Nazi Germany in the Second World War of 1941-1945. It is a non-working day in Russia, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan , Armenia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Moldova , Uzbekistan, Ukraine and South Ossetia.

History of the holiday

It was introduced in 1945 , but since 1947 a working day.  It was widely celebrated for the first time in the Soviet Union only two decades later in  Brezhnev era. In the same year, on 1965 Victory Day became a non-working day.

In Soviet times, there was no tradition of military parades in Red Square on May 9; annual parades were held on May 1 and November 7 , and on May 9 parade was only a commemorative events on 1965, 1985 and 1990.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, May 9 parade in Red Square were not conducted before 1995 .  By then, there were two parades in Moscow: the Red Square (on foot) and at Poklonnaya Hill (with the participation of troops and military equipment).

Since then, the parades on Red Square were conducted annually – but without combat equipment. Since 2008, the parade was again held with the participation of military equipment, including military aviation. Celebratory processions in honor of Victory Day is traditionally held in all heroic-cities, the military districts in some major cities of Russia and the CIS .

This day is traditionally celebrated by veterans , laying wreaths on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , Monuments, and celebratory fireworks .

Chronicle of the holiday

1965 – First celebration of Victory Day as a day off.

1995 – 50th anniversary of Victory. Opening of a memorial at Poklonnaya Hill and the monument to Marshal Zhukov in Manezh Square. Пеший парад ветеранов на Красной площади , военной техники на Поклонной горе . Walking parade of veterans in Red Squareand military equipments on the Poklonnaya Hill .

2000 – 55 th anniversary of Victory.  The last foot parade of veterans was held on Red Square .

2005 – 60 th anniversary of Victory.  The parade consisted of two parts: historical and contemporary. The culmination of the parade was the 2600 passage of veterans on the legendary “lorry”.  Introduction of “Georgiev Ribbon”

2006 – Decree of the President of the Russian Federation to establish the honorary title of  “City of Military Glory .”

2008 – For the first time in the history of modern Russia’s, during the parade in Red Square, heavy military equipment was used.

2010 – 65th anniversary of Victory.  All-Russian Victory Day parade for the first time to be held in Russia 9 May 2010.

Victory Parade in Red Square

On May 9,1945, at the Frunze Central Aerodrome, “Li-2″ aircraft landes with the crew AI Semenkova, brought to Moscow as an act of the capitulation of Nazi Germany.

On June 24, at the Red Square, Victory Parade is held. Rokossovsky commanded the parade, while Zhukov receive the parade.

At the parade march, combined shelf fronts were passed in this order: Karelia, Leningrad , one of the first Baltic, third , the 2nd and 1st Belorussian , 1st , 4th , 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian, the combined regiment of the Navy. In the regiment 1st Belorussian Front, particular column were marched by the representatives of the Polish Army. Ahead of the consolidated regiments fronts were front and army commanders, heroes of the Soviet Union that bore the banners of famous units and formations.

The parade ended with a march of 200 standard-bearers who threw flags defeated German troops on the platform foot mausoleum.

Holiday in Europe and the U.S.

In Europe, Britain and France,  the Day of Victory in World War II are celebrated on May 8, following the day of signing of surrender of Germany in the Sun Reims on May 7. On May 8, 22:43 hour, CET time, the unconditional surrender of the second Germany signed in Karlshorst. In USSR, and now in many countries of the CIS, May 9 is the holiday “Victory Day”, that is, the day after the surrender on May 8. And the first and second act of surrender began almost simultaneously – in the 23-00 and 23-01, respectively, 8 May CET.

In the U.S., this holiday is called VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day. In most countries of the Western Europe, May 8 is celebrated as “Europe Day”.

August 15 is celebrated as the Day of Victory over Japan (or VJ Day).

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