Russian Victory Day: A glorious history of resilience and resistance
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
It was 1945. Nazi Germany became a global threat and Hitler like Netanyahu amd Trump was like a drunken blind elephant and wanted to crush anyone, any country which refused to lay down arms before him. Russia, its people, leadership, and armed forces decided to resist and challenged the supremacy of Nazish Germany. Over twenty-seven million (27 m) Russians sacrificed their lives in the Great Patriotic War, and 9 May became the historic symbol of Russian victory over Nazi Germany. It is one of Russia’s most sacred holidays, featuring military parades, processions like the Immortal Regiment, and fireworks.
Another significant importance of this day is honouring veterans, placing flowers on war memorials, and the Immortal Regiment march, where participants carry photos of relatives who fought in the war. It is deeply emotional, patriotic, full of spirit, enthusiasm, fervour, and zeal.
The Russian Federation also recognized and gave high importance to this day since its formation in 1991 and considers it a non-working holiday even if it falls on a weekend ( in which case any following Monday will be non-working holiday).
In Reims, the Germans signed the preliminary act of unconditional surrender. The main contribution, however, was made by the Soviet people and not by the Allies. The capitulation must be signed in front of the Supreme Command of all countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, and not only in front of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces. Moreover, the surrender was not signed in Berlin, which was the center of Nazi aggression. The Russians agreed with the Allies to consider the Reims protocol as preliminary.
A second surrender ceremony was held on the outskirts of Berlin late on 8 May, when it was already 9 May in Moscow due to the time zone difference. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, chief of , signed a final German Instrument of Surrender, which was also signed by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, on behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army, and Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder (Britain), on behalf of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The surrender was signed in the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin, Karlshorst.
The celebration of Victory Day continued during subsequent years. The war became a topic of great importance in cinema, literature, history lessons at school, the mass media, and the arts. The ritual of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with some similar elements: ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions, and fireworks.
Following Vladimir Putin's rise to power, the Russian government began promoting the prestige of the governing regime and history, and national holidays and commemorations became a source of national self-esteem. Victory Day in Russia has become a celebration in which popular culture plays a central role. The 60th and 70th anniversaries of Victory Day in Russia (2005 and 2015) became the largest popular holidays since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In 1995, as the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, many world leaders converged on Moscow to attend the city's first state-sponsored ceremonies since the end of the Soviet Union. In 2015, around 30 leaders, including those of China, attended the 2015 celebration, while Western leaders boycotted the ceremonies. The 2020 edition of the parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Russophone populations in many countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status organize public gatherings and even parades on this day. Some multilingual broadcasting television networks translate the "Victory speech" of the Russian president and the parade on Red Square for telecasts for viewers all over the globe, making the parade one of the world's most-watched events of the year.
Members of the government usually take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at their national war memorial, usually dedicated to a specific war victory. Wreaths are often laid at memorials such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers (Moscow), the Monument of the Unknown sailors (Odesa), and the Monument to Hazi Aslanoy ( Baku) . Victory Day, celebrated on May 9 each year in Russia and several former Soviet states, commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, marking a significant moment in World War II history. This date honors the immense sacrifices made by the Soviet Union, which suffered millions of casualties during the war, particularly on the Eastern Front. The official end of the war in Europe was marked by Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, but it became a formal observance in the Soviet Union on May 9 with ceremonies led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov. Initially celebrated as a Soviet holiday, it remains a key event in Russia's national calendar following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
On Victory Day, Russian veterans often wear their military uniforms and medals, participating in parades in significant locations like Moscow's Red Square. The day is marked by patriotic speeches from leaders, including the President of Russia, and the tradition of laying flowers and wreaths at memorial sites for those who lost their lives in what is known as the "Great Patriotic War." Additionally, families gather for large feasts, underscoring the day’s mix of solemn remembrance and communal celebration. This observance reflects a deep national pride and collective memory of resilience in the face of adversity.
World War II ended in Europe (although it continued in Asia) on May 7, 1945, when Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union at Reims in France. The surrender was performed in a large schoolhouse, the advance headquarters of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces. However, it did not become effective until midnight of May 8, when Soviet military commander Marshal Georgy Zhukov formally opened the official signing ceremonies with the assembled American, British, French, and German representatives.
For the Russians, who lost millions of people during the war and who endured great sacrifices in driving the invading Germans from their soil, May 9 became an important annual event. It was a Soviet holiday until 1991 and thereafter became a Russian holiday. It is also celebrated in many of the other newly independent Soviet states. Russian veterans don their old service uniforms, medals, and awards, and then parade in public centers, such as Moscow's Red Square. Various dignitaries, including the president of Russia, give commemorative patriotic speeches, and people lay flowers or wreaths on the graves of loved ones who died in what the Russians call “the Great Patriotic War.” Feasts and large family dinners are also common.
Victory Day is one of the most important and sacred holidays of the year. They often say that there is not a single family in the country who did not lost someone in that war. On this day, celebrations and commemorative events are held across the country, with military parades taking place in the country’s major cities. The most spectacular one takes place in Moscow’s Red Square.
In Krasnoyarsk, the events dedicated to Victory Day are organized by the team of the Center for International and Regional Cultural Affairs. The celebration includes the concert program and the annual Victory Day military parade in the Revolution Square that is visited by Krasnoyarsk citizens, veterans, and honored guests, and is broadcast on the regional channel. The songs and dances about soldiers and Homefront workers of the Great Patriotic War bring us back to the postwar period. The main concert takes place near the Krasnoyarsk Regional Philharmonic on the Mira Square. Every year, the concert program is different. The traditional final song is the Victory Day song performed by all artists to the sounds of fireworks.
|