Victory Day (Russia)
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.
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Victory Day (Russia)
Victory Day (Russia)
May 9 of every year is Victory Day in Russia and many other countries of the former Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991. It commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, of which the Soviet struggle on the Eastern Front was a critical part.
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.