What you need to know about Victory Day

Why Victory Day is celebrated on May 9

Victory Day is a holiday in honor of the victory of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany and its allies in the Great Patriotic War. THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR of 1941–45, which was part of the Second World War. Therefore, it is celebrated not on the day the last one ends (September 2), but on the anniversary of Germany's surrender.

The very protocol on the surrender of the German troops was signed on May 7 in French Reims by General Susloparov. But Stalin was not satisfied with S. M. Shtemenko. General Staff during the war. signing procedure. He believed that such an important event should take place with the participation of the commanders-in-chief of all the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition on the territory of the aggressor.

Therefore, the next day in Berlin, the act was signed anew, the USSR was now represented by Marshal Zhukov. The event took place at night, when Moscow time had already arrived on May 9 - this date became Victory Day.

Signing of the act of surrender of Germany in Reims

On May 8, even before the signing of the act, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 8, 1945 "On declaring May 9 the Victory Day" (with amendments and additions), which declared May 9 the day of the nationwide celebration in honor of victory over the German fascist invaders.

As the first Victory Day was celebrated

On May 9, at two o'clock in the morning, Yuri Levitan read on the radio With "Leika" and a notebook. Memoirs of A. V. Ustinov. the act of surrender and the decree declaring the day the Victory Day. I heard the good news, people all over the country from early morning left their homes in droves, staged spontaneous demonstrations, congratulated each other, sang songs and danced.

V. Shtranikh “Victory Day. May 9, 1945 "

The festivities lasted all day, in the evening Stalin pronounced the newspaper Pravda No. III of May 10, 1945, a congratulatory address, after which a salute from a thousand artillery pieces began in Moscow.

How the holiday has changed over time

Now Victory Day is one of the most beloved and most important Holidays calendar: what do Russians celebrate? celebrations in Russia, and celebrate it on a grand scale. For example, in 2020, according to media estimates, it was planned to spend Salute in the window on festive events in Moscow alone: about 1 billion rubles, about 1 billion rubles, will be spent on the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow.

But in the first post-war years, the celebrations were rather modest. The holiday was TRADITIONS OF CELEBRATION OF VICTORY DAY A. V. Weinmeister, Yu. V. Grigoriev family rather than state. And in 1947, the day off from May 9 was completely postponed to January 1.

On May 9, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 26, 1965 N 3478-VI "On declaring May 9 a non-working day" was again made a non-working day only in 1965, before the twentieth anniversary of the victory. At the same time, the VICTORY DAY TRADITIONS began to form. Weinmeister, Yu. V. Grigoriev and the usual order of the celebration will be fixed: with a military parade on Red Square, an official laying of wreaths, a minute of silence, concerts, sports events and feasts.

Every year the scale of the celebration and the attention of the state to May 9 only increased. And in 1995, Boris Yeltsin signed the FEDERAL LAW On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the federal law "On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945," according to which the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier had a permanent post of honorary guard, and salutes and military parades became mandatory and annual.

Which countries celebrate Victory Day

In most countries of the former USSR, Victory Day is the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 03.26.1998 N 157 (ed.2012) "On public holidays, holidays and memorable dates in the Republic of Belarus", Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 13, 2001 No. 267-II On holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan, LABOR CODE OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, HOLIDAYS Extract from the Labor Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, REGULATION Nr. 433 of 26.12.1990 on the days of remembrance, holidays and days of rest in the Republic of Moldova, a public holiday and days off. The festive program there is quite similar to the Soviet and Russian: parades, concerts and fireworks are held on this day, and awards are presented to the military and veterans.

In Europe and the United States, the main official events commemorating the end of the war are held on September 2, and on May 8, memorial services, minutes of silence and meetings of veterans are usually held.

Depending on the cultural and historical traditions, in each country they put their own meaning into this memorable date, and the holiday itself is known under different names. For example, in the United States and most European countries it is VE Day (Victory Day in Europe), in the Baltics - Day of Remembrance of War Victims, in Scandinavian countries - Liberation Day, in Ukraine since 2015 - Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation.

Parade in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Minsk

In the UK, VE Day celebrates the VE Day: UK marking the 75th anniversary of end of WW2 in Europe in tribute to the memory of the dead with a two-minute silence, arranges a parade of aerial vehicles and concerts, and toasts to the heroes of the war. In France, Evgenia Obichkina has a holiday: May 8 in French: "Holiday of Freedom and Peace" has official status since 1981 and is distinguished by a very pacifist mood.

In Germany, May 8 is now perceived VE Day: Berlin marks end of WW2 in Europe with unprecedented holiday, rather, as the date of the deliverance of the country and Europe from Nazism, and not defeat. On this day, the Chancellor and other government officials lay flowers in memory of the victims of the war and the regime.

Representatives of the Russian-speaking diasporas and descendants of World War II veterans from different countries often gather together to celebrate Victory Day and join Russian memory actions: they put on the St. George Ribbon Action in 70 countries of the world and arrange the Immortal Regiment abroad. How is the procession in the cities of the world of the procession of the "Immortal Regiment" in their cities.

What symbols and traditions does Victory Day have?

Military parade

The first military parade in Moscow was held not on May 9, but on June 24: it took time to have time to sew a uniform, make standards, staff and arm the companies, and hold rehearsals. General Shtemenko in his memoirs recalled S. M. Shtemenko. General Staff during the war. that the day of the report to Stalin on the organization of the parade was the most stressful for the General Staff after the surrender of Germany.

The first festive parade was commanded by Rokossovsky, and Zhukov received him. Consolidated regiments and military equipment passed through the decorated Red Square. The culmination of the parade was the overthrow of the captured German banners to the Lenin Mausoleum.

Victory Parade on Red Square June 24, 1945

The parade in Moscow now seems to be the main attribute of the holiday, but until 1995 it was held on Victory Day: the history of military parades only three times, only in anniversary years. In 1965, the Victory Banner was first carried across Red Square, and in 1985 and 1990, equipment from the Second World War took part in the parade.

The next parade was staged after the collapse of the USSR in 1995. In 2000, WWII veterans walked across the square for the last time, and in 2008 heavy military equipment began to participate in the parade.

Victory Parade is often criticized Who needs a victory parade? for the excessive cost and inappropriate “saber rattling” on such a day. But a survey conducted in 2019 showed the Levada Center's Victory Day that this part of the holiday remains popular: ¾ surveyed Russians watch it on TV on May 9.

A minute of silence

The ritual, during which the participants stand up and remain silent for a short time to honor the tragic events, was the first time in the USSR that the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was held: Encyclopedia of May 9, 1965. On the radio and TV channels that day, a speech was read in memory of those killed in the war, after that funeral music began to play, and views of the Kremlin wall and the Eternal Flame were broadcast on the screens.

In the program, the announcers, authors of texts, musical and visual accompaniment changed several times, but it has survived to this day and has become another traditional part of Victory Day.

Eternal flame

The eternal flame, symbolizing the eternal memory of the victims, was lit for the first time in the Eternal Flame in Russia and in the world: the history of tradition in Paris in 1923. The eternal flame then appeared in the memorial dedicated to the victims of the First World War.

Over time, this tradition began to spread in other countries and in 1957 reached the USSR. The first Soviet Eternal Flame was installed in Leningrad on the Field of Mars, from which the lights were lit in Moscow, Sevastopol and other hero cities.

Eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow

Now all over Russia the Eternal Lights are burning. The ONF patriotic projects are over 900 Eternal Lights. On Victory Day, it is customary to lay wreaths and flowers on them.

Festive fireworks

Festive fireworks in the USSR began to be arranged History of Victory fireworks. Dossier during the war in honor of the major victories of the Soviet army. The first of them was given in August 1943 after the liberation of Belgorod and Orel. Depending on the significance of the victory, it consisted of 12-24 volleys.

After the end of the war, fireworks were held annually on May 9 in Moscow, Leningrad and other large cities of the Soviet Union. Later they began to be given in all hero cities and centers of military districts.

St. George ribbons

The black and orange ribbon is part of the medal "For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", the Order of Glory and other Soviet and Russian military awards.

In 2005, a group of journalists and volunteers decided to make this bicolor a bicolor symbol of the Victory Day and "expressions of respect for veterans" and came up with the action "St. George's Ribbon". Before May 9, the organizers handed out tapes to everyone free of charge. After that, they had to be attached to clothes in memory of the victory over fascism.

The action quickly became GEORGIEVSKAYA RIBBON 75 Victory! mass and received the support of the authorities, in 2013 residents of 73 countries participated in it, and in 2014 the ribbon visited the ISS.

Immortal Regiment

For the first time, the Immortal Regiment held the procession with portraits of their ancestors who died in the war. On the movement in Tomsk in 2012. Over the years, the movement has grown in popularity. In 2019, the campaign was held More than 10 million people took part in the Immortal Regiment campaign in Russia in more than 100 countries, and in Russia more than 10 million people joined it.