Victory Day (9 May)
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Victory Day<ref group="a" name="NameUkrRusetcVD">
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</ref> is a holiday that commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the 15 republics of the Soviet UnionTemplate:Efn following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.<ref>Earl F. Ziemke, 1990, Washington DC, CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, CHAPTER XV:The Victory Sealed Page 258 last 2 paragraphs</ref> Although the official inauguration occurred in 1945, the holiday became a non-labor day only in 1965.
In East Germany, 8 May was observed as Liberation Day from 1950 to 1966, and was celebrated again on the 40th anniversary in 1985. In 1967, a Soviet-style "Victory Day" was celebrated on 8 May. Since 2002, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has observed a commemoration day known as the Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the World War II.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Russian Federation has officially recognized 9 May 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 a non-working holiday). The holiday was similarly celebrated while the country was part of the Soviet Union. Most other countries in Europe observe Victory in Europe Day (often abbreviated to VE Day, or V-E Day) on 8 May, and Europe DayTemplate:Efn on 9 May as national remembrance or victory days.
History
The German Instrument of Surrender was signed twice. An initial document was signed in Reims, France on 7 May 1945 by Alfred Jodl (chief of staff of the German OKW) for Germany, Walter Bedell Smith (USA), on behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and Ivan Susloparov, on behalf of the Soviet High Command, in the presence of Free French Major-General François Sevez as the official witness. Since the Soviet High Command had not agreed to the text of the surrender, and because Susloparov, a relatively low-ranking officer, was not authorized to sign this document, the Soviet Union requested that a second, revised, instrument of surrender be signed in Berlin. Joseph Stalin declared that the Soviet Union considered the Reims surrender a preliminary document, and Dwight D. Eisenhower immediately agreed with that. Another argument was that some German troops considered the Reims instrument of surrender as a surrender to the Western Allies only, and fighting continued in the East, especially in Prague.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A second surrender ceremony was organized in the outskirts of Berlin late on 8 May, when it was already 9 May in Moscow due to the difference in time zones. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, chief of OKW, 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, in the presence of General Carl Spaatz (USA) and General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (Free French), as witnesses. The surrender was signed in the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. Both English and Russian versions of the instrument of surrender signed in Berlin were considered authentic texts.Template:Cn
The revised Berlin text of the instrument of surrender differed from the preliminary text signed in Reims in explicitly stipulating the complete disarmament of all German military forces, handing over their weapons to local Allied military commanders.Template:Cn
Both the Reims and Berlin instruments of surrender stipulated that forces under German control to cease active operations at 23:01 hours CET on 8 May 1945. However, due to the difference in Central European and Moscow time zones, the end of war is celebrated on 9 May in the Soviet Union and most post-Soviet countries.Template:Cn
To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945.Template:Cn
Celebrations
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In Russia
During the Soviet Union's existence, 9 May was celebrated throughout it and in the Eastern Bloc. Though the holiday was introduced in many Soviet republics between 1946 and 1950, it became a non-working day only in the Ukrainian SSR in 1963 and the Russian SFSR in 1965.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Russian SFSR, a weekday off (usually a Monday) was given if 9 May fell on a Saturday or Sunday.Template:Cn
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 a number of similar elements: ceremonial meetings, speeches, lectures, receptions and fireworks.<ref name="szf.lu.lv">Template:Cite web</ref>
In Russia during the 1990s, the 9 May holiday was not celebrated with large Soviet-style mass demonstrations due to the policies of successive Russian governments. 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.<ref name="szf.lu.lv"/>
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 and India, attended the 2015 celebration, while Western leaders boycotted the ceremonies because of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The 2020 edition of the parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Russophone populations in many countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> organize public gatherings and even parades on this day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some multilanguage 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.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Failed verification</ref> RT also broadcasts the parade featuring live commentary, and also airs yet another highlight of the day – the Minute of Silence at 6:55Template:Nbsppm MST, a tradition dating back to 1965.Template:Cn
Because of massive losses among both military and civilians during World War II, Victory Day is one of the most important and emotional dates in Russia.<ref>Осознаёт ли современная молодёжь всю важность Дня победы? © Саров24 (in Russian) 4-05-2017</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other countries currently celebrating 9 May
- Template:Flagicon Armenia has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991. It is officially known as Victory and Peace Day. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shushi Liberation Day is also commemorated with the holiday.
- Template:Flagicon Azerbaijan has officially recognized 9 May since 1994. Upon its independence in 1991, the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party and later the government of Abulfaz Elchibey deliberately erased the holiday from the calendar, with veterans being subjected to a targeted anti-Russian/Soviet media campaign. Upon coming to power, Heydar Aliyev restored the holiday to the national calendar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The holiday is similarly celebrated as it was while the country was part of the Soviet Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A wreath laying ceremony is usually held at the monument to Hazi Aslanov.
- Template:Flagicon Belarus has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991 and considers it a non-working day. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. Belarus has had seven Victory Day Parades, on Independence Square and Masherov Avenue (1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025) and has had an annual ceremony on Victory Square since independence.
- Template:Flagicon Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognized 9 May since its independence. However, it is not a working day only in Republic of Srpska.
- Template:Flagicon Croatia has officially recognized 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism as a memorial day since 2019, which is a legally-recognised day, but is not a public holiday.
- Template:Flagicon Georgia has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. It is particularly celebrated in this way with the Russian community in the country.
- Template:Flagicon In Israel, Victory Day on 9 May has historically been celebrated as an unofficial national remembrance day. However, in 2017, Victory in Europe Day was upgraded to the status of an official national holiday day of commemoration by the Knesset, with schools and businesses operating as usual.<ref>Israel passed the law on 26 July 2017.
</ref> As a result of immigration of many Red Army veterans, Israel now hosts the largest and most extensive Victory Day celebrations outside the former Soviet Union.Template:Cn Traditions and customs of Victory Day are the same as in Russia, with marches of Immortal Regiments held in cities with large populations of Red Army veterans and their descendants.
- Template:Flagicon Kazakhstan has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991 as a national holiday. The holiday is sometimes celebrated in connection with the Defender of the Fatherland Day holiday on 7 May. From 1947 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
- Template:Flagicon Kyrgyzstan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
- Template:Flagicon Mongolia had officially recognized 9 May during its existence as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. The holiday continues to be celebrated unofficially throughout the country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Montenegro officially recognised 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism as an official holiday.Template:Citation needed
- Template:Flagicon Serbia celebrates 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism but it is a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including the President, Minister of Defense and the highest officers of the Serbian Armed Forces.
- Template:Flagicon Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.Template:Citation needed The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Turkmenistan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence in 1991. It officially known as the Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War. It was established by a special decree of President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Since 2018, it has not been a public holiday.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Various events are conducted at famous parks such as Altyn Asyr Park and the National Cultural Centre's Palace of Mukams.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In recent years, Turkmen prisoners have received pardons from the President of Turkmenistan on Victory Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 2 March 1999, where the holiday was introduced as the "Day of Remembrance and Honour" (Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni).<ref name="Their memory lives on">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the only country in the Commonwealth of Independent States to not officially recognize the 9 May holiday as Victory Day. Under President Islam Karimov, the holiday was toned down, with many veterans being told not to wear their Soviet-era decorations or uniforms on the holiday.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since Karimov's death in 2016, the holiday has been celebrated there similarly to how it was celebrated while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
Countries formerly celebrating 9 May
- Template:Flagicon Bulgaria officially recognized 9 May during its existence as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Since 1989, all official celebrations of 9 May have been cancelled. As in other EU countries, Victory Day in Bulgaria is 8 May, whereas 9 May is Europe Day. However, many still gather unofficially to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Flowers are generally laid at the Monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia.
- Template:Flagicon Moldova officially recognized 9 May as a public holiday from its independence in 1991 to 2023. From 1951 to 1991, the holiday had also been celebrated during the country's rule by the Soviet Union as the Moldavian SSR. It is now officially known as the "Victory Day and Commemoration of the Fallen Heroes for the Independence of the Fatherland" (Template:Langx).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Victory Day was a major national holiday, particularly due to Moldova's Russian community and also due to the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) and its state-sponsored Victory Day rallies of 2017 on the Great National Assembly Square at Chișinău. Wreath-laying ceremonies were commonly held at the Eternity Memorial Complex of Chișinău during the day.
- Template:Flagicon Poland officially recognised 9 May as a state holiday, where it was known as Narodowe Święto Zwycięstwa i Wolności ("National Victory and Freedom Day") from 1945 until 2015. Until 1950 it was also a day free from work. The holiday served both as a celebration of victory against Nazi Germany as well as to highlight the union between the Polish People's Republic and the USSR. It was a key celebration that was observed with parades and major events throughout the entire country. Since the fall of the Eastern Bloc, the holiday had become controversial in Poland. Since 24 April 2015, Poland officially recognised Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa ("National Victory Day") on 8 May (like Victory in Europe Day) in place of the previous holiday.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Romania officially recognized Victory Day as a public holiday during the communist era. Since Romania's 1877 independence day from the Ottoman Empire also coincides with Victory Day on 9 May, the holiday was made a double celebration, especially under Nicolae Ceaușescu who sought to portray communism in Romania as a continuation of Romania's independence struggles from previous centuries. Victory Day in Romania is now celebrated on 8 May, whereas 9 May is celebrated as Europe Day. However, some Russophiles, Eurosceptics and leftists gather at informal meetings to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May. Thus, it may mark a triple celebration in the country.
- Template:Flagicon Ukraine officially recognised 9 May from its independence in 1991 until 2013, where it was a non-working day. If it fell on a weekend the following Monday was non-working.Template:Efn The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. According to opinion polling by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, in 2010 almost 60% of Ukrainians considered Victory Day one of the biggest holidays of Ukraine.<ref name=mi-povertaemo-nashij/> In 2015, Ukraine started to officially celebrate Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on 9 May, per a decree of parliament (the Verkhovna Rada). Additionally the term "Great Patriotic War" as a reference was replaced with "World War II" in all Ukrainian legislation.<ref>«Велику Вітчизняну війну» замінили на «Другу світову» — закон Template:In lang. Fakty. ICTV. 09.04.2015</ref><ref>Депутати врегулювали питання про відзначення в Україні перемоги над нацизмом Template:In lang. The Ukrainian Week. 09.04.2015</ref> Since 15 May 2015, Communist and Nazi symbols are prohibited in Ukraine.<ref name=decomnU95>Poroshenko signed the laws about decomunization. Ukrayinska Pravda. 15 May 2015
Poroshenko signs laws on denouncing Communist, Nazi regimes, Interfax-Ukraine. 15 May 2015</ref> Before 15 May 2015, Ukraine held military parades in the capital on Khreshchatyk in 1995, 2001, 2010, and 2011, and 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 8, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree according to which Ukraine would celebrate Europe Day on May 9,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill establishing May 8, the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945, as a day off instead of Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 29, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada made the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 on May 8 as a public holiday, canceling the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.<ref name=mi-povertaemo-nashij>Template:Cite web</ref> According to a study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in February 2024, 11% of Ukrainians celebrate Victory Day as the most popular holiday, while Christmas is 70%, Easter is 68% and New Year is 47%. Sociologists note that in 2010, Victory Day on May 9 was one of the most important holidays, as 58% of Ukrainians thought so. However, already in 2021, only 30% of Ukrainians considered it an important holiday. The decline in the popularity of Victory Day in Ukraine is explained by the fact that this day is very actively celebrated in Russia as a militaristic holiday.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Unrecognized states celebrating Victory Day
- Template:Flagicon Abkhazia has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
- Template:Flagicon South Ossetia has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
- Template:Flagicon Transnistria has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the polity was part of the Soviet Union.
Former states
- Template:Flagicon From 1948 to 1993, the communist-dominated Czechoslovak Socialist Republic celebrated the holiday on 9 May in concert with the Soviet Union. Then, it was mainly celebrated with a military parade of the Czechoslovak People's Army (ČSLA) on Letná every five years to mark the end of World War II and the anniversary of the Prague uprising (the first one took place in 1951 while the last of these parades took place in 1985).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czech Republic has officially recognized 8 May as Liberation Day (Den osvobození). In recent years the Prague uprising and liberation of Plzeň by American troops have been commemorated on 5 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Template:Flagicon The German Democratic Republic recognized Tag der Befreiung (Day of liberation) on 8 May, it was celebrated as a public holiday from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Only in 1975 was the official holiday on 9 May instead and that year called Tag des Sieges (Victory Day). In Federal Republic of Germany, events are held on 8 May to commemorate those who fought against Nazism and died in World War II. Also, on 8 May, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2002 has recognised a commemorative day Tag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War).
- Template:Flagicon Soviet Union celebrated 9 May since 1945, with the day becoming a public holiday since 1965 in some Soviet Republics.
- Template:Flag officially recognised 9 May from 1965 to its disestablishment after the Yugoslav Wars. The first victory parade was held on Bulevar revolucije in the presence of Marshal Josip Broz Tito in 1965 and was held every 5 years since (save for 1980) until the final parade in 1985.
Former unrecognized states
- Template:Flagicon The Republic of Artsakh had officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1991. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. It coincided with the country's Liberation Day, celebrating the Armenian victory in the Capture of Shushi.
Holiday traditions
Victory Day Parades
Victory Day Parades are military parades that are held on 9 May, particularly in various post-soviet nations such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and until 2015, Ukraine. Outside of the former Soviet Union, military victory parades have also been held in Serbia, Poland and the Czech Republic. The first victory day parade on Red Square took place with the participation of the Red Army and a small detachment from the First Polish Army on 24 June 1945. After a 20-year hiatus, the parade was held again and became a regular tradition among Eastern Bloc countries and Soviet allies. Countries that had this tradition included Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, both of which had their last parades in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the fall of the Soviet Union, they quickly fell out of style in Europe and soon became a practice among post-Soviet nations, many of which have large Russian populations. In 1995, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine held parades for the first time since 1991.
Mass processions
In Belarus on non-jubilee years, a procession is held from October Square, which ends with the laying of wreaths on Victory Square.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, a parade of young people, cadets of military lyceums, young athletes took place on Bishkek's Ala-Too Square, attended by President Almazbek Atambayev and Prime Minister Temir Sariev.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Immortal Regiment (Template:Langx) is a massive civil event staged in major cities in Russia and around the world every 9 May. Since it was introduced in 2012, it has been conducted in cities such as Moscow, Washington D.C., Dushanbe, Berlin, and Yekaterinburg. Participants carry pictures of relatives or family members who served during the Second World War. The front line of the procession carries a banner with the words Bessmertniy Polk written on it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Up to 12 million Russians have participated in the march nationwide in recent years. Since 2015, the President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials have participated in the procession in Moscow.<ref name="rferl.org">Template:Cite web</ref> It has come under criticism by those who charge that participants are carrying photographs and discarding them after the event.<ref name="rferl.org"/>Template:Efn
Gatherings at monuments
Members of government usually take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at their national war memorial, usually dedicated to the specific war victory. Wreaths are often laid at memorials such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Moscow), the Monument to the Unknown Sailor (Odesa), and the Monument to Hazi Aslanov (Baku). Although Latvia does not officially recognize 9 May, most of the large Russian community informally celebrates the holiday, with trips to the Victory Memorial to Soviet Army being common in Riga, with some diplomats (ambassadors of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus) as well as some politicians (Nils Ušakovs, Alfrēds Rubiks) also taking part.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 20 April 2023 the Latvian Parliament passed a bill to ban all public celebrations on May 9, the only exception being Europe Day.<ref name="20230420LatvianSaeima"/> The law was meant to stop the "glorification of warfare and to stem the propagandist distortions of World War II history often implicit in Victory Day celebrations."<ref name="20230420LatvianSaeima">Template:Cite web</ref>
Religious commemorations
In the Easter message of 1945, the Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow wrote:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Every 26 April (Old Style, O.S.; 9 May, New Style or N.S.), the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the dead, being the only special remembrance day for the dead with a fixed date. After the liturgy, a memorial service for the fallen soldiers is served in all churches and monasteries of the Orthodox Church. The annual commemoration on Victory Day "of the soldiers who for faith, the Fatherland and the people laid down their lives and all those who died in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945" was established by the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994.<ref>Месяцеслов, 26 апреля по старому стилю / 9 мая по новому стилю Template:Webarchive // Русская Православная Церковь. Православный календарь на 2016 год.</ref> On the eve of the 65th anniversary in 2010, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow gave his blessing for all the churches of the Russian Orthodox Church to perform a "prayer service in memory of the deliverance of our people from a terrible, mortal enemy, from a danger that our Fatherland has not known in all history". The patriarch composed a special prayer for this rite, taking as a basis the prayer of Philaret Drozdov, written in honor of the victory of the Imperial Russian Army over the French Grande Armee during the Napoleonic Wars.<ref name="kirill">Патриарх Кирилл написал специальную молитву для Дня Победы // Интерфакс, новости, 6 мая 2010 года, 12:42.</ref> The completion of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces was timed to Victory Day in 2020.
Other events
Traditions such as the Victory Relay Race are held on jubilee anniversaries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Turkmenistan conducted live-fire military exercises "Galkan-2013" (Shield-2013) dedicated to the 68th anniversary of the Victory, observed by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at the Kelyata Training Center of the Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan in the Bäherden District of the Ahal Region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Moldovan Defence Minister Anatol Șalaru attended a display of vehicles from the Moldovan National Army and the United States Army in the central park of Chișinău.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2020, an official in the Western Military District of Russia announced that an air show would be held at Kubinka air base in Victory Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On Victory Day, many books on topics such as the war such as Panfilov's Twenty-Eight Guardsmen<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> are published. On the eve of the diamond jubilee, President Vladimir Putin, at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, gave a live address broadcast Austrian TV channel ORF.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Soviet and post-Soviet symbols associated with Victory Day
Banner of Victory
The Victory Banner refers to the Soviet military banner raised by the Soviet soldiers on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 1 May 1945. Made during the Battle of Berlin by soldiers who created it while under battlefield conditions, it has historically been the official symbol of the Victory of the Soviet people against Nazi Germany. Being the 5th banner to be created, it was the only army flag that was prepared to be raised in Berlin to survive the battle. The Cyrillic inscription on the banner reads: "150th Rifle, Order of Kutuzov 2nd class, Idritsa Division, 79th Rifle Corps, 3rd Shock Army, 1st Belorussian Front", representing the unit that soldiers who raised the banner were from. On 9 May, a specially made replica of the Victory Banner is carried by a color guard of the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment through Red Square.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Victory Banner was brought to Kyiv from Moscow in October 2004 to take part in the parade in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Ukraine.Template:Citation needed In 2015, the banner was brought to Astana to participate in the Defender of the Fatherland Day parade on 7 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Saint George's Ribbon
The Ribbon of Saint George is a military symbol that dates back to the era of the Russian Empire. It consists of a black and orange bicolour pattern, with three black and two orange stripes. In the early 21st century, it became an awareness ribbon to commemorate the veterans of the war, being recognized as a patriotic symbol.<ref name=OD150501>Template:Cite news</ref> In countries such as Ukraine and the Baltic states, it has been associated recently with Russophilia and Russian irredentism.<ref name=RFE150507>Template:Cite news</ref> It has become especially associated with Russian support for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Ukraine the government chose to replace it with the remembrance poppy which is associated with the Remembrance Day commemorations in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth.<ref name=kp5>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On 5 May 2014, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union encouraged activists not to use the ribbon due to the situation in Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In time for Victory Day 2015, the ribbon's colors were replaced there by the red, green and white from the Flag of Belarus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards
Soviet Union
| Order of Victory | Order of Victory |
Russia
Ukraine
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Azerbaijan
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Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
- Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jubilee Medal "75 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Israel
| אות הלוחם בנאצים | Fighters against Nazis Medal |
Gallery of the celebrations
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2018 celebrations at the Mother Armenia monument in Yerevan.
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President Ilham Aliyev with war veterans in Baku in 2018.
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The victory parade in Minsk in 2015.
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Belarusian veterans during Victory Day in 2017.
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A T-72 tank during a Victory Day parade in Kazakhstan 2015.
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Victory Day in the Moldavian SSR in 1980.
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Veterans during Victory Day in Russia.
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Flowers near Victory Memorial in Riga, Latvia in 2016.
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A sign on a Dushanbe Avenue for Victory Day.
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Local residents in Crimea at «Immortal regiment», carrying portraits of their ancestors and participants in World War II, 9 May 2016.
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Moldovan former president Igor Dodon (wearing the Ribbon of Saint George) with members of the Șor Party at a Victory Day rally in Moldova on 9 May 2023
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See also
- End of World War II in Europe
- Hero city
- Immortal Regiment
- Moscow Victory Day Parade
- Pobediteli
- Pobedobesie
- Reunification Day (Vietnam)
- Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation
- Victory Day in other countries
- Victory Day Parades
- Victory over Japan Day
Notes
Template:Reflist Template:Notelist
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Major photos period of time
- Template:Wikisource-inline
- Template:Wikisource-inline
- Interactive map of the Great Patriotic War between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany
- 9 мая, 1991 год, Алма-Ата
- The Russian evening newscast featuring the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of V-E Day in Russia on C-SPAN
- Russian Army Parade (1995)
- Russian Army Parade, Red Square (1995)
- Мероприятия ко Дню победы в Ереване
- Template:Cite web
Template:Public holidays in Russia Template:Public holidays in Armenia Template:Public holidays in Azerbaijan Template:Public holidays in Georgia (country) Template:Moscow Victory Parade Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Aftermath of World War II in Germany
- Aftermath of World War II in the Soviet Union
- Public holidays in Armenia
- Public holidays in Azerbaijan
- Public holidays in Belarus
- Public holidays in Georgia (country)
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