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 WarGREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1941–45that was part of World War II. 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 did not suitShtemenko S.M. 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 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 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.

On May 8, even before the signing of the act, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decreeDecree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 8, 1945 No. "On the announcement of May 9 the Victory Day" (with amendments and additions), which declared May 9 the day of the nationwide celebration in honor of the 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 radioWith a Leica and a notebook. Memoirs of A. IN. Ustinov. the act of surrender and the decree declaring the day the Victory Day. I heard the good news, people across the country from early morning left their homes in droves, staged spontaneous demonstrations, congratulated each other, sang songs and danced.

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

How the holiday has changed over time

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

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

On a non-working day on May 9, they again madeDecree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 26, 1965 No. N 3478-VI "On declaring May 9 a non-working day" only in 1965, before the twentieth anniversary of the victory. At the same time, began to formVICTORY DAY CELEBRATION TRADITIONS A.V. Weinmeister, Yu.V. Grigorieva and the usual order of the holiday will be fixed: with a military parade on Red Square, official wreath-laying, a minute of silence, concerts, sporting 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 signedFEDERAL LAW On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 federal law "On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in The great Patriotic war of 1941-1945 ”, according to which a permanent guard of honor appeared at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and salutes and military parades became mandatory and annual.

Which countries celebrate Victory Day

In most countries of the former USSR, Victory Day isDecree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 26, 1998 N 157 (ed. from 30.08.2012) "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 days of remembrance, holidays and days of rest in the Republic of Moldova public holiday and weekend. The solemn program there is quite similar to the Soviet and Russian: on this day parades, concerts and fireworks are held, and awards are presented to the military and veterans.

In Europe and the USA, the main official events commemorating the end wars are held on September 2, and on May 8 they usually arrange memorial services, minutes of silence and meetings of veterans.

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 USA and most European countries it is VE Day (Victory Day in Europe), in the Baltics - Day in memory of the victims of the war, in the Scandinavian countries - the Day of Liberation, in Ukraine since 2015 - the Day of Remembrance and reconciliation.

In the UK, VE Day givesVE Day: UK marking 75th anniversary of end of WW2 in Europe tribute to the memory of the dead with a two-minute silence, arrange a parade aeronautical engineering and concerts, toasting the heroes of the war. In France, the holiday hasEvgenia Obichkina: May 8 in French: "Holiday of Freedom and Peace" official status since 1981 and has a very pacifist mood.

In Germany, May 8 is now perceivedVE Day: Berlin marks end of WW2 in Europe with unprecedented holidayrather, as a date for the deliverance of the country and Europe from Nazism, rather than 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 WWII veterans from different countries often get together to celebrate Victory Day, and join Russian memory actions: they put onThe action "St. George Ribbon" will be held in 70 countries of the world St. George ribbons and arrange"Immortal regiment" abroad. How is the procession in the cities of the world processions 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 companies, and hold rehearsals. General Shtemenko recalled in his memoirsShtemenko S.M. 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 defeat of the captured German banners to the Mausoleum Lenin.

The parade in Moscow now seems to be the main attribute of the holiday, but until 1995 it was heldVictory Day: the history of military parades only three times, only in jubilee years. In 1965, the Victory Banner was carried along Red Square for the first time, 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 criticizedWho needs a victory parade? for the excessive cost and inappropriate “saber rattling” on such a day. But a 2019 survey showedVictory Day Levada Centerthat this part of the holiday remains popular: ¾ surveyed Russians watch it on TV 9th May.

A minute of silence

The ritual, during which the participants stand up and are silent for a short time to honor the tragic events, was held for the first time in the USSRGreat Patriotic War 1941-1945: Encyclopedia 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

An enduring flame, symbolizing the eternal memory of the victims, was lit for the first timeThe 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 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.

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

Festive fireworks

Festive fireworks in the USSR began to be arrangedThe history of the Victory salutes. Dossier even 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. 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 decidedGeorge Ribbon to make this bicolor a symbol of Victory Day and "expressions of respect for veterans" and came up with the action "St. George's Ribbon". Before May 9, the organizers distributed tapes to everyone free of charge. After that, they had to be attached to clothes in memory of the victory over fascism.

The promotion quickly becameGEORGIEVSKAYA 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 was on the ISS.

Immortal Regiment

The procession with portraits of ancestors who died in the war was held for the first timeImmortal regiment. About movement in Tomsk in 2012. Over the years, the movement has grown in popularity. In 2019, the action was heldMore than 10 million people took part in the Immortal Regiment action in Russia in more than 100 countries, and in Russia more than 10 million people have joined it.

According to the organizers, the goal of the Immortal Regiment is to preserve the personal memory of generationwho went through the war.