Holiday May 9 official name. Victory Day celebration
Spring has come, which means once again A big and very significant holiday for our country is approaching - Victory Day. What do we know about him and what do we celebrate on this day?
- Historical excursion
- What are we celebrating?
- A break from the celebration
- How we celebrate today
Historical excursion
On May 9, 1945, our compatriots celebrated Victory Day for the first time, approved by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and officially recognized as a day off.Then, 73 years ago, the first Victory Salute took place in Moscow. However, there was no parade of troops as usual - it was held only on June 24. However, the festivities continued until late at night. People rejoiced at the long-awaited end of the war, sang songs and congratulated each other.
What are we celebrating?
Russians are accustomed to calling May 9 Victory Day. But few people know that on this day the war did not end yet. However, first things first.In April 1945, Soviet troops came close to Berlin, and the command of the Red Army decided to begin Berlin operation. The assault on the heavily fortified capital was very costly for our soldiers - more than 78,000 people died. Nevertheless, Berlin was defeated, and on May 1, 1945, the victors hoisted the Soviet banner on the roof of the Reichstag.
However, the Nazis were not going to give up and hoped to conclude a truce agreement, which was rejected by Stalin and led to another, more destructive assault.
As a result, on May 8, 1945, at 22 hours and 43 minutes European time, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Colonel General Hans Jürgen Stumpf and Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany, which came into force on May 9.
Interestingly, having received this historical document, Soviet authorities did not sign a peace treaty with the vanquished, remaining in a state of war until January 25, 1955.
That is, every year, on May 9, we celebrate not the absolute end of hostilities, but the signing of the enemy’s act of surrender.
A break from the celebration
Despite the huge historical significance Victory Day was not celebrated between 1948 and 1965. Soviet government considered it irrational to allocate funds for large-scale celebrations and provide workers with an additional day off in the conditions of post-war devastation. At that time, all efforts were devoted to the intensive restoration of cities, the construction of new educational institutions and manufacturing enterprises.But by the 20th anniversary of the Victory, May 9 again became a red day on the calendar, and magnificent parades, festive fireworks and honoring of veterans returned to the city streets.
How we celebrate today
IN modern Russia Victory Day has not lost its original meaning, but new traditions have appeared.
Thus, for 13 years in a row the campaign has been successfully held “ St. George Ribbon”, uniting not only the CIS countries, but also many other countries of the world, including Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Canada, China and even South Africa. A few days before May 9, volunteers distribute black and orange ribbons to everyone who wants them in memory of the military valor and exploits of their ancestors.
In addition, in schools, as well as secondary vocational and higher educational institutions Thematic concerts and meetings of the younger generation with veterans of the Great Patriotic War are held, who come to talk about the events of those distant days.
Heads of large enterprises, leaders of public organizations and members of the government apparatus solemnly lay flowers and wreaths at memorials and mass graves. Funeral prayers are held in churches.
And of course, Victory Day is not complete without a large-scale military parade, which demonstrates the full power of our country. IN recent years In many cities of Russia, the tradition of holding the “Immortal Regiment” march has taken root. People line up and carry photographs of their loved ones who participated in the war.
There are also folk festivals, field kitchens, sports competitions and patriotic quizzes. And the holiday ends with colorful fireworks.
9 May 2017, 09:35
Victory Day- celebration of the people's victory Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Celebrated on May 9.
Abroad, Victory Day is celebrated not on May 9, but on May 8.
War-torn Europe celebrated Victory Day sincerely and publicly. On May 9, 1945, in almost all European cities, people congratulated each other and the winning soldiers.
In London, the center of the celebrations was Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. People were congratulated by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Winston Churchill gave a speech from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
In the USA, there are two whole Victory Days: V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) and V-J Day(Victory Day over Japan). Americans celebrated both of these Victory Days in 1945 on a grand scale, honoring their veterans and remembering President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Victory Day coincided with the birthday of President Harry Truman. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin Roosevelt, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage a month before Germany's surrender.
Now the veterans are celebrating this way - they go to lay wreaths and salute the fallen in the city of Washington at the memorial to the heroes of World War II. And the real Victory Day in the USA is September 2, 1945.
On this day, September 2, 1945, at 9:02 a.m. Tokyo time on board the U.S. battleship"Missouri" in Tokyo Bay, the Act of Surrender of the Japanese Empire was signed. On the Japanese side, the document was signed by Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and Chief of the General Staff Yoshijiro Umezu. Representatives of the Allied Powers were Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers Douglas MacArthur, American Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander of the British Pacific Fleet Bruce Fraser, Soviet General Kuzma Nikolaevich Derevyanko, Kuomintang General Su Yong-chang, French General J. Leclerc, Australian General T. Blamey, Dutch Admiral K. Halfrich, New Zealand Air Vice-Marshal L. Isit and Canadian Colonel N. Moore-Cosgrave.
Apart from the USSR, May 9 was officially recognized as Victory Day only in Great Britain. This country waged war against fascism from 1939 and until 1941 fought Hitler almost alone.
The British clearly did not have enough strength to defeat Germany, but when faced with the terrible machine of the Wehrmacht, it was they who were able to appreciate the feat of the Soviet people who crushed it.
After the end of the war, many of our veterans remained in Great Britain, so now England has the largest diaspora of USSR veterans in Western Europe. It is worth noting that although Victory Day is celebrated in Britain, it is not done so magnificently and loudly. There are no crowds of celebrating people, large processions or parades on the streets.
On May 9, in London, in the park near the Imperial War Museum, the traditional laying of wreaths at the monument to Soviet soldiers and citizens who died in the war takes place, as well as a meeting of veterans of the Northern convoys on board the cruiser Belfast.
Northern convoys and the maritime brotherhood that united British and Soviet sailors brought the veterans together even more closely. The celebrations do not differ in pomp, but they are held very dignified, with the participation of members of the royal family and senior government officials. Living survivors of air battles with the Luftwaffe, icy, but no less hot campaigns northern seas and those who have had the opportunity to swallow the hot sand of the African desert, after meeting on the cruiser Belfast, listen to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. There are fewer and fewer veterans, and if previously music was played only for them, now there are more free seats, and everyone who wants to is invited to enjoy it.
The history of the Victory Day holiday dates back to May 9, 1945, when, in the suburbs of Berlin, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme High Command, Field Marshal General W. Keitel from the Wehrmacht, Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the USSR Georgy Zhukov from the Red Army and Air Marshal of Great Britain A. Tedder from the Allies, signed an act of unconditional and complete surrender of the Wehrmacht.
Berlin was taken on May 2, but German troops resisted the Red Army for more than a week before the fascist command, in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, finally decided to surrender.
On May 7 at 2:41 am in Reims, the act of unconditional surrender of Germany was signed. On behalf of the German High Command, the Instrument of Surrender was signed by General Jodl in the presence of General Walter Smith (on behalf of the Allied Expeditionary Forces), General Ivan Susloparov (on behalf of the Soviet High Command) and General of the French Army Francois Sevez as a witness.
General Susloparov signed the act in Reims at his own peril and risk, since he did not manage to contact the Kremlin in time and receive instructions. Stalin was outraged by the signing of the surrender at Reims, in which the Western allies played the leading role.
Representatives of the allied command (from left to right): Major General I.A. Susloparov, Lieutenant General Walter Smith, Army General Dwight Eisenhower and Air Marshal Arthur Tedder. Reims, May 7, 1945.
The document signed in Rains came into force at 23:00 on May 8th. Many believe that due to the time difference between the USSR and Europe, it turned out that we celebrate this holiday on different days. However, it's not that simple.
The act of surrender was re-signed.
Stalin ordered Marshal Zhukov to accept general surrender in the capital of the defeated state, Berlin, from representatives of the branches of the German armed forces.
On May 8 at 22:43 Central European time (May 9 at 0:43 Moscow time) in the suburbs of Berlin, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, as well as Luftwaffe representative Colonel General Stumpf and Kriegsmarine Admiral von Friedeburg signed the act of complete surrender of Germany again .
“I can’t help but brag,” photographer Petrusov later wrote. “It took me a lot of effort to tear myself away from the close-up shots of Marshal Zhukov, Keitel and others, to give up my hard-won place at the table itself, to step aside, climb onto the table and take this picture, which gives the overall picture of the signing. I am rewarded - there is no such second picture.”
However, all these details, while of interest to researchers, in no way affect our attitude towards the very fact of the Great Victory.
Berlin, May 1945
Red banners on the quadriga of the Brandenburg Gate. Berlin. May 1945. (Archive photos)
Soviet soldiers on the streets of Berlin. May 1945. (Archive photos)
Fireworks in honor of the Victory. On the roof of the Reichstag, soldiers of the battalion under the command of Hero of the Soviet Union Stepan Andreevich Neustroev. May 1945. (Archive photos)
Red Army troops on the streets of Bucharest, 1944. (Archive photos)
And before all these events, Stalin signed a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR that from now on May 9 becomes a national holiday - Victory Day and is declared a day off. At 6 o'clock in the morning Moscow time, this Decree was read out on the radio by announcer Levitan. The first Victory Day was celebrated with people on the streets congratulating each other, hugging, kissing and crying.
On May 9, in the evening, the Victory Salute was given in Moscow, the largest in the history of the USSR: thirty salvos were fired from a thousand guns.
But May 9th was a day off for only three years. In 1948, it was ordered to forget about the war and devote all efforts to restoring the national economy destroyed by the war.
Only in 1965, already in the relatively prosperous era of Brezhnev, in the 20th anniversary of Victory, the holiday was again given its due. May 9 became a day off again, Parades, large-scale fireworks in all cities - Heroes and honoring of veterans - resumed.
Victory Banner
The banner, taken down from the Reichstag, where Yegorov and Kantaria planted it, did not participate in the first Victory Parade. It bore the name of the 150th division, where the soldiers served, and the country's leadership considered that such a banner could not be a symbol of Victory, which was achieved by the whole people, and not by one division. And in fact, this is correct, since in those days this Banner was not the only one that was hoisted soviet soldiers on the day of the capture of Berlin.
In 2007, a controversy flared up again around the Victory Banner: after all, on it you can see a sickle and a hammer - symbols of a state that no longer exists. And again common sense prevailed, and the banner once again fluttered proudly over the ranks of soldiers and cadets striding across Red Square.
In addition to festive victory parades in the cities of the country, Victory Day has other attributes and traditions:
Laying wreaths and flowers at memorial cemeteries and monuments to soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. Traditionally, flowers are laid on the worship mountain and at the monument to the unknown soldier; in St. Petersburg, the main laying ceremony takes place at the Piskarevskoye cemetery and at the memorial plaque on Nevsky Prospekt, in Volgograd on the Mamayev Kurgan. And throughout the country there are thousands of thousands of monuments, memorial plaques and memorial places where everyone, young and old, brings flowers on Victory Day on May 9th.
A minute of silence. Solemn funeral ceremonies of laying flowers are traditionally accompanied by a minute of silence in memory of all those who died during the Great Patriotic War. A minute of silence is a sign of respect to all the people who gave their lives so that today we would have a peaceful sky above our heads.
Victory salute. Victory Day ends with festive fireworks. The first fireworks in Moscow were given in 1943 in honor of the successful offensive of the Red Army, after which a tradition arose of arranging fireworks after successful actions against Nazi troops. And, of course, one of the most grandiose fireworks was the fireworks on May 9, 1945, on the day of the announcement of complete surrender fascist troops. The fireworks began at 10 p.m. Moscow time; since then, every year at 10 p.m., Victory fireworks begin in many cities, reminding us that the country survived, overthrew the invaders, and is rejoicing! 
St. George Ribbon.
There are fewer and fewer living witnesses to that war, and increasingly the political forces of some foreign countries They are trying to denigrate the heroic soldiers of our victorious army. And in order to pay tribute to the memory and respect of the exploits of our heroes, so that the younger generation knows, remembers and is proud of their history, a new tradition- tie on Victory Day St. George's ribbon. The action is called “I remember! I'm proud!
St. George's Ribbon - bicolor (two-color) orange and black. It traces its history from the ribbon to the soldier's Order of St. George the Victorious, established on November 26, 1769 by Empress Catherine II. This ribbon, with minor changes, entered the USSR award system as the “Guards Ribbon” - a sign of special distinction for a soldier.
The block of the very honorable “soldier’s” Order of Glory is covered with it. The black color of the ribbon means smoke, and the orange color means flame. In our time, an interesting tradition has emerged associated with this ancient symbol. Young people, on the eve of the Victory Day holiday, wear a ribbon as a sign of respect, memory and solidarity with the heroic Russian soldiers who defended the freedom of our country in the distant 40s.
A fine can easily be issued for disrespectful attitude towards the symbol.
Volunteers are distributing new rules for wearing the Victory symbol among the country's population. From the very beginning of the St. George's Ribbon campaign, on April 24, volunteers have been warning about the strict rules associated with wearing the symbol.
“It is strictly forbidden to attach the ribbon to a bag or car, wear it below the belt, on the head, tie it on the arm, or treat it disrespectfully,” according to the website of the “Volunteers of Victory” project. In case of neglect, a citizen may face a fine».
The St. George ribbon can only be worn on the lapel of a jacket, near the heart. This is reported to everyone who decides to take part in the “St. George’s Ribbon” campaign.
“It is a symbol of respect and memory. Therefore, we believe that the place for him is on the left side of the chest. This is how we show our recognition to the departed heroes,” the volunteers add.
Metronome sounds. In St. Petersburg there is a special attribute of Victory Day - the sound of a metronome from all radio broadcast points. During the most difficult 900 days of the siege of Leningrad, the sounds of the metronome did not subside for a minute, announcing that the city was living, the city was breathing. These sounds gave vitality to Leningraders exhausted by the siege; without exaggeration, we can say that the sounds of the metronome saved thousands of lives.
Marches of the "Immortal Regiment"
In an endless stream through the squares and streets of cities on Victory Day, soldiers who died during the war march together with living participants in the processions. "Immortal Regiment" consists of photographs of these people. Descendants found a way to once again remember dear relatives and friends, pay tribute to their memory, and bow deeply for their feat.
Holiday Parade. The Victory Parade in Russia is traditionally held on Red Square in Moscow. In addition to Moscow, on May 9 Parades are held in other cities - heroes of the former USSR.
The first Parade in honor of the Victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War took place on June 24, 1945 on Red Square.
The decision to hold the Victory Parade on Red Square was made by Stalin in mid-May 1945, almost immediately after the defeat of the last group of Nazi troops resisting on May 13th.
June 22, 1945 The newspaper “Pravda” published the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin for No. 370: “In commemoration of the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint a Parade of Active Army Troops on June 24, 1945 in Moscow on Red Square, Navy and the Moscow garrison - Victory Parade. Bring to the Parade: consolidated regiments of the fronts, consolidated regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, consolidated regiment of the Navy, military academies, military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison. The Victory Parade will be hosted by my Deputy Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov. Command the Victory Parade to Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky."
The first Victory Parade was prepared very carefully. According to the recollections of veterans, rehearsals took place for a month and a half. Soldiers and officers, who had been accustomed for four years to crawling on their bellies and moving in short dashes, had to be taught to take a step at a frequency of 120 steps per minute. First, stripes were drawn on the asphalt along the length of the step, and then they even pulled strings that helped set the height of the step. The boots were covered with a special varnish, in which the sky was reflected as if in a mirror, and metal plates were nailed to the soles, which helped to stamp the step. The Parade began at ten o'clock in the morning, almost all this time it was raining, at times turning into downpour, which was recorded by newsreel footage. About forty thousand people took part in the Parade. Zhukov and Rokossovsky rode to Red Square on white and black horses, respectively.
Joseph Vissarionovich himself only watched the Parade from the rostrum of the Lenin Mausoleum. Stalin stood on the platform of the mausoleum on the left, losing the middle to the front-line generals - the winners.
Also present at the podium were Kalinin, Molotov, Budyonny, Voroshilov and other members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee. Zhukov “received” the Parade from Rokossovsky, rode along with him along the soldiers lined up in ranks and greeted them with three “hurrays,” then climbed to the podium of the Mausoleum and read out a welcoming speech dedicated to the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany. Combined regiments of the fronts: Karelian, Leningrad, 1st Baltic, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Belorussian, 1st, 4th, 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian, consolidated regiment solemnly marched across Red Square Navy. As part of the regiment of the 1st Belorussian Front, representatives of the Polish Army marched in a special column. In front of the marching columns of the fronts were the commanders of the fronts and armies with swords drawn. The banners of the formations were carried by Heroes of the Soviet Union and other order bearers. Behind them moved a column of soldiers of a special battalion from among the heroes of the Soviet Union and other soldiers who especially distinguished themselves in battle. They carried the banners and standards of the defeated fascist Germany, which were thrown to the foot of the Mausoleum and set on fire. Further along Red Square, units of the Moscow garrison passed, then cavalrymen galloped, legendary carts passed, air defense formations, artillery, motorcyclists, light armored vehicles and heavy tanks. Airplanes piloted by renowned aces flew through the sky.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Victory Day parades ceased again for some time. They were revived again only in the anniversary 1995 year, when two parades were held in Moscow at once: the first on Red Square and the second on the Poklonnaya Hill memorial complex.
Happy Victory Day, my dears!
This event is celebrated in Russian Federation and now. Why?
The fact is that the war in Europe ended on May 7, 1945. On that day (or rather, that night, since the signing took place late at night) in the city of Reims, in France, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany was signed. This Act was signed by General Jodl on the part of the German military command. On behalf of the Allies, American General Walter B. Smith signed the Act. A representative of the Soviet command, Major General, also accepted the surrender of the German troops Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897 - 1974).
General I. A. Susloparov had been in Paris since August 1944. By this time, the capital of France had already been liberated from the Germans. The general represented the Soviet high military command at the Allied headquarters. This business trip to France was not his first. In 1939, he already held the position of military attaché at the Soviet embassy in Paris. Everyone knows that military attaches are engaged not only (and not so much!) in diplomatic activities. Then, before the start of the war, General I. A. Susloparov led the entire Soviet intelligence network in Western Europe.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org
On the evening of May 6, 1945, I. A. Susloparov was invited to his residence by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, General D. Eisenhower. He informed his colleague that he had arrived in Reims German general Alfred Jodl. He arrived to sign the unconditional surrender. General Susloparov was supposed to be present at the signing of the Instrument of Surrender and sign it on behalf of the Soviet Union. In accordance with the signed Act, the next day, namely May 8, 1945, at 11 o'clock and 1 minute Central European time, military operations in Europe ceased. The name of Major General I. A. Susloparov should have gone down in history.
The military's sense of subordination turns into unconditioned reflex. Thanks to this reflex, General Susloparov realized that in fact it was a military leader of a larger caliber who should go down in history. He immediately sent to Moscow the text of the Act of Surrender of Germany received from General Eisenhower. Now we had to wait for the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
The time for signing was approaching, but there was still no response from Moscow. I had to take responsibility, I had to take risks. Will the signing of the Act of Surrender by General Susloparov be regarded in Moscow as an abuse of power? What troubles this could have threatened the general with is needless to say. But on the other hand, Susloparov, as a representative of the Soviet Union, definitely had to put his signature on the document, otherwise Germany, having made peace with the USA, England and France, could formally continue the war against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front.
Although a military man, but still a diplomat, Susloparov found a way out. He signed the Instrument of Surrender as a representative of the USSR. But he asked to add one point to the text of the Act. According to this clause, the ceremony of signing the unconditional surrender could be repeated at the request of any of the allied states.
The act of unconditional surrender, which was signed in Reims, was printed only on English. It was this text that was to be considered official. Susloparov insisted that if the Act was re-signed, both signed texts would be considered equivalent. 
Photo: John H. Boyd, ru.wikipedia.org
The general guessed right! The answer from Moscow came after the signing ceremony. Stalin demanded that the ceremony be repeated again. Now this had to be done in Karlhorst, a suburb of Berlin, in territory occupied by Soviet troops. This ceremony took place a day later, at 10:43 pm on May 8, 1945. At this time in Moscow it was already May 9th.
So, there were two ceremonies for signing the above-mentioned Act of Unconditional Surrender. Of course, in Soviet times they focused only on the second ceremony. That's all they showed to the Soviet people to the cinema. Several times, Soviet documentarians made new versions of films about the Great Patriotic War. None of them mentioned that another Act was signed a day earlier in Reims. 
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org
That is why the day of the end of the war in Europe is celebrated differently in the Soviet Union and in European countries. The Allies, and after them all Europeans, celebrated the victory over Germany the day after the signing of the Instrument of Surrender in Reims, namely on May 8, 1945. The most massive celebration of this took place in London. A huge number of Englishmen gathered there at royal residence. From the balcony of Buckingham Palace they were greeted by the royal family and W. Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
In the Soviet Union, May 9, 1945 was declared Victory Day. The victory over Germany was announced in the Order Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. 369, which was dated May 9. Therefore, the main celebrations in the Soviet Union took place on May 9, 1945 in the evening. In the capital and major cities A grand fireworks display thundered across the country. And a month and a half later, the Victory Parade took place on Red Square in Moscow.
Initially, May 9, as a major holiday, was declared a non-working day. But two years later, this day off was suddenly cancelled. They say that the initiator of this was Stalin himself, who was dissatisfied with the results of the war. He expected much greater territorial gains. And if neither Greece, nor France, nor Italy are “ours,” why celebrate?
But even Stalin considered that taking away a day off from the people would be too much. They deserve it! So a strange exchange took place. Simultaneously with the cancellation of the holiday on Victory Day, December 31 was made a non-working day, New Year's holiday. Victory Day was made non-working again only 20 years later, in 1965. 
Photo: zelenskayao, pixabay.com
Naturally, May 9 was celebrated as in all union republics. In 1991, the USSR collapsed and the former republics became independent states. In many of them this holiday was abandoned, but they began to celebrate it, as in Europe, on May 8. And not as Victory Day, but as a day of remembrance of the fallen and reconciliation.
We will help you with this. We will tell you the history of the Victory Day holiday in an accessible way, and bring to your attention poems dedicated to Victory Day.
Victory Day - May 9
Victory Day is a holiday
The day of defeat of a cruel war,
The day of defeat of violence and evil,
Day of the resurrection of love and goodness.
VICTORY BRIGHT DAY
Sasha took out his toy gun and asked Alyonka: “Am I a good military man?” Alyonka smiled and asked: “Will you go to the Victory Day parade dressed like this?” Sasha shrugged his shoulders, and then replied: “No, I’ll go to the parade with flowers - I’ll give them to real warriors!” Grandfather heard these words and stroked Sasha on the head: “Well done, grandson!” And then he sat down next to him and began to talk about the war and victory.
On May 9 we celebrate Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. Grandfathers and great-grandfathers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers put on orders and go to meet their veteran friends. Together they remember what the war years were like.
Second world war started in 1939. It covered more than 60 countries of the world! She came to our country on the terrible morning of June 22, 1941. It was Sunday, people were relaxing and planning their day off. Suddenly the news struck like thunder: “The war has begun! Nazi Germany launched an offensive without declaring war...” All adult men put on military uniforms and went to the front. Those who remained became partisans to fight the enemy in the rear.
During the long war years, people could not live in peace. Every day brought losses, real grief. More than 60 million people did not return home. Half of the dead were residents of the former Soviet Union. Almost every family has lost a grandfather, father, brother or sister...
The Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and other peoples of the USSR paid a heavy price for participating in this terrible war. The war spared neither the elderly nor the children.
The attackers mocked the residents of captured cities and villages. Our soldiers fought bravely against the invaders. They could not forgive the burned houses, the destroyed monuments of national culture. And they felt even more pain for their lost relatives and friends. The soldiers were not afraid of hunger or cold. Perhaps they were scared too. But the dream of victory and a peaceful life constantly supported them.
The year was 1945. Great Patriotic War against fascist invaders was approaching a victorious end. Our soldiers fought as best they could. In the spring, our army approached the capital of Nazi Germany - the city of Berlin.
The Battle of Berlin continued until May 2. The storming of the Reichstag, where the leaders of Germany gathered, was especially desperate. On May 8, 1945, representatives of the German High Command signed an act ending the war. The enemy has surrendered. May 9 became Victory Day, a great holiday for all humanity.
Now on this day festive fireworks are sure to bloom with millions of colors. Veterans are congratulated, songs are sung for them, poems are read. Flowers are brought to the monuments of the dead. We always remember that peace on earth is the most important value.
Poems for Victory Day for children
Let there be peace
Let the machine guns not fire,
And the menacing guns are silent,
Let there be no smoke in the sky,
May the sky be blue
Let the bombers run over it
They don't fly to anyone
People and cities don't die...
Peace is always needed on earth!
Together with grandfather
The morning fog has melted,
Spring is showing off...
Today grandfather Ivan
Cleaned up the orders.
We're going to the park together
Meet
A soldier, gray-haired like him.
They will remember there
Your brave battalion.
They'll have a heart-to-heart talk there
About all the affairs of the country,
About the wounds that still hurt
From the distant days of the war.
Even then we were not in the world
When fireworks thundered from one end to another.
Soldiers, you gave to the planet
Great May, victorious May!
Even then we were not in the world,
When in a military storm of fire,
Deciding the fate of future centuries,
You fought a holy battle!
Even then we were not in the world,
When you came home with Victory.
Soldiers of May, glory to you forever
From all the earth, from all the earth!
Thank you, soldiers.
For life, for childhood and spring,
For silence, for a peaceful home,
For the world we live in!
Remember
(Excerpt)
Remember how the guns thundered,
How soldiers died in the fire
In forty-one, forty-five -
The soldiers went to battle for the truth.
Remember, both thunderstorms and wind are in our power,
We are responsible for happiness and tears,
On the planet our children -
The younger generation lives on.
Soldiers
The sun disappeared behind the mountain,
The river riffles have become foggy,
And along the steppe road
From the heat, from the evil heat
The gymnasts on the shoulders were faded;
Your battle banner
The soldiers shielded themselves from their enemies with their hearts.
They did not spare lives
Defending the fatherland - the native country;
Defeated, won
All enemies in the battles for the holy Motherland.
The sun disappeared behind the mountain,
The river riffles have become foggy,
And along the steppe road
Soviet soldiers were walking home from the war.
Victory Day in 2019 is celebrated in Russia on May 9 - this is the 74th anniversary of the holiday. On this day, Russians celebrate victory Soviet troops over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. They honor the memory dead soldiers, hold parades and arrange holiday fireworks. This is a day off in the Russian Federation.
Holiday traditions
Victory Day is a favorite holiday for people of all ages. On May 9, Russians go to parades with flowers and wreaths, which they lay in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
In Moscow, the main parade takes place on Red Square. Shown on Poklonnaya Hill military equipment, troops and aviation. In St. Petersburg, the main ceremonies take place at the Piskarevskoye cemetery and at the memorial plaque on Nevsky Prospekt. In Volgograd, the central place of celebration is Mamayev Kurgan.
The solemn flower-laying ceremony ends with a minute of silence in memory of those killed during the Great Patriotic War. Festive parades are accompanied by concerts in which famous stars variety shows and amateur performance groups. At concerts they sing songs of the war years and read poetry. Schools and educational institutions host meetings with veterans who tell wartime stories. Students give them flowers and gifts.
The new symbol of Victory Day is the St. George Ribbon. It is a bicolor of orange and black longitudinal stripes that symbolize flame and smoke. It was founded by Empress Catherine II. Guards (St. George) ribbon is a badge of honor for soldiers. Since 2005, the “I Remember!” campaign began. I'm proud! Volunteers hand out ribbons that people pin to their clothing as a sign of respect for the heroism of the soldiers. The action is actively supported by young people. Every year more and more cities participate in it.
Since 2012, the “Immortal Regiment” campaign has been held. For the first time it was held in Tomsk. In subsequent years, it spread throughout the cities of Russia and the CIS countries. Everyone can take part in the action. People take to the streets and march in a colony with banners on which are attached photographs of relatives and friends who died or participated in hostilities.
May 9 at Orthodox churches After the Liturgy, there is a thanksgiving prayer and litany for the fallen soldiers.
History of the holiday
The Great Patriotic War lasted from 1941 to 1945. It was a major part of World War II. The forces of the Red Army and the indestructible spirit of the soldiers helped defeat the Nazi troops. From April 16 to May 8, 1945, the Berlin War continued offensive, during which the Red Army occupied the capital of Germany. On May 9 at 0.43 Moscow time, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme High Command, Field Marshal Keitel, signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany.
Stalin signed a Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, according to which May 9 became a public holiday - Victory Day. At 6 o'clock in the morning the decree was read out on the radio. During the day, people took to the city streets. They congratulated each other, cried with happiness and sang songs. In the evening, the Victory Salute took place in Moscow, which is still considered the largest in history. Of the thousands of artillery pieces, 30 salvos were fired.
From 1948 to 1965, May 9 was not a holiday. On the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Brezhnev returned the celebration to the status of a public holiday and day off.
May 9 has been declared the Day of Military Glory of Russia Federal law dated March 13, 1995 No. 32-FZ “On the days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia.” Holiday status holiday enshrined in Art. 112 Labor Code RF No. 197-FZ dated December 30, 2001
Victory Day is a great holiday. The Second World War affected all families. Every person has someone to remember on this day. Many soldiers gave their lives for the peace and tranquility of their native land.
