Learn more about May 9th. Victory day celebration

Although Russia has experienced a huge number of battles and victories over its long history, the Great Patriotic War is the closest, memorable and terrible for us. There are several reasons for this.

• There is not a single family in our country that has not been affected by this disaster. Fathers and grandfathers died, were injured and captured, mothers and grandmothers worked both at the front and in the rear, and those who were children in those terrible years experienced hunger, fear and cruelty. The memory of the ancestors who fought is alive in the heart of every Russian.
• Some of the veterans are still alive - participants in the battles and home front workers. To congratulate and thank them, to listen to their stories is the sacred duty of those for whom they fought.
• Second World War- the largest and most terrible in the entire history of mankind. All the more striking is the feat of the Soviet people, who defeated the enemy and eradicated fascism.

Therefore, the holiday of May 9 - spring, bright and solemn - is one of the most important for Russians. What is the history of the celebration of Victory Day, why is it celebrated on this particular day and what events are associated with it - this is our article.

End of the Great Patriotic War

Long months of fighting were drawing to a close already in Germany. The Berlin operation is considered one of the largest and bloodiest in the history of the war. It was attended by 2.5 million Soviet soldiers, a huge amount of military equipment, aviation. The victims of the Soviet army in the Berlin operation amounted to more than three hundred thousand people.

So many of our tanks were brought into the capital of Nazi Germany that they could not really turn around for hostilities and became an easy target for the enemy.

However Soviet troops destroyed about a hundred tank, motorized and infantry divisions fascists. Almost half a million opponents were taken prisoner.

The banner hoisted on the Reichstag belonged to division No. 150. The leadership of the Soviet Union considered that it could not become a symbol of the Great Victory, which was obtained through the efforts of the entire Soviet people. Only in Brezhnev's time did the real banner, which visited the Reichstag, begin to participate in the annual parade in the capital.

Instrument of Surrender

The main document, marking the end of the bloodshed, was signed late in the evening on May 8, local time. In Moscow at that moment it was already midnight. Therefore, the whole world celebrates the Victory Day a day earlier than Russian Federation and before it the Soviet Union.

Since it took time to form a new German government that could maintain official relations with the victorious powers, the peace treaty was concluded only 10 years later - in 1955.

Victory parade

The morning of Victory on May 9 began with the fact that an act of surrender was delivered from Berlin to Moscow by plane. However, the Parade took place only on June 24, when the winners arrived at home, at least some of them. The parade was hosted by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, whom many remember riding a white horse, and Konstantin Rokossovsky commanded the event. Enemy banners were thrown to the foot of the Mausoleum. The consolidated victorious regiments of the Workers 'and Peasants' Army marched along Red Square. Victory banners were carried by the heroes of the Soviet Union.

How to start celebrating Victory Day

On May 9, a large-scale fireworks display took place in the capital of the Soviet Union. A thousand guns participated in it, they fired 30 volleys.

This day has not become the same as we now see on May 9, and the history of the holiday has undergone some changes. In 1945 this date was announced general secretary Central Committee of the CPSU on Stalin's day off. But in 1948, the order was canceled, and the entire Soviet people worked as usual.

Recovery National economy was declared a priority, to which both holidays and days of rest must be sacrificed.

At the same time, military pensions were canceled, and many cripples who were injured during the battles found themselves on the streets without a livelihood. The fact is that the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, veterans, their glory, were not needed by the Stalinist regime. Marshal Zhukov was disgraced. The authorities pretended that the holiday did not exist. Only in 1965, more than a decade after the death of the leader, Victory Day was returned to the people and finally declared a day off.

Victory celebration traditions

In 1945, on this great day, even strangers on the streets of the cities they hugged and congratulated each other. Today, there are slightly different traditions that take root throughout Russia:

• On the eve of the holiday in educational institutions - from kindergartens to universities - lessons of courage are held. Sometimes they are visited by veterans who talk about what they have experienced themselves.
• Laying flowers at the eternal fire. This symbol of inextinguishable courage and heroism of soldiers is in many cities of our country. Both administration officials and simple people they carry wreaths and scarlet carnations there.
• A moment of silence. For 60 seconds, people freeze, remembering those who died for the Motherland in the battles of the Great Patriotic War.
• In our time, St. George ribbons have become an attribute that demonstrates the greatness of the holiday of May 9 and Victory Day in all its splendor. Celebration is not only joy and jubilation, it is also a memory of the horrors of battles. Therefore, the black and orange ribbon, originating in the 18th century, when the Order of St. George appeared, symbolizing the smoke and fire of battle, reminds of the past like nothing else.
• There is a tradition to congratulate veterans on the holiday. On the ninth day of May, people buy scarlet carnations, approach the participants in the battles of the Great Patriotic War on the street, give them flowers and thank them for their work, for their contribution to the victory, for the peaceful sky above their heads. This is very important for children, because veterans are gradually leaving, and seeing them, talking to them is a great rarity and value.
• In many cities of Russia, on Victory Day, parades are held, in which troops of local garrisons, students of military educational institutions, power structures, cadets. An obligatory addition is a brass band, decorating the holiday with its sound.
• A few years ago, a unique phenomenon appeared in our country - the Immortal Regiment. Now May and the solemn holiday of victory are associated with many people with it. This social movement, organized by journalists, which consists in the fact that a huge number of people pass through the streets with portraits of their ancestors. A large number of veterans, participants in the war have already left, but their descendants want to preserve their glory and the memory of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Every year the number of members of the Immortal Regiment increases.
• Another phenomenon that has appeared relatively recently is military-historical reconstruction. Today in Russia and abroad there are a huge number of clubs that specialize in restoring the form, structure, events of a particular military period.

On the eve or on the day of the holiday in many cities, reconstructions of battles are held - the Berlin operation, the battles near Stalingrad, and so on. For the viewer it unique opportunity to see a spectacle as close as possible to reality with the participation of people in uniform and with equipment that exactly repeats what really existed, military equipment those years, with shots and explosions. This helps to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the event, to feel it.

• Concerts are held on the squares of cities on Victory Day, poems and songs of the war time are heard. Sometimes spontaneous dance floors are organized right there, where even veterans and children of the war waltz.

In St. Petersburg on May 9, a sound reproducing a metronome is heard from all radar points. This is a tribute besieged Leningrad when this unpretentious knock announced that the Northern Capital was still alive. The city on the Neva does not forget the terrible days of the occupation, the courageous inhabitants - both the dead and those who survived the war.

There are traditions of Victory Day within Russian families. Firstly, many visit their veterans' graves in the cemetery on the eve of the holiday. They look after them, remember their loved ones, pray for them if they consider it necessary.

On May 9, many channels show films about the Great Patriotic War. Soviet copies are of particular value, some of them starred actors who themselves participated in the battles. These works of art help to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the war years, to feel and understand it.

Victory Day is usually a gentle and bright spring day. In many regions of the country, lilac and bird cherry are already blooming, enhancing the holiday atmosphere. For every Russian, this date is memorable and great, mournful and solemn at the same time.

War comes unexpectedly. Her cruelty and injustice break human destinies. Even today, 70 years after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the planet celebrates the triumph of peace, which is a symbol of the unbending will of the spirit of the people for freedom.

Road to peace

The final stage of the war against fascism - this is the history of the holiday would not have taken place without the courage of our brave warriors. It took the troops of the Soviet Union four long years to expel the invaders from their native land.

In April 1945, the Red Army stood under the walls of Berlin. May 1, during offensive operation in the Reichstag area, at about 3:00 am, the roof of the building soared. Although it is worth noting here that the information was released hastily. After all, on April 30, it was announced on the radio that the assault flag was hoisted over the parliament building.

Complicated military operations, thousands of victims - and the Great War is over. The act of surrender of enemy Germany was signed on May 9. Victory Day, the history of the holiday is counted from this date, with tears of bitterness and happiness met all over the world. Hitler's troops officially surrendered on the 8th. But due to the time difference, peace in the Union came at 1:00 am.

On the same day, a document was brought to Moscow that testified to the fall of the Nazis.

First parade

Later, on June 22, 1945, Joseph Vissarionovich issued an order. It said that in connection with the fall of Germany, Moscow would hold a solemn procession in which it would glorify its heroes. The head of state had the idea back in early May, before the decisive act.

The first military review, which was called, took place in June, although May 9 is Victory Day. The history of the holiday began on the 24th. The weather that day was terrible, it was raining.

Suvorov drummers led the procession. Next came the consolidated regiments of the fronts. They were soldiers of different nationalities and ranks. Each of them showed courage and extreme devotion to the motherland in battle. In all, more than 40,000 military personnel participated. The form for all participants was sewn by special order.

The political elite, among them was the head of the country, watched the action from the podium of the Mausoleum.

It was this system that subsequently became the basis of the history of the May 9 holiday. Victory Day 1945 was hosted by Hero and Marshal of the Soviet Union G. Zhukov.

The military leaders rode across the square on snow-white thoroughbred horses. The researchers are sure the only reason why Stalin didn't take part in the parade was that he was a bad rider.

Long-awaited victory

Stalin knew well about the success of his troops under the walls of Berlin. The city has already surrendered. Actively opposed only individual groups soldier. Realizing that the Nazis had nowhere to go and surrender was inevitable, even the day before, on the 8th, he signed a decree stating that from now on May 9 is Victory Day. The history of the holiday began with the morning newspapers, which reported the good news. big role in life Soviet man the radio was playing. So, at 6 am, Yuri Levitan announced the victory. The voice of this man announced all the changes on the front lines throughout the war.

People spread the good news from house to house. Passers-by on the streets hugged, congratulated each other, cried.

In the afternoon, several anti-aircraft divisions were assembled under the walls of the Kremlin. Searchlights were brought in to illuminate the portraits of the leaders. In the evening, the Victory Salute struck over the capital. Nobody worked that day.

immutable symbol

Until 1948, Soviet citizens rested on May 9th. Further, all forces were thrown into the restoration of the bombed country. They forgot about the date for a while. Only with the initiative of L. Brezhnev, the history of the holiday on May 9 continued. Victory Day for children was a special date. Mass actions that were held, formed love for the motherland, respect for those who defended it.

Over the years, the holiday acquired traditions. Particularly large parades were held on anniversaries. So, in 1965, the Banner was first issued. It is worth noting that it did not participate in the 1945 demonstration. Interestingly, the flag was specially delivered to Moscow on June 20 for the parade. But due to the lack of time for preparation, Zhukov gave the order not to take out the banner.

It remained an indispensable attribute and symbolized May 9, Victory Day. The history of the holiday briefly tells about the attitude of the next generations to the Great Patriotic War. Until now, parades are full of red flags.

Since 1965, the Banner has been replaced with a copy. You can look at the original in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Gratitude Action

The traditional color of the holiday is orange and black. This story begins on November 26, 1769. It was then that Empress Catherine II instituted It was a medal for courage on the battlefield. With some changes, the Union took over the award.

Since 1942, daredevils have been awarded the "Guards Ribbon". Her orange-dark gamma is already a tradition for May 9, Victory Day. The history of the holiday is forever associated with these flowers. The colors symbolize smoke and flames. Such shades were also used in the ribbon of the Order of Glory.

Traditions are not forgotten even now. In 2005, an action was held in Russia. The St. George Ribbon has become a symbol of gratitude for peace and respect for veterans. Everyone who held it in their hands on the eve of the holiday or during the parade testified that they remember the Great Victory.

Feast of the Heart and Freedom

The solemn procession, ribbons, songs of Lev Leshchenko - all these are integral attributes of May 9th. The older generation understands the essence of the holiday. But, unfortunately, young people often do not even realize who fought with whom. Gradually pathos processions lose popularity.

Fewer and fewer teenagers know that the history of the holiday for preschoolers should first of all be conveyed by their parents and teachers. Do not change rituals. At least once a year, lay flowers with your children. You need to teach young people to respect the past of their people.

Dedicate Victory Day to the direct defenders of the Fatherland. Place traditional tulips and daffodils at the foot of the monuments, thank the old veterans who are still alive, and pray for peace.

Every country, every nation has its main holiday, which is celebrated annually for a long time. He unites the nation with a sense of pride for the valiant deeds of the ancestors, which will remain in the memory of descendants forever. There is such a holiday in Russia. This is Victory Day, which is celebrated on May 9th.

A bit of history

The Great Patriotic War began on June 22, 1941 and lasted for a long 4 years. The Soviet people endured a lot during the years of fascist occupation, but still they won. The people paved the road to the Victory Day with their own hands. Only thanks to his selfless work and military merits, Soviet Union was able to win this war, although it was not easy to do so.

The final push that led to the end of hostilities with Germany was very long and difficult. The Soviet troops began to advance in the region of Poland and Prussia in January 1945. The Allies were not far behind. They were rapidly moving towards Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. According to many historians of that and present time, Hitler's suicide on April 20, 1945, sealed the defeat of Germany.

But the death of a mentor and leader did not stop the Nazi troops. The bloody battles for Berlin, however, led to the fact that the USSR and the allies defeated the Nazis. Victory Day is a tribute to the heavy price paid by the ancestors of many of us. Hundreds of thousands were killed on both sides - only after that the capital of Germany capitulated. It happened on May 7, 1945, that significant day was remembered by contemporaries for a long time.

The Price of Victory

About 2.5 million soldiers were involved in the storming of Berlin. The losses of the Soviet Army were huge. According to some reports, our army lost up to 15 thousand people per day. In the Battle of Berlin, 325 thousand officers and soldiers died. There was a real bloody war. Victory Day - it was still the day, the first celebration of which was just around the corner.

Since the fighting was in the city, soviet tanks could not maneuver widely. It was only in the hands of the Germans. They used anti-tank weapons to destroy military equipment. In a matter of weeks in the Berlin operation, the Soviet Army lost:

• 1997 tanks;
• more than 2000 guns;
• about 900 aircraft.

Despite huge losses in this battle, our troops defeated the enemies. The Day of the Great Victory over the Nazis was also marked by the fact that about half a million German soldiers were taken prisoner in this battle. The enemy suffered big losses. Soviet troops destroyed a huge number of German units, namely:

• 12 tank;
• 70 infantry;
• 11 motorized divisions.

human losses

According to the main sources, about 26.6 million people died in the Great Patriotic War. This number is determined by the demographic balance method. This number includes:

1. Killed as a result of military and other actions of the enemy.
2. Persons who left the USSR during the war years, as well as those who did not return after it ended.
3. Died for a reason advanced level mortality during the period of hostilities in the rear and in the occupied territory.

As for the gender of the dead and those who died during the Second World War, most of them are men. Total- 20 million people.

Public Holiday

Kalinin signed a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR that May 9 - Victory Day - is a public holiday. It was declared a public holiday. At 6 am Moscow time, this decree was read on the radio by a well-known throughout the country announcer - Levitan. On the same day, a plane landed on Red Square in Moscow, delivering the act of surrender of Germany.

In the evening in Moscow they gave the Victory Salute - the largest in the history of the USSR. Of the thousand guns, 30 volleys were fired. It took a long time to prepare for the first celebration dedicated to the Victory Day. The holiday was celebrated like no other in the Soviet Union. People on the streets hugged and cried, congratulated each other on the victory.

On June 24, the first military parade took place on Red Square. Marshal Zhukov received him. Rokossovsky commanded the parade. The regiments of the following fronts marched across Red Square:

• Leningradsky;
• Belarusian;
• Ukrainian;
• Karelsky.

Also, a consolidated regiment passed through the square Navy. Commanders and Heroes of the Soviet Union walked ahead, carrying flags and banners of military units that had distinguished themselves in battle.

At the end of the military parade on Red Square, Victory Day was marked by the fact that two hundred banners of defeated Germany were carried and thrown at the Mausoleum. Only after the expiration of time did the military parade begin to be held on Victory Day - May 9th.

oblivion period

After the war, the country's leadership considered that the Soviet people, tired of fighting and bloodshed, should forget those events a little. And oddly enough, the custom of celebrating such an important holiday on a grand scale did not last long. In 1947 was introduced new script to Victory Day from the country's leadership: it was completely canceled, and May 9 was recognized as an ordinary working day. Accordingly, all festivities and military parades were not held.

In 1965, in the year of the 20th anniversary, Victory Day (May 9) was reinstated and again recognized as a national holiday. Many regions of the Soviet Union held their own parades. The day ended with the usual fireworks display.

The collapse of the USSR soon followed, which led to the emergence of various conflicts, including political ones. In 1995, a full-fledged celebration of Victory Day was resumed in Russia. In the same year, as many as 2 parades took place in Moscow. One was on foot and passed through Red Square. And the second was carried out using armored vehicles, and it was observed on Poklonnaya Hill.

The official part of the holiday is traditional. They sound on Victory Day - words of congratulations, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers at the monuments and memorials of the Great Patriotic War and the obligatory evening fireworks crowns the festival.

Victory Day

There is no more touching, tragic and at the same time glorious holiday in our country than Victory Day. It is still celebrated annually on May 9th. No matter how they change last years facts of our history, this day remains beloved by everyone, a dear and bright holiday.

On May 9, millions of people remember how their grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought, not sparing their lives, with enemies who decided to conquer the Soviet Union. They remember those who worked hard at factories producing equipment and weapons for the military. People were starving, but they held on, because they understood that the future victory over fascist invaders. It was these people who won the war, and thanks to their generation, today we live under peaceful skies.

How is Victory Day celebrated in Russia?

Rallies and demonstrations take place on this day. Flowers and wreaths are laid at the monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Veterans and participants of those distant and at the same time such close events are honored. In general, the same scenario always awaits us on this day. On Victory Day, in many countries they don’t arrange noisy parties, they don’t blow up firecrackers in the evenings. But this date enters the young hearts of Russians with black-and-white newsreels about that time, soul-stirring songs about a cramped dugout, about the front line and the soldier Alyosha forever frozen over the mountain.

May 9 is a holiday of the proud victorious people. It has been 70 years since the first celebration of Victory Day. But until now, this date is sacred for every Russian person. After all, there is not a single family that has not been touched by the grief of loss. Millions of soldiers went to the front, thousands of people remained to work in the rear. All the people rose to defend the Fatherland, and they managed to defend the right to a peaceful life.

An invariable attribute of the Victory Day holiday

Over the years, the holiday acquired its own traditions. In 1965, at the parade dedicated to the great date, a banner was carried out. It remained an invariable attribute of the holiday, which symbolized Victory Day. This banner is extremely significant today: until now, parades are full of red banners. Since 1965, the original Victory attribute has been replaced with a copy. The first banner can be seen in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Also, the unchanging colors that accompany May 9 are black and yellow - symbols of smoke and flame. Since 2005, the St. George Ribbon has been an invariable reflection of gratitude for peace and respect for veterans.

Heroes are winners

Every year Russia celebrates a peaceful spring. Only, unfortunately, front-line wounds, time and disease are inexorable. To date, out of every hundred winners in the Great Patriotic War, only two people have survived. And this is a very sad statistic, especially for those who were born only after they started celebrating Victory Day. Veterans are our grandfathers and great-grandfathers who still remember those war years. They must be treated with special attention and honor. After all, it was they who made the sky above our heads become and remains peaceful.

Time treats ruthlessly everyone, even the valiant heroes of a harsh war. Year after year, the participants in those terrible events are becoming less and less. But they, as before, go out into the streets with orders and medals on their chests. Veterans meet with each other, remember the old days, commemorate friends and relatives who died in those years. Elderly people visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Eternal flame. They travel to places of military glory, visit the graves of comrades who did not live to see our bright days. We must not forget the significance of exploits, which they have in relation to each individual fate and to world history in general. A little more time will pass, and there will be no witnesses and participants in that bloody war at all. Therefore, it is important to be very sensitive to this date - May 9th.

We remember our ancestors

The main wealth of every human soul is the memory of the ancestors. After all, in order for us to live now and be what we are, many generations of people created our society. They made life the way we know it.

The memory of the departed is priceless. The heroism of the victors of the Second World War cannot be estimated. We do not know all these great people by name. But what they have done cannot be measured by any material good. Even without knowing the names, our generation remembers them not only on Victory Day. We say words of gratitude every day for our peaceful existence. Most a large number of flowers - expressed evidence people's memory and worship, - it is at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Eternal Flame always burns here, as if saying that although the names remain unknown, the human feat is immortal.

Everyone who fought in the Great Patriotic War did not fight for their well-being. People fought for the independence and freedom of their homeland. These heroes are immortal. And we know that a person is alive as long as he is remembered.

The Second World War left a huge and unforgettable mark in the history of our country. For 70 years now, we have been commemorating this great May every year. Victory Day is a special holiday that honors the memory of the dead. In the vastness of Russia, there are a lot of memorials dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War. And all monuments are different. There are inconspicuous obelisks in small villages, and huge monuments in large cities.

Here are some famous throughout the country and the world buildings dedicated to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War:

• Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow.
• Mamaev Kurgan in Volgograd.
• Heroes Square in Novorossiysk.
• Alley of Heroes in St. Petersburg.
• Eternal Flame of Glory in Novgorod.
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and much more.

Holiday with tears in the eyes

This significant and at the same time mournful holiday cannot be separated from the song "Victory Day". It contains these lines:

"This Victory Day
Smell of gunpowder
This is a holiday
With gray hair at the temples.
It's joy
With tears in his eyes…"

This song is a kind of symbol of the great date - May 9th. Victory Day is never complete without it.

In March 1975, V. Kharitonov and D. Tukhmanov wrote a song dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The country was preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany, and the Union of Composers of the USSR announced a competition for the creation best song on the subject of heroic events. A few days before the end of the competition, the work was written. It was performed at the last audition of the competition by the wife of D. Tukhmanov, the poetess and singer T. Sashko. But it didn't take long for the song to become popular. Only in November 1975, at a holiday, dedicated to the Day militia, the song performed by L. Leshchenko was remembered by the listener. After that, she gained the love of the whole country.

There are other performers of the famous "Victory Day". This:

• I. Kobzon;
• M. Magomaev;
• Y. Bogatikov;
• E. Piekha and others.

Victory Day will forever remain that holiday for Russians, which is met with bated breath and with tears in their eyes. Eternal memory to the heroes!

history of the holiday Victory Day is unique - it was a day of general rejoicing, insane joy, real pride in one's people and heartbreaking sorrow from the price paid for this happiness. It was and remains a holiday “with tears in the eyes”, over time, the pain of loss has become less, although even now tears also well up with memories, frames of documentary and feature films, reading literature about the war.

It is especially bitter to look at the already few survivors and realize that they - at the cost of their lives provided us with a future, and we - could not give them a worthy present. It is also annoying when you meet with a distortion of the facts of history, downplaying the role of a Russian soldier in victory or desecrating their memory. How was it really?

Holiday Victory Day in our country began in our country with the signing of the German surrender on May 9, 1945, which meant the long-awaited victory and the end of the war.

To Berlin, such, at that moment, hated, but long-awaited, Soviet troops came close already in April 1945. On both sides for the decisive battle were prepared huge forces: the number of tanks and aircraft was in the thousands, and the soldiers - in the tens of thousands.

Ah, if it hadn’t occurred to a bunch of “proud” paranoids to “defend their honor to the end”, then in five minutes from Victory we would not have lost 80 thousand young and mature, wise and dreamy women and men, girls and boys who in the spring of 1945, they wanted only one thing - to return home alive.

But they no longer knew that on the morning of May 9 at the airfield near Moscow. Frunze landed the Li-2 with the only important document on board - the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany, which was signed at 0.43 am on the same May day.

History of the holiday - Victory Parade.

Thus, from now on and forever, the date - May 9 - is called the Day of Victory of the Soviet (Russian) people over the fascist invaders. On the evening of this significant day, the Victory salute was given in Moscow, which became the largest in the history of the USSR: out of a thousand guns, exactly thirty volleys were fired.

On the same days, Stalin signed a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR that 9th May becomes a public holiday and is declared a day off.

On June 24, under the command of Rokossovsky, the first Victory Parade took place on Red Square, which was hosted by Marshal Zhukov. In conclusion, 200 banners of defeated Germany were carried across Red Square. Remember those famous footage when German standards are thrown at the foot of Lenin's mausoleum? These are footage from the chronicle from that first Victory parade.

Chronicle of the holiday on May 9.

However, May 9 was a day off and a holiday for a short time, only until 1948, since the country's leadership decided that it was time to forget about the war, taking up the restoration of the national economy.

Justice triumphed 17 years later - in 1965. Victory Day again became a holiday and a non-working day, and large-scale celebrations of an undeservedly forgotten date resumed throughout the country.

And since the year 1965 was an anniversary year, for the first time in 20 years a military parade was held on Red Square, which was repeated in 1975, 1985 and 1990. Since the 60s, organized parades began to take place in many other cities of the Soviet Union.

After the disappearance of the USSR Victory Day was widely celebrated only in 1995. Since then, parades on Red Square have been held annually. And since 2008, military equipment has again been involved in them.

Holiday Victory Day today.

MOSCOW, May 9 - RIA Novosti. A festive artillery salute will thunder on May 9 in 26 cities of Russia in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In Moscow, the 449th separate salute division of the Western Military District, which received the honorary name "Guards" on the eve of Victory Day, will be saluting.

In the capital, fireworks will be launched at 22:00 from 16 points. The installations of the salute division in 10 minutes of work will produce about 30 volleys or 10 thousand salute shots. At the same time, Vyacheslav Paradnikov, commander of the salute division, promised the Muscovites a modernized salute. According to him, the filling of many shots has changed, which will provide an even greater variety of salute colors.

Each salute installation consists of six modules of various calibers - from 105 to 310 millimeters. The diversity of firework shots and the different angles of their launch make it possible to create special effects in the sky, which are provided by different heights of bursts. Special software, which fireworks are equipped with, made it possible to simulate a unique firework scenario.

The sky in the center of the capital will bloom with a battery on the Kremlin embankment. Close to the historical part of the city there will also be a fireworks point on the Luzhnetskaya embankment and two batteries in the Victory Park on Poklonnaya Gora, from which the legendary 76-mm ZIS-3 guns of the 1942 model will fire a festive salvo.

In the west and south-west of Moscow, fireworks will be located on the bank of the pond in Novo-Peredelkino, on Miklukho-Maklaya Street next to Russian University Friendship between nations. In the south and southeast, volleys will thunder in Yuzhny Butovo, on the banks of the Chernevsky Pond, in the Kuzminki and Nagatinskaya floodplain parks. In the east of Moscow, the battery will be located in Izmailovsky Park, and in the north - at VDNKh, in the Chermyanka and Druzhba parks. Three batteries will be located in the northwest: at the Tushino airfield, in Zelenograd and Mitin.

In New Moscow, fireworks will thunder from the Trinity site separate subdivision Physical Institute named after P.N. Lebedev RAS.

West and central Russia

Fireworks in St. Petersburg will be given at 22:00 from the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

In Kaliningrad, servicemen of the Baltic Fleet will give an artillery salute from ZIS-3 cannons fired in 1943. According to the Western Military District, at one time they were used during the assault on Koenigsberg, some of them show dents from the deadly fragments of the war. Now these cannons, which are still in service, carry out sound accompaniment of salutes, thanks to their characteristic jerky sound made when fired. The festive fireworks in Kaliningrad will be fired from 4 fireworks and 4 ZIS-3 cannons in the Victory Park behind the memorial to 1200 soldiers-guards.

In addition, the artillerymen of the units Airborne Troops arrange fireworks in Tula and Pskov.

South of the country

Artillerymen of the Southern Military District will arrange a festive fireworks display in honor of Victory Day in Vladikavkaz, Novorossiysk, Anapa and Tuapse. The salute will be made from 12 units of 76-mm ZIS-3 guns and two salute installations based on KamAZ. Salutes will be fired in volleys at a pace of 15 seconds, the explosion of fireworks will be carried out at a height of 250-300 meters.

Residents of Vladikavkaz will be able to see nine types of festive fireworks ("Assol", "Assol-chameleon", "Sunflower", "Wave-3", "Vega" various modifications) presented in seven color schemes(silver, green-red, red-white, green-white, blue, cyan, yellow).

In Astrakhan, on May 9, volleys will be fired from the ships of the Caspian Flotilla and the platform on the Gorodskoy Island from six legendary guns from the Great Patriotic War.

Also, a festive artillery salute and fireworks at 22:00 will illuminate the Sevastopol Bay.

Yekaterinburg, Samara and Novosibirsk

In the sky of Yekaterinburg, Samara and Novosibirsk, 70 volleys of festive fireworks will thunder thanks to the gunners of the Central Military District. Multi-color fireworks will be used, which, depending on the caliber and charge, have proper names: "Vega", "Violet" and "Assol". They will provide spectacular sheaves of sparks, flicker, pulsations and other lighting effects.

Artillery batteries will fire volleys at 10 am local time, accompanying the performance of the Russian anthem at parades, and then at 10 pm (in Yekaterinburg - 10.30 pm). The salute will be made from 76-mm ZIS-3 guns and salute installations based on KamAZ.

In Novosibirsk, fireworks will be held from 21:50 to 22:00 on the city beach of the Ob River.

Far East

More than 1.2 thousand festive shots will be fired by artillerymen of the Eastern Military District out of 42 artillery pieces and 21 fireworks launchers. At 22:00 local time in Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Belogorsk, Chita and Ulan-Ude, 30 volleys will be fired in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The largest fireworks show will take place on May 9 at the Lenin Stadium in Khabarovsk. It will involve the largest number of guns - eighteen 122-mm M-30 howitzers and 6 fireworks.

"Precision, safety and beauty"

The tradition of saluting the heroes of the Great Patriotic War was born on August 5, 1943 in honor of the troops that liberated Oryol and Belgorod. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 350 fireworks lit up the sky. The most significant fireworks took place on May 9, 1945 - 30 salvos from 1000 guns, after which the tradition of festive fireworks was interrupted for 20 years. The first post-war salute was fired in 1965, and in 1967 a platoon of fireworks was formed in the Taman division. Now it bears the name of the 449th Separate Salute Division and operates under the motto "Precision, Safety and Beauty". The ZIS-3 guns of 76 mm caliber of this division, which provide sound accompaniment to salutes, have real battle wounds - in the distant 1940s they destroyed fascist tanks.