Public holidays in Russia and ex-USSR
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Victory Day
[a 1]
is a holiday that commemorates the
Soviet Union
victory over
Nazi Germany
in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the 15
republics of the Soviet Union
following the signing of the
German Instrument of Surrender
late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May
Moscow Time
).
[a]
The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the
signing ceremony in Berlin
.
[1]
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
Second World War
.
[2]
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 there 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 Day
[b]
on 9 May as national remembrance or victory days.
History
[
edit
]
The
German Instrument of Surrender
was signed twice. An initial document was signed in
Reims
on 7 May 1945 by
Alfred Jodl
(chief of staff of the German
OKW
) for Germany,
Walter Bedell Smith
, 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 French Major-General
Francois 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
.
[4]
[Quoting Stalin:] Today, in Reims, Germans signed the preliminary act on an unconditional surrender. The main contribution, however, was done by Soviet people and not by the Allies, therefore the capitulation must be signed in front of the Supreme Command of
all countries
of the anti-Hitler coalition, and not only in front of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces. Moreover, I disagree that the surrender was not signed in Berlin, which was the center of Nazi aggression. We agreed with the Allies to consider the Reims protocol as preliminary.
A second surrender ceremony was organized in a surviving manor 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
, on behalf of the Allied Expeditionary Force, in the presence of General
Carl Spaatz
and General
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
, 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.
[
citation needed
]
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.
[
citation needed
]
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.
[
citation needed
]
To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial
Moscow Victory Parade
was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945.
[
citation needed
]
Celebrations
[
edit
]
In Russia
[
edit
]
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.
[5]
In the Russian SFSR, a weekday off (usually a Monday) was given if 9 May fell on a Saturday or Sunday.
[
citation needed
]
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.
[6]
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.
[6]
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
.
[7]
[8]
The
2020 edition of the parade
, marking the
75th anniversary
of the victory over Nazi Germany, was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
[9]
[10]
Russophone
populations in many countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status,
[11]
organize public gatherings and even parades on this day.
[12]
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.
[13]
RT
also broadcasts the parade featuring live commentary, and also airs yet another highlight of the day ? the
Minute of Silence
at 6:55
pm MST, a tradition dating back to 1965.
[
citation needed
]
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.
[14]
[15]
Other countries currently celebrating 9 May
[
edit
]
- 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
.
[16]
Shushi Liberation Day
is also commemorated with the holiday.
- 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.
[17]
The holiday is similarly celebrated as it was while the country was
part of the Soviet Union
.
[18]
A wreath laying ceremony is usually held at the monument to
Hazi Aslanov
.
- 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 five Victory Day Parades on
Masherov Avenue
(1995, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020) and has had an annual ceremony on
Victory Square
since independence.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
has officially recognized 9 May since its
independence
. However, it is not a working day only in
Republic of Srpska
.
- 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.
- 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.
[19]
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.
[
citation needed
]
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.
- 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
.
- 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
.
- 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.
[20]
- Montenegro
officially recognised 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism as an official holiday.
[
citation needed
]
- 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
.
- Tajikistan
has officially recognised 9 May since
its independence
following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
[
citation needed
]
The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was
part of the Soviet Union
.
[21]
- 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.
[22]
The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was
part of the Soviet Union
.
[23]
Since 2018, it has not been a public holiday.
[24]
Various events are conducted at famous parks such as Altyn Asyr Park and the National Cultural Centre's Palace of Mukams.
[25]
In recent years, Turkmen prisoners have received pardons from the
President of Turkmenistan
on Victory Day.
[26]
- 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
).
[27]
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.
[28]
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
[
edit
]
- 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.
[29]
Flowers are generally laid at the
Monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia
.
- 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" (
Romanian
:
Ziua Victoriei ?i a Comemor?rii Eroilor C?zu?i pentru Independen?a Patriei
).
[30]
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 Chi?in?u. Wreath-laying ceremonies were commonly held at the
Eternity Memorial Complex
of Chi?in?u during the day.
- 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 Ceau?escu
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.
- 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.
[c]
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.
[32]
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 "Second World War" in all
Ukrainian legislation
.
[33]
[34]
Since 15 May 2015
Communist
and
Nazi
symbols are
prohibited in Ukraine
.
[35]
Before 15 May 2015, Ukraine held military parades in the capital on
Khreshchatyk
in 1995, 2001, 2010, and 2011, and 2013.
[36]
On May 8, 2023,
Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
signed a decree according to which Ukraine would celebrate
Europe Day
on May 9,
[37]
[38]
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.
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
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.
[43]
[44]
[45]
[46]
In 2022, following the
Russian invasion of Ukraine
, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.
[32]
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.
[47]
[48]
[49]
Unrecognized states celebrating Victory Day
[
edit
]
- 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
.
- 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
.
- 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
[
edit
]
- 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
(?SLA) on
Letna
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).
[50]
[51]
Since the
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
in 1993,
Czech Republic
has officially recognized
8 May as Liberation Day (
Den osvobozeni
)
. In recent years the Prague uprising and liberation of
Plze?
by American troops have been commemorated on 5 May.
[52]
[53]
[54]
- 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).
- Soviet Union
celebrated 9 May since 1945, with the day becoming a public holiday since 1965 in some Soviet Republics.
-
Yugoslavia
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
[
edit
]
Holiday traditions
[
edit
]
Victory Day Parades
[
edit
]
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.
[55]
[56]
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
[
edit
]
In Belarus on non-jubilee years, a procession is held from
October Square
, which ends with the laying of wreaths on
Victory Square
.
[57]
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
.
[58]
The
Immortal Regiment
(
Russian
:
Бессмертный полк; Bessmertniy Polk
) 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 and/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.
[59]
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.
[60]
It has come under criticism by those who charge that participants are carrying photographs and discarding them after the event.
[60]
[d]
Gatherings at monuments
[
edit
]
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 U?akovs
,
Alfr?ds Rubiks
) also taking part.
[61]
[62]
On 20 April 2023 the
Latvian Parliament
passed a bill to ban all public celebrations on May 9, the only exception being Europe Day.
[63]
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."
[63]
Religious commemorations
[
edit
]
In the Easter message of 1945, the
Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow
wrote:
[64]
The Easter joy of the Resurrection of Christ is now combined with the bright hope of an imminent victory of truth and light over the untruth and darkness of German fascism, which before our eyes is crushed by the combined force of our valiant troops and the troops of our allies. The dark forces of fascism were not able to resist the light and power of Christ, and God's omnipotence appeared over the imaginary power of man.
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.
[65]
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
.
[66]
The completion of the
Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces
was timed to Victory Day in 2020.
Other events
[
edit
]
Traditions such as the Victory Relay Race are held on jubilee anniversaries.
[67]
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
Baherden District
of the
Ahal Region
.
[68]
In 2016, Moldovan Defence Minister
Anatol ?alaru
attended a display of vehicles from the
Moldovan National Army
and the
United States Army
in the central park of
Chisinau
.
[69]
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.
[70]
On Victory Day, many books on topics such as the war such as
Panfilov's Twenty-Eight Guardsmen
[71]
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
.
[72]
Soviet and post-Soviet symbols associated with Victory Day
[
edit
]
Banner of Victory
[
edit
]
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
.
[73]
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
.
[
citation needed
]
In 2015, the banner was brought to
Astana
to participate in the
Defender of the Fatherland Day
parade on 7 May.
[74]
Saint George's Ribbon
[
edit
]
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.
[75]
In countries such as Ukraine and the
Baltic states
, it has been associated recently with
Russophilia
and
Russian irredentism
.
[76]
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
.
[77]
[78]
On 5 May 2014, the
Belarusian Republican Youth Union
encouraged activists not to use the ribbon due to the situation in Ukraine.
[79]
In time for Victory Day 2015, the ribbon's colors were replaced there by the red, green and white from the
Flag of Belarus
.
[80]
Awards
[
edit
]
Soviet Union
[
edit
]
Russia
[
edit
]
Ukraine
[
edit
]
Azerbaijan
[
edit
]
Kazakhstan
[
edit
]
Turkmenistan
[
edit
]
- Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941?1945"
[82]
- Jubilee Medal "75 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941?1945"
[83]
Israel
[
edit
]
Gallery of the celebrations
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
There were 16 republics in the Soviet Union in 1945. The
Karelo-Finnish SSR
was abolished in 1956.
- ^
In 1950 on Victory Day (9 May), French foreign minister
Robert Schuman
made the
Schuman Declaration
proposing creation of the
European Coal and Steel Community
as a way to prevent further war between
France
and
Germany
. He declared he aimed to "make war not only unthinkable but materially impossible".
[3]
It is now celebrated as
Europe Day
on 5 May by the
Council of Europe
.
- ^
In 2010
Lviv Oblast
started to not recognize Victory Day, but rather recognizing the day as a memorial to all wartime victims of both the Soviet and Nazi regimes, as well as all of those caught in between.
[31]
Starting in 2011 8 and 9 May were celebrated as Days of Remembrance of the Victims of World War II.
[31]
- ^
Critics of the Immortal Regiment
have accused the government of co-opting the tradition to promote patriotism and loyalty rather than remember the country's war dead. The event remains popular nonetheless, as many Russian families were affected by the war.
[60]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Earl F. Ziemke
, 1990, Washington DC, CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY,
CHAPTER XV:The Victory Sealed
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Decoration of Moscow for Victory Day
External links
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and prominent parts
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