Victory Day: The parade will last for around 90 minutes and see the participation of military personnel from 19 countries, including India and China.
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| Solders of Indian Armed Forces were seen marching with units of Russia's other allies during the traditional massive Red Square military parade in Moscow, which was delayed by more than a month because of the invisible enemy of coronavirus. (Photo | AP) |
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day trip to Russia to attend the 75th Victory Day. India has sent a tri-services contingent to participate in the Victory Day Parade on Wednesday. China’s Defence Minister and troops will also be present.
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| The parade marked the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 24, 2020. (Photo | AP) |
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| The parade is usually held May 9 on Victory Day, Russia’s most important secular holiday, but was postponed until Wednesday due to the pandemic. But the timing allowed Russia to mark another significant war-era event — the 75th anniversary of the Red Square parade by troops returning home after the Nazis’ defeat. (Photo | AP) |
What is Victory Day?
Victory Day marks the end of World War II and the victory of the Allied Forces in 1945. Adolf Hitler had shot himself on April 30. On May 7, German troops surrendered, which was formally accepted the next day, and came into effect on May 9.
In most European countries, it is celebrated on May 8, and is called the Victory in Europe Day.
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| Some 14,000 soldiers took part in the parade, including units from several former Soviet republics and from Mongolia and Serbia. (Photo | AP) |
Why does Russia not celebrate Victory Day on the same date?
The erstwhile Soviet Union had not wanted the surrender to take place in the west, and wanted that such a significant event should reflect the contribution of the Red Army and the Soviet population. According to military historian Antony Beevor’s definitive book on World War II, Joseph Stalin, premier of the Soviet Union, wanted Germany to also sign a surrender in Berlin.
The Act of Military Surrender was signed by Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command Generallutenant Alfred Jodl and General Admiral Hans-George von Friedeburg in the early hours of May 7 in France at Rheims, which was the headquarters of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). The surrender was to come into effect a minute past midnight on May 9.
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| Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) also marched in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade. (Photo | AP) |
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| Many spectators in the viewing stands were wearing masks, but Russian soldiers in close formation on the square did not. President Putin and other dignitaries on the main viewing stage also did not wear masks. (Photo | AP) |
But, Beevor writes, “Stalin could not let the final ceremony take place in the west, so he insisted that the Germans sign another surrender in Berlin, at one minute past midnight on 9 May, the moment the capitulation agreed at Rheims came into effect”. Though the document was signed, Beevor says that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill “cabled Stalin to explain that, since crowds were already gathering in London to celebrate, Victory in Europe Day celebration in Britain would take place on 8 May, as they did in the United States”.
This did not convince Stalin, who argued that “Soviet troops were still fighting” the German forces in many areas. German soldiers did not surrender in East Prussia, Courland Peninsula, Czechoslovakia till later. “Victory celebration, Stalin wrote, could therefore not begin in the Soviet Union till 9 May,” Beevor says in his book.
Since then May 9 has been celebrated at Victory Day in Russia.
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| A flyover of helicopters, bombers and fighter planes completed the show of Russia's military might. IN PIC: Russia's Air Force strategic bombers, Tu-160, center, and Tu-22M3, all others, fly over Red Square during the parade. (Photo | AP) |
If May 9 is Victory Day, why is it being celebrated on June 24?
This year, the celebrations this year were pushed to June because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In November 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Victory Day celebration which were due to be held on May 9.
Modi could not travel to Moscow, but he wished Putin on May 9 through a tweet: “India stands with Russia in solemn remembrance today, on the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day. Tens of thousands of Indian soldiers also made the supreme sacrifice in the Second World War. My warm greetings to President Putin and the Russian people on this occasion.”
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| Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade. (Photo | AP) |
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| More than 230 military vehicles drove across the vast square in the Russian capital, ranging from renowned WWII-era T-34 tanks to hulking Topol intercontinental ballistic missile-launchers. (Photo | AP) |
Is the June 24 date particularly significant?
Yes, it is. After winning the war and having its own Victory Day on May 9, Stalin wanted to commemorate the victory with a military parade. On June 22, 1945, he ordered: “In commemoration of the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint to hold the parade of the regular Army, Navy and the Moscow garrison — Victory Parade June 24, 1945 in Moscow’s Red Square.”
Hence the first Victory Day Parade took place on June 24 in Moscow.
However, since then, the Victory Day Parades have taken place on May 9.
Who is participating in the parade on Wednesday?
The parade will last for around 90 minutes and see the participation of military personnel from 19 countries, including India and China. The celebrations are expected to include 64,000 participants. In Moscow, 14,000 military personnel will march through Red Square. Additionally, 50,000 more troops will march through 27 other cities that have military units.
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| Soviet tanks T-34 roll toward Red Square. (Photo | AP) |
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| Members of Yunarmia (Young Army), an organization sponsored by the Russian military that aims to encourage patriotism among the Russian youth march during the event. (Photo | AP) |
Have Indian politicians taken part in such celebrations earlier?
Yes. Indian leaders have attended several Victory Day Parades. At the 70th anniversary Victory Day celebrations in 2015, then President Pranab Mukherjee went to represent India. Manmohan Singh had attended the 60th anniversary in 2005 as the then Prime Minister of India.
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| Russian Knights (Russkiye Vityazi) and Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatic teams fly their Sukhoi Su-30SM and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade. (Photo | AP) |
Mukherjee had attended the celebrations earlier as well. In 1995, as the External Affairs Minister, he was present at the 50th anniversary celebrations. However, he noted in his memoirs that he had objected to India’s participation before P V Narasimha Rao, the Prime Minister at that time, as “there were several reasons why the government should not participate in Victory Day celebrations for the Second World War”. He had stated that the Indian National Army of Subhash Chandra Bose had fought the Allied Forces and that leaders of Congress were jailed during the war for their protests.
Source : Indian Express & ANI
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