Russian Victory Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Russia

General Alfred Jodl signed the provisions of Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, which went into effect on May 8. The Allies celebrated May 8 as "V.E. Day" or Victory in Europe Day to commemorate the surrender of Germany in Reims, France.

The 9th of May is Russian Victory Day, and the celebrations grow grander each year. Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany in World War II on Victory Day. Few nations commemorate the end of World War II with as much enthusiasm and flare as Russia. While this is traditionally a day of reflection and mourning in Europe, the inverse is true in Russia. The Victory Day is a festivity. The best point? The armed forces go all out during spectacular military manoeuvres. Some view it as a memorial to the millions of Russians who perished during the conflict. Why is Victory Day essential to the history of Russia?

The background of Russian Victory Day

General Alfred Jodl signed the provisions of Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, which went into effect on May 8. The Allies celebrated May 8 as “V.E. Day” or Victory in Europe Day to commemorate the surrender of Germany in Reims, France. Joseph Stalin delayed the celebrations until the next day, when the Nazis surrendered in Soviet-controlled Berlin. By the time Germany signed the Instrument of Surrender, it was past midnight on May 9, Moscow time, and the date was already May 9. Since then, Russia has observed Russian Victory Day on May 9.

Not all celebrations (if any) were spectacular. With each new government, the significance and interpretation of Victory Day in Russia changed. Joseph Stalin, the chief of the Soviet Union, preferred to sweep the event under the rug. The day was a legacy of World War II that he and his companions would prefer to forget, along with the numerous atrocities committed in their name. Stalin’s disregard for Victory Day may have been the result of paranoia; he may have feared that a display of bravado would incite powerful generals in his army to stage a mutiny. There were no Victory Day celebrations for 20 years.

Leonid Brezhnev, a veteran of World War II, ascended to the position of party secretary in 1965, ushering in a period of profound change. Brezhnev utilised public opinion regarding the Great Patriotic War to garner support for his leadership. Victory Day in Russia became a national holiday. In contemporary Russia, military parades and extravagant celebrations are the norm. Under the administration of Russia’s first elected president, Boris Yeltsin, Victory Day rekindled nostalgia for the glorious days. The celebrations were intended to invoke memories of a once-powerful nation and military, both of which were now mere shadows of their former selves. In 1995, Victory Day in Russia became an annual event.

However, it was President Vladimir Putin who brought the celebrations of Victory Day to new heights. Since 2008, Russian Victory Day has become a display of military might in addition to a memorial for the eight million Russians who perished in the conflict. Battalions and parades are essential components of festivities. The latest tanks, aircraft, and nuclear missiles are displayed in parades. Today’s Victory Day celebrations reflect the feelings of two distinct generations: older Russians still traumatised by the conflict, and younger Russians celebrating the greatness of a post-Communist Russia.

The majority of Russians find the extravagant celebrations jarring and incongruous with the day’s purpose, which is to commemorate the sacrifice of loved ones during the conflict. In 2011, three journalists took it upon themselves to remind everyone by silently walking through the streets while carrying portraits of war-deceased family members. The gesture resonated with Russians everywhere, and the march quickly became known as the March of the Immortal Regiment. Since then, citizens have taken to the streets each year carrying photographs of loved ones lost in battle. The march is a sobering reminder of the costs of conflict and a striking contrast to the more boisterous state-sanctioned celebrations of military glory.

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