Victory Day is a holiday with tears in our eyes. May 9 - Victory Day

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

A bit of history

The Great Patriotic War began on June 22, 1941 and lasted for 4 long years. Much was carried over by Soviet people during the years of the fascist occupation, but still they won. The people paved their way to the Victory Day road. Only thanks to his dedicated work and military merit, the Soviet Union was able to win this war, although it was not easy to do it.

Very long and difficult was the final breakthrough, which led to the end of hostilities with Germany. Soviet troops began to advance in the region of Poland and Prussia in January 1945. The Allies did not lag behind. They moved rapidly to Berlin, the capital of fascist Germany. According to many historians of that and the present time, Hitler's suicide, which occurred on April 20, 1945, predetermined the complete defeat of Germany.

But the death of the mentor and leader did not stop the Nazi troops. The bloody battles for Berlin, however, led to the fact that the Soviet Union and its allies defeated the fascists. Victory Day is a tribute to the heavy price paid by the ancestors of many of us. Hundreds of thousands of people killed on either side - only after that the capital of Germany capitulated. This happened on May 7, 1945, that memorable day was remembered for a long time by contemporaries.

Price of Victory

In the storming of Berlin was involved about 2.5 million soldiers. The losses of the Soviet Army were enormous. According to some reports, our army lost up to 15 thousand people a day. In the Battle of Berlin, 325,000 officers and soldiers were killed. There was a real bloody war. Victory Day - it was still the day, the first celebration of which was already 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. For a few weeks in the Berlin operation was lost by the Soviet Army:

• 1997 tanks;
• More than 2,000 guns;
• About 900 aircraft.

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

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

Human losses

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

1. Those who died 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 its termination.
3. Deaths due to the increased mortality in the period of military operations in the rear and in the occupied territory.

As for the sex of the dead and deceased people during the Second World War, most of them are men. The total number is 20 million people.

Public Holiday

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

Celebration of the first Victory Day

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

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

• Leningradsky;
• Belarusian;
• Ukrainian;
• Karelian.

A combined regiment of the Navy also passed through the square. Ahead were the commanders and Heroes of the Soviet Union carrying flags and banners that distinguished themselves in the battles of military units.

At the conclusion 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 the time the military parade began to be held on Victory Day - May 9.

The period of oblivion

The country's leadership after the war felt that the Soviet people, tired of fighting and bloodshed, should forget those events a little. And strange as it may seem, the custom of celebrating such an important holiday was not lasting long. In 1947, a new scenario was introduced for the Victory Day from the country's leadership: it was completely abolished, and on May 9 it was recognized as an ordinary working day. Accordingly, all festivals and military parades were not held.

In 1965, the year of the 20th anniversary, Victory Day (May 9) was restored in rights and again recognized as a national holiday. In many regions of the Soviet Union held their own parades. And this day ended with the usual salute for all.

Soon the disintegration of the USSR followed, which led to the emergence of various conflicts, including political ones. In 1995, the full celebration of the Victory Day was resumed in Russia. In the same year, two parades were held in Moscow. One was on foot and passed on Red Square. The second was conducted using armored vehicles, and was observed on Poklonnaya Hill.

The official part of the holiday is traditionally held. On the Victory Day, congratulations are sounded, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers at the monuments and memorials of the Great Patriotic War and the obligatory evening fireworks crowning the festival.

Victory Day

In our country there is no more touching, tragic and at the same time glorious holiday than the Victory Day. It is still celebrated annually on May 9. No matter how the facts of our history have changed in recent years, this day remains a beloved, dear and bright holiday.

May 9, millions of people remember how their grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought, not sparing their lives, with the enemies who decided to conquer the Soviet Union. Remember those who worked hard at factories that produce weapons and equipment for the military. People starved, but kept, as they understood that only from their actions depends the future victory over the fascist invaders. These people won the war, and thanks to their generation today we live under a peaceful sky.

How is Victory Day celebrated in Russia?

On this day there are rallies and demonstrations. Flowers and wreaths are placed on the monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Honored veterans and participants of those distant and simultaneously such close events. In general, we are always waiting for this day the same scenario. By the Victory Day in many countries do not arrange noisy parties, in the evenings do not blow up firecrackers. But this date enters the young hearts of Russians with shots of black and white newsreels about that time, taking for the soul songs about a tight dugout, about the front line and forever frozen over the mountain soldier Alyosha.

May 9 is a celebration of a proud people-winner. It's been 70 years since the first celebration of the Victory Day. But until now this date is sacred for every Russian person. After all, there is not a single family that does not touch 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 he was able to defend the right to a peaceful life.

The invariable attribute of the Victory Day holiday

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

Also, the invariable colors that accompany May 9, became black and yellow - symbols of smoke and flame. St. George's ribbon since 2005 is an invariable reflection of gratitude for peace and respect for veterans.

Heroes - winners

Every year, Russia marks a peaceful spring. Only, unfortunately, front wounds, time and illness are inexorable. To date, out of every hundred winners in the Great Patriotic War, only two survived. And this is a very sad statistics, 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 should be treated with special attention and honor. After all, it is they who have made the sky above our heads become and remains peaceful.

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

Remember our ancestors

The main wealth of every human soul is the memory of 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 as we know it.

The memory of the departed is priceless. The heroism of the winners of the Second World War can not be estimated. We do not know all these great people by name. But what they have accomplished can not 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. The largest number of colors - a pronounced evidence of people's memory and worship - at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Here the Eternal flame always burns , as if saying that although the names remain unknown, the feat of the human is immortal.

All who fought in the Great Patriotic War fought not 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 they remember him.

Monuments and monuments dedicated to the Victory Day

The Great Patriotic War left a huge and unforgettable mark in the history of our country. For 70 years now, we remember this great May every year. Victory Day is a special holiday, in which the memory of the dead is honored. In the vastness of Russia's memorials dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, a lot has been created. And all the monuments are different. There are also inconspicuous obelisks in small villages, and huge monuments in large cities.

Here are some famous for the whole country and the world of buildings dedicated to the warriors of the Second World War:

• Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow.
• Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd.
• Heroes' Square in Novorossiysk.
• Alley of Heroes in St. Petersburg.
• The eternal fire of Glory in Novgorod.
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and much more.

Holiday "with tears in your eyes"

This significant and at the same time mournful holiday We will not separate the "Victory Day" from the song. It contains the following lines:

"This Victory Day
Gunpowder smelled,
This is a holiday
With gray hair on the temples.
It's fun
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 fascist Germany, and the Union of Composers of the USSR announced a contest for the creation of the best song on the subject of heroic events. A few days before the end of the contest the work was written. It was performed by the wife of D. Tukhmanov, the poetess and singer T. Sashko, at the last audition. But not immediately the song became popular. Only in November 1975, at a holiday dedicated to the Day of Militia, a 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". It:

• I. Kobzon;
• M. Magomaev;
• Yu. Bogatikov;
• E. Pieha and others.

Victory Day will forever remain that holiday for Russians, who are met with a sinking heart and with tears in their eyes. Eternal memory to heroes!