75: Russian Victory

Victory Day (9 May)   Russian: День Победы

Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the surrender of 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 (after midnight, thus on 9 May Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.Though the official inauguration occurred in 1945 the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in certain Soviet republics. 

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 François 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 USSR 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 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.

[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.  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.  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 USSR and most post-Soviet countries.

To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945. 

(Victory Day in Russia - 1945)

Celebrations: During the Soviet Union's existence, 9 May was celebrated throughout the USSR and in the countries of the Eastern Bloc. Though the holiday was introduced in many Soviet republics between 1946 and 1950, it only became a non-labour day in the Ukrainian SSR in 1963 and the Russian SFSR in 1965. In the Russian SFSR a weekday off (usually a Monday) was given if 9 May fell on a Saturday or Sunday.  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. 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 increasingly 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. 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 fall of the USSR. 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.

Countries celebrating 9 May:

Armenia 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.

 Azerbaijan 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. 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 2 Victory Day Parades on Masherov Avenue (1995, 2005, 2010, and 2015) and has had an annual ceremony on Victory Square since independence.

 Bulgaria had 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 EC countries. the Victory Day in Bulgaria is 8 May, while 9 May is the Europe Day. However, some russophiles, eurosceptics and leftists gather unofficially to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.

 Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognized 9 May since its independence. However, it is not a working day only in Republic of Srpska.

 Czech Republic has officially recognized 8 May as Liberation Day (Den osvobození) since the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. From 1948 to 1993, the communist-dominated Czechoslovak Socialist Republic celebrated the holiday on 9 May in concert with the USSR. Then, it was mainly celebrated with a military parade of the Czechoslovak People's Army (ČSLA) on Letná 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).

 Estonia does not officially recognize 9 May as a holiday due to its occupational past, although the Russian community still informally celebrate the holiday. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 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.

 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).

 The Federal Republic of Germany does not officially recognize 9 May as a holiday. However, informal celebrations continue to take place in some areas of the former German Democratic Republic. 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).

 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.[13] 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. 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. It's a non-working day. 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. In 1995 the first military parade of Kazakhstan was held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory day in Almaty.

 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. On the 70th anniversary in 2015, the first Victory Day military parade on Ala-Too Square took place int the presence of Prime Minister Temir Sariyev and Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces Asanbek Alymkozhoev.

 Latvia does not officially recognize 9 May as a holiday due to its occupational past, although the Russian community still informally celebrate the holiday, especially at the Victory Memorial to Soviet Army in Riga, where some of the diplomats (ambassadors of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus) and politicians (Nils Ušakovs, Alfrēds Rubiks) also take part.  The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 Lithuania does not officially recognize 9 May as a holiday due to its occupational past, although the Russian community still informally celebrate the holiday. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 Moldova has officially recognised 9 May since its independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. Today, Victory Day is a major holiday, particularly with the country's Russian community and also recently with the political Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, which conducted the first state sponsored rallys on Victory Day in 2017. Wreath laying ceremonies are commonly held at the Eternity Memorial Complex in Chișinău.

 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.

 Montenegro officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism as an official holiday.

 Poland officially recognised 9 May from 1945 until 2014. From 24 April 2015 Poland officially recognised 8 May as "Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa" – "National Victory Day". The Russian minority in Poland continues to celebrate 9 May traditions to this date. This holiday was also similarly celebrated there while the country was a socialist state.

 Romania has officially recognized 9 May since its existence as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. The holiday also commemorates the independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878. As in other EC countries. the Victory Day in Romania is 8 May, while 9 May is Europe Day. However, some russophiles, eurosceptics and leftists gather unofficially to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.

 Russian Federation has officially recognised 9 May since its formation in 1991 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working); The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 Serbia celebrates 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of SFR Yugoslavia.

 The Soviet Union officially recognised 9 May from 1946 until its dissolution in 1991. It became a non-labour holiday in 1965.

 Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 Turkmenistan 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.

 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.  The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. As of 2015, Ukraine officially celebrates Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on 9 May, per a decree of parliament. Additionally the term "Great Patriotic War" as a reference was replaced with "Second World War" in all Ukrainian legislation.  Since 15 May 2015 Communist and Nazi symbols are prohibited in Ukraine. Before 15 May 2015, Ukraine held military parades in the capital on Khreshchatyk in 1995, 2001, 2010, and 2011, and 2013.

 Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 2 March 1999, where the holiday was introduced as "Memorial/Remembrance Day". The holiday was also celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

 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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day_(9_May)