Figure 1.--VE-Day or Victory Day as it was known in the Soviet Union and Russia today is celebrated on May 9, days later than in the West. This is because Stalin was not at all pleased that the Germans had surrendered in the West. Stalin wanted the surrender in Berlin to Zhukov and other important Soviet commanders. Thus the second signing of the German Instrument of Surrender occurred in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May Moscow Time). We are not sure what occured in Moscow or other Soviet cities on May 8 or 9. The Soviets were not big on spontaneous demonstrations. In fact you could possibly go to the Gulag for spontaneously demonstrating. Rather the Soviets staged a massive victory parade in Moscow weeks later (June 24).

VE-Day or Victory Day as it was known in the Soviet Union and Russia today is celebrated on May 9, days later than in the West. This is because Stalin was not at all pleased that the Germans had surrendered in the West. There was a Soviet General who participated in the Reims surrender, but he did not clear it with Stalin and got into a lot of trouble. Stalin wanted the surrender in Berlin to Zhukov and other important Soviet commanders. Thus the second signing of the German Instrument of Surrender occurred in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May Moscow Time). We are not sure what occured in Moscow or other Soviet cities on May 8 or 9. The Soviets were not big on spontaneous demonstrations. In fact you could possibly go to the Gulag for spontaneously demonstrating. Rather the Soviets staged a massive victory parade in Moscow (June 24). Stalin was to lead the parade on a white horse. The horse, however, proved rather 'spirited' and Stalin at the last minute decided not to ride it when he actually saw the horse. Thus it was Marshal Zhukov was actually rode the horse in the victory parade. Stalin approved this, but in fact was deeply resentful of this. The incident and Stalin's further resentment of Zhukov's popularity affected the famed Marshal's career after the War. Zhukov was to popular for even Stalin to arrest, but he was eventually sent to Mongolia. The parade proved to be the longest and largest military parade ever held on Red Square. It involved 40,000 Red Army soldiers . The only foreign soldiers was a Polish color guard. The soldiers participating were chosen to represent all the fronts (army groups), a People's Commissariat of National Defense combined regiment, the Soviet Navy, military academies and schools, and troops of the Moscow Garrison and Military District. There were 1,850 military vehicles and other military hardware. This involved enormous planning and logistics which is why it was held over a month after VE-Day. There was a practice before the actual parade. The parade itself lasted over two hours on a rainy (June 24, 1945). The Soviet people had paid a terrible price for the victory over the NAZIs. The celebration of that victory continues to be an almost religious event in modern Russia. The 2023 celebration was, however, muted because of the ongoing nightmare in Ukraine. Not because of the brutal Russian aggression or loss of life, but because of the poor performance of the Russian military.

Sources

Cincinnati Enquirer (May 8, 1945).

Created: 4:33 AM 10/11/2008
Last updated: 11:04 AM 2/8/2019