Victory Day (9 May)

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Victory Day^{[a 1]} is a holiday that commemorates the Soviet victory over 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 (9 May Moscow Time).^[a] The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.^[1] Although the official inauguration occurred in 1945, the holiday became a non-labor day only in 1965, and only in certain Soviet republics.

In

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.^{[citation needed]}

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 Soviet Union and most post-Soviet countries.^{[citation needed]}

To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial

In Russia

During the Soviet Union's existence, 9 May was celebrated throughout it and in the Eastern Bloc. Though the holiday was introduced in many Soviet republics between 1946 and 1950, it became a non-working day only in the Ukrainian SSR in 1963 and the Russian SFSR in 1965.^[5] In the Russian SFSR, a weekday off (usually a Monday) was given if 9 May fell on a Saturday or Sunday.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[6]

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 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.^[6]

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 end of the Soviet Union. 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.^[7][8] The 2020 edition of the parade, marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[9][10]

Because of massive losses among both military and civilians during World War II, Victory Day is one of the most important and emotional dates in Russia.^[14][15]

Other countries currently celebrating 9 May

• Armenia has officially recognized 9 May since its independence in 1991. It is officially known as Victory and Peace Day. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.^[16] Shushi Liberation Day is also commemorated with the holiday.
• Azerbaijan has officially recognized 9 May since 1994. Upon its independence in 1991, the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party and later the government of Abulfaz Elchibey deliberately erased the holiday from the calendar, with veterans being subjected to a targeted anti-Russian/Soviet media campaign. Upon coming to power, Heydar Aliyev restored the holiday to the national calendar.^[17] The holiday is similarly celebrated as it was while the country was part of the Soviet Union.^[18] 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 five Victory Day Parades on Masherov Avenue (1995, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020) and has had an annual ceremony on Victory Square since independence.
• Republic of Srpska
  .
• 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.
• 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.^[19] 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 as a national holiday. 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.
• 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.
• 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.^[20]
• Montenegro officially recognised 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism as an official holiday.^{[citation needed]}
• Serbia celebrates 9 May as Victory Day over Fascism but it is a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including the President, Minister of Defense and the highest officers of the Serbian Armed Forces.
• Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.^{[citation needed]} The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.^[21]
• Turkmenistan has officially recognised 9 May since its independence in 1991. It officially known as the Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War. It was established by a special decree of President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov in 2000.^[22] The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.^[23] Since 2018, it has not been a public holiday.^[24] Various events are conducted at famous parks such as Altyn Asyr Park and the National Cultural Centre's Palace of Mukams.^[25] In recent years, Turkmen prisoners have received pardons from the President of Turkmenistan on Victory Day.^[26]
• Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 2 March 1999, where the holiday was introduced as the "Day of Remembrance and Honour" (Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni).^[27] It is the only country in the Commonwealth of Independent States to not officially recognize the 9 May holiday as Victory Day. Under President Islam Karimov, the holiday was toned down, with many veterans being told not to wear their Soviet-era decorations or uniforms on the holiday.^[28] Since Karimov's death in 2016, the holiday has been celebrated there similarly to how it was celebrated while the country was part of the Soviet Union.

Countries formerly celebrating 9 May

• Bulgaria 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 EU countries, Victory Day in Bulgaria is 8 May, whereas 9 May is Europe Day. However, many still gather unofficially to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May.^[29] Flowers are generally laid at the Monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia.
• Moldavian SSR. It is now officially known as the "Victory Day and Commemoration of the Fallen Heroes for the Independence of the Fatherland" (Romanian: Ziua Victoriei și a Comemorării Eroilor Căzuți pentru Independența Patriei).^[30] Victory Day was a major national holiday, particularly due to Moldova's Russian community and also due to the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) and its state-sponsored Victory Day rallies of 2017 on the Great National Assembly Square at Chișinău. Wreath-laying ceremonies were commonly held at the Eternity Memorial Complex
  of Chișinău during the day.
• Romania officially recognized Victory Day as a public holiday during the communist era. Since Romania's 1877 independence day from the Ottoman Empire also coincides with Victory Day on 9 May, the holiday was made a double celebration, especially under Nicolae Ceaușescu who sought to portray communism in Romania as a continuation of Romania's independence struggles from previous centuries. Victory Day in Romania is now celebrated on 8 May, whereas 9 May is celebrated as Europe Day. However, some Russophiles, Eurosceptics and leftists gather at informal meetings to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May. Thus, it may mark a triple celebration in the country.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree according to which Ukraine would celebrate Europe Day on May 9,^[37][38] and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill establishing May 8, the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945, as a day off instead of Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.^{[39][40][41][42]} On May 29, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada made the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 on May 8 as a public holiday, canceling the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.^{[43][44][45][46]} In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.^[32]

Unrecognized states celebrating Victory Day

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• Abkhazia has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
• South Ossetia has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union.
• Transnistria has officially recognised 9 May since its declaration of independence in 1990. From 1951 the holiday was similarly celebrated there while the polity was part of the Soviet Union.

Former states

• From 1948 to 1993, the communist-dominated Czechoslovak Socialist Republic celebrated the holiday on 9 May in concert with the Soviet Union. 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).^[47][48] Since the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czech Republic has officially recognized 8 May as Liberation Day (Den osvobození). In recent years the Prague uprising and liberation of Plzeň by American troops have been commemorated on 5 May.^[49][50][51]
• 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). In Federal Republic of Germany, events are held on 8 May to commemorate those who fought against Nazism and lost their lives in World War II. 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).
• Soviet Union celebrated 9 May since 1945, with the day becoming a public holiday since 1965 in some Soviet Republics.
•  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.

Former unrecognized states

• Capture of Shushi
  .

Holiday traditions

Victory Day Parades

In the Easter message of 1945, the Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow wrote:^[61]

The Easter joy of the Resurrection of Christ is now combined with the bright hope of an imminent victory of truth and light over the untruth and darkness of German fascism, which before our eyes is crushed by the combined force of our valiant troops and the troops of our allies. The dark forces of fascism were not able to resist the light and power of Christ, and God's omnipotence appeared over the imaginary power of man.

Every 26 April (

On Victory Day, many books on topics such as the war such as Panfilov's Twenty-Eight Guardsmen^[68] are published. On the eve of the diamond jubilee, President Vladimir Putin, at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, gave a live address broadcast Austrian TV channel ORF.^[69]

Soviet and post-Soviet symbols associated with Victory Day

Banner of Victory

The

The Ribbon of Saint George is a military symbol that dates back to the era of the Russian Empire. It consists of a black and orange bicolour pattern, with three black and two orange stripes. In the early 21st century, it became an

On 5 May 2014, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union encouraged activists not to use the ribbon due to the situation in Ukraine.^[76] In time for Victory Day 2015, the ribbon's colors were replaced there by the red, green and white from the Flag of Belarus.^[77]

Awards

Soviet Union

Order of Victory

	Medal For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945
	Medal For the Capture of Berlin
	Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
	Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
	Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"

Russia

	Medal for the 50th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 65th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 75th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945

Ukraine

	Medal for the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Victory over Nazism
	Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky

Azerbaijan

Medal for the 75th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945[78]

Kazakhstan

	Medal for the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
	Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945

Turkmenistan

• Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"^[79]
• Jubilee Medal "75 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"^[80]

Israel

Fighters against Nazis Medal

Gallery of the celebrations

• 
  2018 celebrations at the Mother Armenia monument in Yerevan.
• 
  President Ilham Aliyev with war veterans in Baku in 2018.
• 
  The victory parade in Minsk in 2015.
• 
  Belarusian veterans during Victory Day in 2017.
• 
  A T-72 tank during a Victory Day parade in Kazakhstan 2015.
• 
  Victory Day in the

  Moldavian SSR

  in 1980.
• 
  Veterans during Victory Day in Russia.
• 
  Flowers near Victory Memorial in Riga, Latvia in 2016.
• 
  A sign on a Dushanbe Avenue for Victory Day.
• 
  Local residents in Crimea at «Immortal regiment», carrying portraits of their ancestors and participants in World War II, 9 May 2016.
• 
  Decoration of Moscow with flags for Victory Day, 9 May 2021^[81]
• 
  Moldovan former president

  9 May 2023

See also

• End of World War II in Europe
• Hero city
• Immortal Regiment
• Moscow Victory Day Parade
• Pobediteli
• Pobedobesie
• Reunification Day (Vietnam)
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation
• Victory Day in other countries
• Victory Day Parades (9 May)
• Victory over Japan Day

Notes