Victory Day (May 9) in USSR, Aug.15, Victory in the Pacific

Victory Day (May 9)
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For the song, see Den Pobedy

General Zhukov reading the German capitulation. Seated on his right is Arthur Tedder, Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
Soviet Order of VictoryIn twelve of the fifteen former USSR countries, the three Baltic States being the exceptions, Victory Day [1] marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and some post-Soviet states). This surrender document was signed late in the evening on May 8, 1945 (May 9 by Moscow Time), following the original capitulation Germany agreed earlier to the joint Allied forces on the Western Front. The Soviet government announced the victory early on May 9 after the signing ceremony in Berlin[2]. However, it is only since 1965 that Victory Day has been a holiday.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Celebration
2.1 Countries that celebrate the May 9 Victory Day
3 Soviet and post-Soviet symbols associated with the Victory Day
3.1 Soviet Union
3.2 Russia
3.3 Ukraine
3.4 Kazakhstan
4 See also
5 References
6 External links



[edit] History
Two separate capitulation events took place at the time. First, the capitulation to the Allied nations in Reims was signed on May 7, 1945, effective 23:01 CET May 8. This date is commonly referred to as the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) in most western European countries. The other World War II victory day, the V-J day (Victory in Japan Day) is commemorated in August, and is of considerably lesser significance in Europe.

However, the Soviet Union's only representative in Reims was General Ivan Susloparov, the Military Liaison Mission Commander. General Susloparov's scope of authority was not entirely clear, and he had no means of immediate contact with the Kremlin, but nevertheless decided to sign for the Soviet side. Susloparov was caught off guard; he had no instructions from Moscow. But if he did not sign, he risked a German surrender without Soviet participation. However, he noted that it could be replaced with a new version in the future. Joseph Stalin was later displeased by these events, believing that the German surrender should have been accepted only by the envoy of the USSR Supreme command and signed only in Berlin and insisted the Reims protocol be considered preliminary, with the main ceremony to be held in Berlin, where Marshal Zhukov was at the time, as the latter recounts in his memoirs:[3]

“ [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. ”

Field-Marshal Keitel signing the ratified surrender terms for the German militaryTherefore, another ceremony was organized in a surviving manor in the outskirts of Berlin late on May 8, when it was already May 9 in Moscow due to the difference in time zones. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel submitted the capitulation of the Wehrmacht to the Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the Red Army headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on June 24, 1945.


[edit] Celebration
During the Soviet Union's existence, the May 9 Victory Day was celebrated throughout the USSR and in the countries of the Eastern Bloc. It became an official Soviet holiday in 1965.

After the fall of the communism in Central and Eastern Europe, most former USSR countries, retained the celebration as a national holiday. Traditionally, ceremonial military parades are held on the day, such as the one in Moscow on the Red Square.


[edit] Countries that celebrate the May 9 Victory Day
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Russia
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan, in 1999 President Islam Karimov redefined the May 9 celebration as "Memorial/Remembrance Day" (Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni), as a commemoration of those who suffered in the war against fascism during World War II and who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.[4]
Russophone population in Baltic states continues to celebrate the May 9 en masse, sometimes with controversy, see Bronze Soldier of Tallinn.[5]


[edit] Soviet and post-Soviet symbols associated with the Victory Day

"Victory Banner #5", raised on the roof of the Reichstag buildingVictory Banner

[edit] Soviet Union
Order of Victory
Medal For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945
Medal For the Capture of Berlin
Медаль «Двадцать лет победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг.»
Медаль «Тридцать лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг.»
Медаль «Сорок лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг.»


[edit] Russia
Медаль «50 лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг.»
Медаль «60 лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941—1945 гг.»


[edit] Ukraine
Медаль "60 лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941—1945 гг."


[edit] Kazakhstan
Медаль «60 лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941—1945 гг.»