How the May 9th parades were held in the USSR

In the USSR, Victory Day was not just a holiday, but a symbol of national pride, memory of the great sacrifice and triumph. The first parade took place on June 24, 1945, when soldiers who had just returned from the front marched across Red Square. However, in subsequent years, large-scale celebrations were held infrequently – the country was recovering from the war, and official celebrations on May 9 were limited to fireworks and local events. Only in 1965, for the 20th anniversary of the Victory, Leonid Brezhnev brought back the tradition of large parades, making them annual.

The scenario of the holiday remained unchanged for decades. At exactly ten in the morning, members of the Politburo, military leaders and veterans would ascend the Mausoleum tribune. As the chimes struck, the parade commander would ride out onto the square, and then the Minister of Defense would receive a report. After the ceremonial march of the troops, the most spectacular part would begin – a demonstration of military equipment. Tanks, missile The installations and anti-aircraft systems moved slowly along the cobblestones, demonstrating the power of the Soviet army.

A special place was occupied by the "box" of veterans. In the first years there were many of them - people in orders, marching in the same formation as in 45. With each decade their ranks thinned, but the ovations from the stands sounded louder and louder. The culmination was a minute of silence, after which the echo of a gun salute was heard over the square.

The parade was not only a military event, but also an ideological one. It involved pioneers, Komsomol members, columns of workers with portraits of Lenin and banners. The entire country watched the broadcast on television, because for many this is the main holiday of the year, a reminder that no one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten, literally.

After the collapse of the USSR, the tradition was interrupted, but not for long. In 1995, the parades resumed, although on a smaller scale. But it was the Soviet celebrations of May 9 that remained in memory as a symbol of the era when the war was not yet over. history, but a part of the lives of millions.

Comments

[Blacksmith 55]

In Berlin, a couple of Ukrainians with their flag were not allowed into Treptower Park to the monument to the Soviet soldier. A crowd gathered, blocked their way and everyone chanted Russia, Russia. And even the police participated in this action on the side of Russian speakers.
Sorry for being off topic.
I also have a video, but I'm not such an expert in this area, unfortunately.

[vovochkarzhevsky]

In Berlin, a couple of Ukrainians with their flag were not allowed into Treptower Park to see the monument to Soviet soldiers.

Only approach the monument to the Soviet soldier with a Soviet flag. Anything else is inappropriate.

[THE USSR.]

If only I had a time machine, I would go back to Soviet times without a second thought.

[fellipe gusmao]

This has always been my desire.

[Come in large numbers]

That's why there were no parades on May 1965th until 9? But there always were on November 7th. It's unclear. But that's not the point. This is our last holiday that binds us all together. And June 12th and November 4th are still not the same. And the scary thing is that it is during our time that the last participants of that War will leave.

[Doctor]

That's why there were no parades on May 1965th until 9? But there always were on November 7th. It's unclear. But that's not the point. This is our last holiday that binds us all together. And June 12th and November 4th are still not the same. And the scary thing is that it is during our time that the last participants of that War will leave.

Several reasons, IMHO.

1. The very high price of Victory. Namely, "a holiday with tears in the eyes." Devastation, victims, 2,5 million invalids - this was also recalled. Everything should be calm in Baghdad.
2. Raising the authority of the military, the top brass first of all. It is not in the traditions of Joseph Vissarionovich to show off Zhukov and Rokossovsky on horses every year, there is no need for this...
Further, Khrushchev did not want to expose Joseph Vissarionovich himself.
3. Willy-nilly, I recalled the role of the allies. And by this time they had already become enemies.
4. The front-line soldiers are a close-knit group. On May 9, they will start meeting, exchanging opinions, giving assessments... You never know, they might come up with something obscene. Do we need it?

So - an ordinary, warm May day. A working day.

P.S. The author's version that "the country was recovering from the war" doesn't apply.
To drive a couple thousand soldiers with equipment instead of a training ground is a minimum of expenses; on November 7 they went without any problems, as you correctly noted.

[solovyov-igor]

There were no parades because a lot of money was spent on the post-war reconstruction of the country...

[Andrey1957]

And on May 1st they were always. And May 9th became a non-working day only in 1965. From that time on, parades in honor of the Victory began.

[sidorov]

Victory makes up for any sacrifice because it is victory. It will open up a historical perspective, a future.
And the most idiotic betrayal is the humiliation of one's own victory. Those who have gone for it have their path to the future closed.

[lexxing]

For your information Military parades on May 9 in the USSR were only in 1965, 1985 and 1990. Annual military parades were on November 7