Marking Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany is part of Vladimir Putin’s campaign to twist the memory of the war and win legitimacy
’s remaining generals surrendered unconditionally to Marshal Georgy Zhukov, commander of the Red Army, and to representatives of the Allied powers in Europe, ordering their forces to lay down arms just before midnight. Because that fell in the early hours of the next day according to Moscow time, Russians ever since have celebrated May 9th as, marking the final defeat of Nazi Germany. On the morning of May 9th 1945, Muscovites poured joyfully into the streets.
When Russia celebrates Victory Day this May 9th, it will be Vladimir Putin reviewing the long stream of Russian troops and military materiel passing through Red Square. Anyone watching might assume that the tradition has been unbroken since 1945. It has not. In Soviet times the main military parade on Red Square was held on November 7th, the anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution. Stalin downgraded Victory Day, wary of the authentic national sentiment that had been expressed at the war’s end.
By militarising the parade and taking control of popular celebrations, Mr Putin has in effect turned Victory Day on May 9th into the sort of state-controlled spectacle Stalin created on June 24th 1945. The connection became explicit on June 24th 2020 when, amidst the covid crisis, the government staged a re-enactment of Stalin’s parade.
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