People from across Europe mark Victory of WWII
Pics,
news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-05/09/c_132371214.htmRed Square parade pics,
news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-05/09/c_132370835.htmwww.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/10046213/Russian-forces-march-through-Red-Square-on-Victory-Day-in-Moscow.htmlRed Square parade makes Russian Victory Day a fiesta.
English.news.cn 2013-05-09 21:44:11
by Xinhua writer Liu Hongxia
MOSCOW, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia honored Thursday, the 68th anniversary of Nazis' capitulation, with the yearly Victory Day parade on Red Square.
Tens of thousands of spectators from home and abroad, knowing it was impossible to get onto the site without invitations, flooded along the Moscow river, where a glimpse of the showcase could be caught.
Minutes after the Kremlin bell tolled at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (0600 GMT), a sudden artillery salvo from the other side of the river bank, followed by several more, shocked the crowd and left children on their fathers' shoulders screaming and crying.
As the first regiment, cadets of military schools, marched past, the crowds burst into applause and cheers while souvenir vendors twisted their way in between.
Professional photographers carrying ladders and lenses struggled for decent shooting angles, some climbing onto nearby roofs.
Vehicles were barred some 200 meters from the river bank but cyclists could squeeze through.
"I rode no more than one hour to get here, just to see the parade," a young male cyclist called Alexei told Xinhua, adding it was the first time he had come to watch the parade.
Dmitry, 29, said he was rather proud of his country while watching a live video report via a portable tablet computer. His six-year-old son, Max, perched on his shoulders, kept screaming in astonishment as regiments of ground forces rolled by.
The crowds rejoiced at the climax when 68 aircraft, including Mi-28 attack helicopters Mi-28, and Su-27 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, rocked the Moscow sky.
Young people wearing USSR T-shirts and army caps, friends or not, exchanged greetings while sweethearts whispered and kissed. A considerable sum of veterans with rows of medals saluted the aerobatic teams.
Ulynov, a Kyrgyzstan employee in Moscow, said he had been working here for two years. "This (parade) is much more enjoyable compared with that of last year, as the weather today is comfortable and we see more hi-tech weapons," he said, along with several fellows.
People, waving flags and chanting, started to withdraw from the site at around 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), an hour after the parade kicked off.
Some babies in warm strollers have fallen asleep as their parents walked them back to the cars.
Members of military band, who left the square through a bridge over the river, waved to the crowds, some even playing a little impromptu music.
The crowds responded with salutes and singing.
Konstantin, a tall man with thick beard, told Xinhua "it took several months to prepare the parade, and it took thousands of enthusiastic people to make the parade a fiesta."
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Ukraine marks World War II Victory Day.
English.news.cn 2013-05-09 19:38:29
KIEV, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine celebrated Victory Day on Thursday, marking the 68th anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender to the former Soviet Union.
The anniversary began with a ceremonial raising of Ukraine's national flag at Independence Square here.
A parade along Khreshchatyk street in the heart of the city featured more than 300 servicemen and dozens units of military equipment led by a T-34 tank, armored personnel carriers and armored cars.
At the Kiev Walk of Fame, President Viktor Yanukovych, government and parliament officials, and veterans laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and honored victims of the war with a minute of silence.
During a ceremony held at the National Palace of Arts, Yanukovych praised the heroic acts of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in defending their homeland during World War II.
"Our holy filial duty is to remember all the victims and care for our veterans," Yanukovych said.
The Ukrainian president has pledged to increase pensions to veterans, saying the minimal social assistance for former soldiers will amount to around 319 U.S. dollars from May 2013.
Around 2.8 million Ukrainian people celebrated Victory Day in some 5,000 cities and towns across the country. Free drinks and traditional soldier's porridge were served at field kitchens. Sporting events, folk festivals and concerts were also held.
In some Ukrainian cities and villages, high school students visited veterans who were not able to attend the celebration for health reasons, presenting them with flowers and gifts.
Celebrations will be concluded with fireworks display across the country in the evening.
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Russia's Vladivostok holds military parade to mark Victory Day.
English.news.cn 2013-05-09 12:15:57
VLADIVOSTOK, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok staged a military parade on Thursday to mark the 68th anniversary of the victory in the World War II.
The parade on Vladivostok's central street involved more than 1,000 servicemen and 40 units of military equipment, including soldiers from Russia's Pacific Fleet, cadets from naval schools, and also crew members of visiting U.S. guided missile destroyer Lassen and French frigate Vendemiaire.
In a speech delivered before the parade, Primorsky Krai Governor Vladimir Miklushevsky praised the heroic acts of Russian soldiers and civilians in defending their homeland during the World War II, also known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia and former Soviet Union members.
The memories of these heroes will be kept alive for generations, he added.
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Lukashenko: It is our sacred mission to safeguard the truth about Great Patriotic War
09.05.2013 11:57
MINSK, 9 May (BelTA) – It is our sacred mission to safeguard the truth about the Great Patriotic War and the legendary heroism of the Soviet people, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said in a ceremony of laying wreaths at the Victory monument in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that for the Belarusian people, who sacrificed every third citizen in the fight against Nazism, the war will never become a distant past. It will remain in memory of the generation of victors and in the memory of their grateful descendants.
“However, there are those who constantly attempt to revise the history of the Great Patriotic War, to diminish the heroic struggle of the Soviet people, tarnish the guerrilla movement and rehabilitate the Nazi executioners and especially their lackeys. Our duty, our sacred mission is to keep the truth about the war and about the legendary feat of the Soviet people. We will not let anyone to take the great victory away from us!” said Alexander Lukashenko.
Having conquered Europe in a matter of months, Hitler's legions approached the borders of the Soviet Union, the head of state reminded. “For the Soviet people the war became patriotic. Millions of people of different nationalities, generations and social classes took up arms. Even heavy losses of the Red Army at the beginning of the war did not break the will of the people, their willingness to fight to the last drop of blood for every inch of their native land,” the President said.
“At the front and in the rear, in the guerilla and underground movement squads, in ghettos and concentration camps, the Soviet people accomplished the feat which is unparalleled in the human history,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.
Pics,
news.belta.by/en/news/in_pictures?phstid=2925
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Ukraine celebrating Victory Day.
KYIV, May 9 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine is celebrating the Day of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
For the majority of Ukrainian citizens, this is not a day of mourning but a celebration of pride for the country and the people who fought together with other peoples until the glorious triumph.
The Great Patriotic War was an integral part and the main content of the Second World War, which involved over 60 countries. Battles were fought over large areas of Europe, Asia and Africa, on seas and oceans. The bloody war against the Nazis lasted 1,418 days and nights.
More than 7 million Ukrainians fought with the enemy among the Soviet Army and Navy. Every second of them fell on the front, and one in two of those who survived returned home disabled.
Of the fifteen fronts that operated during World War II, more than a half were headed by marshals and generals of Ukrainian origin, like Mykhailo Kyrponos, Semen Tymoshenko, Andriy Yeremenko, Ivan Cherniakhovsky, Rodion Malynovsky and others.
The courage and heroism shown by the Ukrainians is seen from the following figures: out of 11,603 soldiers who during World War II were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for combat exploits, 2,072 were the Ukrainians; 32 of them were awarded the title twice, and one - the pilot Ivan Kozhedub - three times. Of the 7 million rewards, 2.5 million were given to the Ukrainians.
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Victory Day Parade held in Moscow.
Beta, Tanjug
World | May 9, 2013 | 13:43
MOSCOW -- The traditional Victory Day Parade was held in Moscow's Red Square on Thursday, to mark victory in the Second World War.
11,000 soldiers, 101 military vehicles and 68 Russian Air Force aircraft took part in the parade, that was attended by Red Army veterans, President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and other top Russian officials.
Afterwards, a reception was held in the Kremlin for the veterans.
Putin, who is also commander-in-chief of the Russian Federation Army, addressed the gathering at the Red Square to say that Russian soldiers sacrificed themselves to free Europe from fascism, and that the Russian people will forever cherish the memory of that sacrifice.
"We will always remember that it was Russia, the Soviet Union, that thwarted the disgusting and bloody projects of the Nazis, preventing them from ruling the world," the president said, and added:
"Our soldiers brought freedom and independence, fighting for their fatherland, liberating Europe, and bringing victory, the glory of which will remain in memory for centuries."
"We remember what the tragedy of war means, and we will do everything, everything that we can to ensure that no one ever dares unleash another one, to ensure that no one threatens our children, our home, our land. We will do everything to strengthen global security,” Putin said.
The celebrations will end this evening with fireworks in Moscow. Some 20,000 police officers and soldiers are providing security in the capital city today.
More than 25 million Soviet citizens lost their lives during the Second World War.
(Beta/AP)
