Victory Day

Victory Day or 9 May 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 all post-Soviet states). It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, by Moscow Time). It happened after the original capitulation that Germany earlier agreed to the joint Allied forces of the Western Front. The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.Though the official inauguration happened in 1945 (which means it has been celebrated since 1946), the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries.

In communist East Germany, a Soviet-style "Victory Day" on 9 May was an official holiday from 1975 until the end of the republic in 1990. Prior to that, "Liberation Day" was celebrated on 8 May, between 1950 and 1966, and again on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Since 2002, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has observed a commemoration day known as the "Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War".

In 1988,before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Victory Day ceased to be observed in Uzbekistan, but was partially restored in 1999 as Memorial/Remembrance Day. After their separation from the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries now commemorate the end of WWII on 8 May, the Victory in Europe Day. But many people in Baltic countries still gather to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.

2011 Moscow Victory Day Parade

The Moscow Victory Day Parade in Moscow was held on 9 May, 2011 to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945. The parade marked the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Parade participants

• 20,000 soldiers and officers representing all three services of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia), the Federal Security Service (Russia), and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
• 1,500 marching band musicians led by Lt. Gen. Valery Khalilov in his 9th Victory Day Parade appearance
• +100 military vehicles
• 5 Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopters
• Valery Gerasimov – Deputy Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff – Parade Commander
• Anatoly Serdyukov – Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation – Parade Inspector

Countries in which 9 May is celebrated

• Armenia has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• Azerbaijan has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• Belarus has officially recognized 9 May since 1946 and considered it non-labor in the past;
• Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognized 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism and considers it a non-working day.
• Georgia has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• East Germany recognized Tag des Sieges (Victory Day) on 9 May as a public holiday between 1975 and the end of the republic in 1990. Earlier, the Tag der Befreiung (Day of liberation) was celebrated on 8 May as a public holiday, from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985.
• Germany does not officially recognize 9 May as a holiday. However, celebrations continue to take place in some areas of the former East Germany. Also, on 8 May, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2002 has recognized 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).
• Israel has officially recognized 9 May since 2000.
• Kazakhstan has officially recognized 9 May since 1947. It's a non-working day. The holiday is sometimes celebrated in connection with other national holidays on 10 and 11 May.
• Kyrgyzstan has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• Moldova has officially recognized 9 May since 1951;
• Poland celebrated since 1945 (until 1950 non-labor day)
• Russia has officially recognized 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working);
• Serbia celebrates 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President.
• Tajikistan has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• Turkmenistan has officially recognized 9 May since 1946;
• Ukraine has officially recognized 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day; Lviv Oblast does not recognize Victory Day, but rather recognizes the day as a memorial to all wartime victims of both the Soviet and Nazi regimes, as well as all of those caught in between.
• Uzbekistan has officially recognized 9 May from 1946 until 1988. Starting 1999, the holiday was restored as "Memorial/Remembrance Day".

Russophone populations in many world countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status. Many Russian communities in United States and Canada, also for example in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania organize public gatherings and even parades on this day. In Europe, some multilanguage broadcasting television chains translate the "Victory speech" of the Russian president and the parade on Red Square.