They were not always pompous and did not emphasize the power of weapons. Two of them were attended by American presidents, in 2020 they had to postpone them for a later date for the pandemic.
The tradition of celebration of the Day of Victory over fascism in Russia has developed over the years, and over the past years, it has received a particularly bitter flavor by the fact that at a military parade that accompanies this event, Vladimir Putin’s regime is also building units that fight in his war against Ukraine.
“For the Russians, the day of victory has always been an important holiday. The problem of today is the problem of how the message is trying to push it into it,” says Czech historian of the Institute of Eastern European studies of the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University in Prague Marek Příhoda.
It recalls that the tradition of the celebrations of them related to their related military searches, which Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and three Direction deputies are also planning to attend on Friday until 1945, but the current Russian regime is particularly reflected in the mobilization character and justification of the aggressive warfare.
“This war element was not originally there. In this, the current Russia differs from the Soviet Union, which he likes to refer to,” said Příhoda.
The very first military parade on the occasion of the defeat of Nazism in Europe in Moscow organized less than two months after the fall of Berlin, exactly 24 June 1945. It was the biggest and longest show, attended by 40,000 Red Army soldiers and nearly two thousand pieces of military technology. It lasted more than two hours.
The historian, however, notes that in the coming years the anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union of weapons took place only three times during the round anniversary in 1965, 1985 and 1990.
“The Soviet Union liked to demonstrate his military power. We know that during the Cold War he competed with the West in arms, but did not serve on this demonstration on May 9, but 1 May and 7 November, the day of the anniversary of the Great October Revolution, as they called the USSR. 1.
According to him, the importance of the holiday changed especially after 1991.
“But not with Putin, it is already coming to Boris Yeltsin. Russian society needed a simplifying holiday and, for example, the holiday of November 7, he distributed it. By the way, Vladimir Putin felt it.
It was offered to unite around the feast of 9 on May, especially the symbolic anniversary – in 1995, when the world commemorated the 50th year since the end of World War II. At that time, the then US President Bill Clinton also arrived in Moscow. He was not the only US president to attend the celebrations. Ten years later, President George Bush the younger also sat next to Vladimir Putin on the Red Square.
Reminder of horrors on the other track
According to the historian, however, the way the holiday celebrations eventually sound, especially in the past decade. In part, the witnesses of World War II are dying.
“Note that even Soviet films that contain a human element, and we can think of anything about them are pushed into the background. There was still a certain combat brotherhood of the USSR nations. And this is now absent.
In his words, the theme of victory in the Great Patriotic War, as the Second World, the Russians, was gradually overshadowed more about the current events. Although they formally celebrate in Moscow, the celebrations have a secondary role.
“For example, when you hear Putin’s speech from 2023, it is difficult to find references to the event itself. What sounded very dangerous in it was to interconnect the theme of World War II and the current war against Ukraine.
The historian pointed out that Vladimir Pimi himself used a completely different dictionary during previous speeches. For example, in 2000, shortly after he became president for the first time, he spoke about the Russian flag as a symbol of democracy and freedom on the occasion of the Day of Victory Day and spoke of the victims of war as warning against the next wars.
“He said that peace is the power of the economy and the well -being of people. Where are the times… during the peak of its popularity, even beyond Russia, in 2005 – at that time, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko – Putin said that the victory must not divide into his and strangers. The Soviet Union against Nazi Germany fought de facto himself, ”said Příhoda.
A celebration of aggression against Ukraine
He also pointed out that the celebration event was also given a new charge – after 2022 the Russian president justifies and even sacralizes aggression in Ukraine by laying equal to the current war and events eighty years ago, which he calls the Holy War and Holy Winning.
“The highlight is that there were also special units that fought in Ukraine. And according to the reports we have, these soldiers should again appear on the Red Square,” the historian said.
Brigade soldiers who fought in Ukraine have been participating in the shows in Moscow since 2023. It was this brigade in 2023 that burned a rocket to the village of Threatem in the Kharkov region, where it subsequently killed 59 civilians. This Russian brigade also burned one of the racket, which died 35 civilians.
The historian stresses that the USSR contributed significantly to the defeat of Nazism in Europe and carried huge victims, but according to him, politicians who participate in the shows in a new context should wonder if they were more of a propaganda theater that is organized on the occasion of an event.
“Respectively a historical event is abused in this scenery. You are there in the role of the relay or the hills (Russian term for pre -agreed support, paid applause, note red), ”said Příhoda.
Moscow visitors will not develop from the context
He also pointed out that Russian state propaganda will use the participation of foreign politicians.
“You can say that you are going to celebrate only an event, but you will not evolve from the context. handleswhich applauds Vladimir Putin’s policy, which, as we found out in the recently published propaganda film Russia. Kremlin. Putin. For 25 years, they are not mistaken and foresee everything, “the historian noted with the irony.
He also pointed out that the participation of various leaders has its nuances. From the point of view of Moscow, the fact that Chinese President Si Jin-Pching will come to the celebrations. It is currently perceived by Russia as a new world power center.
The list is traditionally dominated by presidents from Central Asia.
“Someone can say that Putin has an excellent impact in Central Asia, but propaganda no longer mentions beauty mistakes that these states do not recognize Russian annexes. It demonstrates the apprenticeship with Russia, but from there. It is clear by European countries.
According to historian today, for example, a European politician is heading to Moscow, for example to argue that Russia needs to be kept in touch and wants to broadcast some “positive signals”, he will probably hit.
“From what I have the opportunity to watch, I think Russia now least awaits some messengers of peace. And not especially from the European Union countries. The rhetoric that lectures is clear: either you are with us or against us,” concludes a Russia expert for Aktuality.sk.
