Old folks were coming home And young fathers — Мoscovites, Leningraders, Donians… The Siberians were back! The Siberians were back — Both hunters and fishermen, And drivers of complex cars, And the lords of the peaceful valleys, — Returned the Giant Nation... L. Martynov

The Great Patriotic War affected the fate of millions of people, changed the lives of entire families, and snatched 1,418 days and nights from every life. Today we proudly bear the title of the victorious nation, sometimes forgetting what is behind it. The exhibition « The Parade of Victors» narrates the story of the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow on June 24th, 1945. For the first time, unique photos provided by the Information Agency «Russian Army», as well as documents from the Victory Museum`s funds, telling about the combat path of participants of the Victory Parade, portraits of Marshals of the Soviet Union are presented. The exhibition shows the power of the country, which, despite the difficulties of the post-war period, was able to prepare and hold the parade that forever became a part of the history. About 40,000 militaries and around 1,850 units of military hardware marched through Red Square. The exhibition is complemented by a series of paintings «Marshals of the Victory» made by the honored artist of Russia V. V. Shilov, portraits of commanders – the Cavaliers of the highest military award of the USSR - the Order of Victory, whose names are inscribed in gold letters in the chronicle of the history of the Great Patriotic War. There are also represented unique exhibits from personal archives, transferred by N. R. Malinovskaya, the daughter of Marshal of the Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky, and personal belongings of Marshal of the Soviet Union K. K. Rokossovsky, carefully preserved by his grandson K. V. Rokossovsky. Victory Museum expresses gratitude to its partners - the Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» and the Russian Military Historical Society for their assistance in creation of the exhibition. «They say that the war does not end as long as at least one of its soldiers is alive. But in centuries to come people will remember those terrible and great years– 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945…»

Ilya Grigoryevich Ehrenburg «Future«Future generationsgenerations willwill acknowledgeacknowledge theirtheir debtdebt toto thethe RedRed ArmyArmy asas unreservedly unreservedly as as do do we we who who have have lived lived to to witnesswitness thesethese proudproud achievements».achievements».

WinstonWinston S.S. ChurchillChurchill PrimePrime MinisterMinister ofof GreatGreat BritainBritain

Red Square, filled with people in celebration of the Victory over Germany Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

On June 24th, 1945, the Victory Parade was held on Moscow’s Red Square. It was the triumph of a victorious people who showed to the whole world how to win, regardless of pain, hardship and fear. The decision to hold the parade in honor of the victory over Nazi Germany was made by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin after Victory Day — May 15, 1945.

Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin Moscow Victory Museum

Leaflet. All hail the Victory! Portrait of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union J.V. Stalin V. V. Shilov Russia. 2002 Victory Museum «J.«J. V.V. StalinStalin asked:asked: —— Shouldn’tShouldn’t wewe holdhold thethe VictoryVictory ParadeParade inin MoscowMoscow inin commemorationcommemoration ofof thethe victoryvictory overover NaziNazi GermanyGermany andand inviteinvite thethe mostmost distinguisheddistinguished heroesheroes —— soldiers,soldiers, sergeants,sergeants, sergeantsergeant majors,majors, officersofficers andand generals?generals? ThisThis ideaidea waswas warmlywarmly supportedsupported byby allall andand immediatelyimmediately beganbegan toto makemake aa numbernumber ofof practicalpractical proposals.proposals. TheThe questionquestion ofof whowho wouldwould reviewreview thethe VictoryVictory ParadeParade andand whowho wouldwould commandcommand thethe paradeparade waswas notnot discusseddiscussed atat thatthat time.time. However,However, eacheach ofof usus believedbelieved thatthat thethe SupremeSupreme Commander-In-ChiefCommander-In-Chief shouldshould reviewreview thethe VictoryVictory Parade».Parade».

G.K.G.K. ZhukovZhukov «Memories«Memories andand Reflections»Reflections»

On May 24th, Stalin was informed of the General Staff’s proposals for holding the Vic- tory Parade. He accepted them, but did not agree with suggested time frame. While the General Staff estimated two months for preparation, Stalin ordered to hold the pa- rade in one-month period. On the same day, to commanders of the Leningrad, 1st and 2nd Belorussian, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts was sent a directive signed by the Chief of the General Staff, General of the Red Army A. I. Antonov:

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered: 1. In order to participate in the parade in Moscow in honor of the victory over Germany, assign from the front a composite regiment. 2. To form a composite regiment according to the following formation: five battalions of two-troops composition of 100 people in each troop (ten divisions of 10 men). In addition, 19 members of the command staff from the formation: commander of the regiment — 1, deputy commander of the regiment - 2 (for the military and political sections), chief of staff of the regiment - 1, battalion commanders - 5, troops commanders - 10 and 36 colour bearers with 4 assistant officers. Total number of consolidated people in the composite regiment is 1059 people and 10 people to reserve. 3. To have six infantry, one artillery, one tank, one pilot and one combined (cavalry, sappers, signalers) troops in the composite regiment. 4. Troops must be formed so that the commanders of the divisions are middle rank officers, and in each division — soldiers and sergeants. 5. Select the military personal for participation in the parade from soldiers and officers Aleksei Innokentievich Antonov who are the most distinguished in the battle and having battle orders. Chief of the General Staff of the Workers’ and Peasants’ 6. The composite regiment must be armed: three rifle troops — rifles, three rifle troops Red Army (February 1945-March 1946) - machine guns, an artillery troop - carbines behind the back, a tank troop and a pilot Victory Museum troop – handguns, a troop of sappers, signalers and cavalrymen — carbines behind the back, cavalrymen, in addition, — cavalry sword. 7. The parade must be attended by the Front Commander and all commanders, including aircraft and tank armies. 8. The composite regiment must arrive in Moscow on June 10th , 1945, having at itself 36 colours of units and formations of the front which had distinguished themselves the most and all enemy`s colours captured in battle, regardless of their number. 9. Parade uniform for the entire regiment will be provided in Moscow.

The order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union J.Stalin from «22.06.1945» № 370 May 24th , 1945 ANTONOV «Nazi«Nazi GermanyGermany waswas notnot brokenbroken byby high-explosivehigh-explosive andand incendiaryincendiary bombs,bombs, butbut byby thethe heroicheroic RedRed Army»Army»

JohnJohn BernalBernal EnglishEnglish scientist,scientist, progressiveprogressive publicpublic figurefigure

Chief of the Political Department of the 3rd Shock Army Colonel F.Y. Lisitsin inspects the parade crew V. P. Grebnev Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

In order to prepare and conduct the Victory Parade, a special commission was organized, which included representatives of the Kremlin commandant’s headquarter, the Moscow military district and other divisions. Marshal Georgy Zhukov was assigned to host the parade, and Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky was assigned to command the troops.

Marshals Zhukov and Rokossovsky ride around the troops Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» «I«I havehave oftenoften wonderedwondered whywhy everyoneeveryone whowho knewknew RokossovskyRokossovsky inin oneone wayway oror anotheranother treatedtreated himhim withwith boundlessboundless respect.respect. AndAnd thethe answeranswer waswas onlyonly one:one: whilewhile remainingremaining demanding,demanding, KonstantinKonstantin KonstantinovichKonstantinovich respectedrespected peoplepeople regardlessregardless ofof theirtheir rankrank andand position.position. AndAnd thisthis isis thethe mainmain thingthing thatthat attractedattracted inin him»him»

FromFrom thethe bookbook ofof AriadnaAriadna RokossovskayaRokossovskaya «Morning«Morning afterafter thethe victory»victory»

Marshal of the Soviet Union K. K. Rokossovsky (right) and British Field Marshal Montgomery Germany (near the Elbe river). May 10, 1945 Victory Museum

«In May 1945, my grandfather was in Western Pomerania. When it became known that the Germans had capitulated, Rokossovsky gathered his head- quarter and announced the good news. There were no shouts, no hugs – everybody kept silence. The grandfather understood the state of friends, suggested that everyone go out into the garden, sit on a bench and have a cigarette. That’s how, sitting in the garden, recalling the experiences, he met the victory. Then there were salute, a reception at Field Marshal Mont- gomery`s residence, a return visit, after which the British, exhausted from Russian hospitality, had to be driven back home...». From the book of Ariadna Rokossovskaya «Morning after the victory».

Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of the Soviet Union, commander of the Victory Parade, Cavalier of the Order of Victory (in full dress uniform with all awards) USSR, Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum Portrait of Marshal of the Soviet Union K. K. Rokossovsky V. V. Shilov Russia. 2002 Victory Museum «We«We plungedplunged intointo ourour studiesstudies withwith aa will,will, especiallyespecially Zhukov,Zhukov, whowho gavegave himselfhimself upup completelycompletely toto masteringmastering thethe subtletiessubtleties ofof militarymilitary science.science. WheneverWhenever wewe droppeddropped intointo hishis roomroom hehe wouldwould bebe crawlingcrawling aboutabout overover aa mapmap spreadspread onon thethe floor»floor»

K.K. K.K. RokossovskyRokossovsky

G. K. Zhukov inspects the Reichstag in Berlin with a group of officers Germany, Berlin. May 3rd, 1945 Victory Museum «Moscow, June 24, 1945. Here it is, a long-awaited and unforgettable day! The Soviet people firmly believed that it would come. Heroic warriors, inspired by the party of Lenin, under the command of their famous commanders have passed a difficult four-year battle path and ended it with a brilliant victory in Berlin… Over Moscow, the sky was overcast and it was drizzling. I called the commander of the air force, who said that at the major part of the aerodromes are not flying weather conditions. It seemed that the Victory Parade would not be held as solemnly as we all wanted. But no! Muscovites were in high spirits as they marched with orchestras to the district of Red Square district to take part in a demonstration on that historic day. Their happy faces, an enormous number of slogans, banners, and songs created a general cheering mood»

G. K. Zhukov «Memories and reflections»

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov Three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Cavalier of the Order of Victory Germany, Berlin. June 1945 Victory Museum Portrait of Marshal of the Soviet Union G. K. Zhukov V. V. Shilov Russia. 2002 Victory Museum «We«We werewere drilleddrilled likelike newnew recruits,recruits, ourour tunicstunics didn’tdidn’t drydry outout fromfrom thethe sweat.sweat. ButBut wewe werewere 20-2520-25 yearsyears old,old, andand thethe greatgreat joyjoy ofof victoryvictory easilyeasily tooktook overover thethe fatigue.fatigue. TheThe lessonslessons werewere beneficial,beneficial, andand wewe werewere sincerelysincerely gratefulgrateful toto thethe guysguys fromfrom DzerzhinskyDzerzhinsky DivisionDivision whowho helpedhelped usus afterafter thethe frontfront toto rememberremember thethe marchingmarching drill»drill»

CavalierCavalier ofof twotwo OrdersOrders ofof GloryGlory SergeySergey ShapkinShapkin

Cadets marching near the tribunes Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and information Agency «Russian Army»

The triumphal parade required a lot of problems to be solved in a short time. Students of military academies, cadets of military schools of the capital and soldiers of the Moscow garrison, who had to pass through Red Square on 24th June, had parade uniforms, regularly practiced the marching drill, and partially participated in the May Day Parade of 1945. But with the training of more than 15 thousand front-line soldiers, everything was different. They had to be hosted, accommodated, and prepared for the parade. The schedule was very tight: drill sessions and training of personnel took place every day for six or seven hours. For a huge number of front-line soldiers, who are not used to daily drilling, the training were not easy.

The gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief J. V. Stalin to a cadet of the Moscow military school of the NKVD Yuri Kirillovich Ignatiev, a Victory Parade participant «It«It isis aa pitypity andand bitterbitter toto loselose soldierssoldiers atat thethe beginningbeginning ofof thethe war.war. ButBut itit isis thricethrice moremore pitypity andand bitterbitter toto loselose themthem onon thethe thresholdthreshold ofof VictoryVictory -- toto loselose heroesheroes whowho hadhad gonegone throughthrough terribleterrible trials,trials, hadhad strodestrode thousandsthousands ofof kilometerskilometers underunder fire,fire, riskedrisked theirtheir liveslives forfor threethree andand aa halfhalf yearsyears inin orderorder toto winwin piecepiece forfor theirtheir nativenative landland withwith theirtheir ownown hands...»hands...»

K.K.K.K. RokossovskyRokossovsky Soldier’sSoldier’s dutyduty

Troops before the parade Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and information Agency «Russian Army» In order to participate in the parade, the composite regiments were formed, led by front commanders, from each front that was active at the end of the war. It was planned to present at the parade the composite regiments from ten fronts and the Navy fleet in total. By the order of the General Staff Directive the number of personnel of each composite regiment was defined as 1059 people with 10 in reserve, but as a result of formation, the number was increased to 1,465 people and with the same number in reserve.

Commanders of composite regiments were appointed: — from the 1st Ukrainian — Major General G. V. Baklanov — from the 2nd Ukrainian- Guard Lieutenant General I. M. Afonin — from the 3rd Ukrainian-Guard Lieutenant General N. I. Biryukov — from the 4th Ukrainian — Lieutenant General A. L. Bondarev — from the 1st Belorussian - Lieutenant General I. P. Rosly — from the 2nd Belorussian — Lieutenant General K. M. Erastov — from the 3rd Belorussian - Lieutenant General P. K. Koshevoy — from the 1st Baltic — Lieutenant General A. I. Lopatin List of commanders of regiments and their deputies for political — from Leningrad — Major General A. T. Stupchenko work who arrived in Moscow to participate in the parade — from the Karelian Front - Major General G. E. Kalinovsky Moscow. June 1945 Documents of the Central archive of the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation Marshals of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev, K. K. Rokossovsky, A. M. Vasilevsky (first row, from left to right) in full dress uniforms on the tribune of the Mausoleum Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum An important task for the organizers of the parade was the need to sew dress uniforms. Garment factories in Moscow and the Moscow region, which started working at the end of May, heroically coped with this difficult task. On 20th June 1945, all participants of the parade were dressed in new- style uniforms.

Instead of a gray single-breasted uniform, a double-breast- ed «Navy» color uniform was introduced — «Royal», as it was called before. Dense thin castor allowed to make the bottom of the uniform edging. On Buttonstand were 6 large Formation of the aviation regiment gilt coat of arms buttons, the second from the top on the left Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» side was made removable. The sides, stiff standing collar, straight cuffs, triangular pocket flaps on the tails were cov- ered with colored edging. Parallel to it, the collar and cuffs of the main fabric were covered with a gold thread. The sew- ing pattern for marshals of military service and generals be- came the same, the columns on the sleeves were replaced with embroidered branches. Marshals of the Soviet Union were left with oak leaves on their collars and cuffs. Gener- als - lawyers, doctors, veterinarians – had the sewing of the color of shoulder board.

Parade formation of the Soviet Navy the sergeant majors (first row) and soldiers Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum Departure of the heroes to Moscow with the banner they hoisted The Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 was planned over the Reichstag 1st Belorussian Front, Berlin. June 1945 to begin with the carring out of the Victory banner, Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» which was hoisted over the Reichstag by Neustroev, Samsonov, Yegorov, Kantariya and Syanov, but this did not happen. «The music began to play a military march, the drums began to beat... The air shuddered, it seemed that the whole world, all the people of the Earth, saw the invincible power of my Motherland! I walk ahead, carrying the banner of Victory high. I went with measured steps, especially with my left foot: the right one was broken at the front, it hurt, and I walked carefully with it. The assistants - Yegorov, Kantaria, and Syanov -followed me. Whether to move on - I doubt, stop- I’m afraid. Hands no longer hold the flagpole, aching lower back. The foot of the left leg burns with fire, the right foot does not walk, but drags along the road. I decided to stop. I looked back - and the blood rushed to my head: I was too far away from the Karelian composite regiment. Before I had time to realize what had happened, a colonel drove up to me on the sidewalk and said: “Marshal Zhukov ordered the banner is not to be displayed on the parade tomorrow. You, comrade captain, should immediately go in my car to the Museum of the Armed Forces and transfer the banner there for eternal storage».

The Victory banner hoisted over the Reichstag Memories of a veteran of the E. A. Khaldei Berlin. 1945 Great Patriotic War Victory Museum Stepan Andreyevich Neustroev Commanders of the 1st Belorussian Front at the Victory Parade The combined regiments of the fronts were to go out under ten Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum Standards. The production of ceremonial Standards and banners was entrusted to a division of Moscow military builders under the leadership of Engineer Major S. Maksimov. The masters worked for a long time on the first version of the banners, but Stalin refused to accept them. As a result, the order was transferred to the specialists of the Bolshoi theater’s art and production workshops, which sewed new Standards within ten days. Each Standard weighed more than 10 kilograms. To make it easier to carry them, the Moscow saddlery factory produced belts for them in a short time.

In the workshops of the Bolshoi theater, they made order ribbons, which were decorated with the flagpole of 360 regimental banners. Each such ribbon symbolized the collective military feat of the The Banner troop of the 3rd Belorussian Front Moscow. June 1945 regiment. Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» Parade detachment of the heroes-tankers Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army»

The period of preparation for the parade was accompanied by a particularly joyful and exciting event for its participants — the presentation of awards. On 24th May 1945, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR N. M. Shvernik presented Marshals G. K. Zhukov, I. S. Konev, R. Ya. Malinovsky, K. K. Rokossovsky and F. I. Tolbukhin with the Order of Victory. On 12th June, M. I. Kalinin awarded G. K. Zhukov the third «Gold star», and K. K. Rokossovsky and I. S. Konev the second. At the same time this award was received by I. K. Bagramyan and A. I. Eremenko.

The Order of Victory

Starting from 10th June 1945, the medal «for the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945», established on 9th May 1945, was the first in the Armed Forces to be awarded to front-line soldiers who participated in the Victory Parade. Along the way, orders and medals that had defects were exchanged.

The Star of Hero of the Soviet Union Medal «For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War Vasily Gavrilovich Maliev, a participant in the Victory of 1941-1945» Parade in Moscow in June 1945, shares with his memories of the war Portrait of Marshal of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev V. V. Shilov Russia. 2002 Victory Museum «The«The courageouscourageous resistanceresistance ofof SovietSoviet RussiaRussia toto NaziNazi aggressionaggression savedsaved AmericanAmerican lives...Russia...thankslives...Russia...thanks toto itsits powerfulpowerful RedRed Army,Army, itit gavegave usus thethe lifelife andand futurefuture ofof millionsmillions ofof youngyoung Americans»Americans»

HenryHenry WallaceWallace prominentprominent figurefigure ofof thethe DemocraticDemocratic PartyParty ofof USA,USA, Vice-PresidentVice-President ofof thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates inin 1940-19441940-1944

Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union J. V. Stalin from «22.06 1945» № 370 Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

On 22nd June, 1945, the Central Soviet Newspapers published the order of the Supreme Сommander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin № 370: «in commemoration of the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint to hold a parade of the regular Army, Navy, and the Moscow garrison - Victory Parade in Moscow on Red Square on 24th June 1945».

Service pass for entering Red Square on the day of the Red Army parade on 24th June 1945 Moscow. June 1945 Pass of Guards Major General of Artillery M. G. Kiknadze to Red Victory Museum Square to participate in the Victory Parade «At«At 33 minutesminutes toto 1010 a.m.a.m. II waswas inin thethe saddlesaddle atat thethe SpasskySpassky gate.gate. II heardheard clearclear command:command: “Parade,“Parade, shun!»shun!» AA thunderthunder ofof applauseapplause followed.followed. TheThe clockclock beganbegan toto strikestrike 10.0010.00 o`clock...Theo`clock...The powerfulpowerful andand solemnsolemn soundssounds ofof thethe melodymelody Glinka`sGlinka`s GloryGlory deardear toto thethe RussianRussian heartheart rangrang out.out. ThenThen abruptlyabruptly absoluteabsolute silencesilence fellfell onon thethe Square.Square. II heardheard thethe clearclear reportreport ofof thethe paradeparade commander,commander, MarshalMarshal ofof thethe SovietSoviet UnionUnion K.KK.K Rokossovsky…»Rokossovsky…»

G.K.G.K. ZhukovZhukov MemoriesMemories andand reflectionsreflections

On the day of the parade, the rise of the military was blown at 4 am. From the barracks in the direction of Red Square went the composite regiments of the fronts. Festive columns of demonstrators left plants, factories and state institutions, and tanks and military guns were driven to Gorky Street. When the chimes struck 10 o’clock, Georgy Zhukov, the host of the parade, rode out of the gate on a white horse. Opposite the Mausoleum, Zhukov met with the commander of the parade, Konstantin Rokossovsky, who reported on the readiness of the participants. At 10:05 a.m., the detour of the troops The sailors are marching to the Victory Parade began. G. K. Zhukov alternately greeted the soldiers Moscow. June 1945 of the composite regiments and congratulated Victory Museum the participants of the parade on the victory over Germany. A mighty «Hurrah» thundered over Red Square. After circling the troops, the Marshal went up to the tribune. On behalf of the Central Committee of the party and the Soviet government Georgy Konstantinovich congratulated the Soviet people and their valiant Armed Forces with Victory. After that, the Anthem of the Soviet Union was solemnly performed by 1,400 military musicians, 50 volleys of artillery salute were heard, and three «Hurrah!» rang out over the Square.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Victory Parade Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» Scheme of troops formation at the Victory parade on 24.06.1945, approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Moscow garrison, commander of the Moscow Air Defense troops, Colonel-General Artemyev

The Victory Parade was attended by the composite regiments of the fronts, the people’s Commissariat of defense and the Navy, military academies, schools, and parts of the Moscow garrison. The regiments were formed from soldiers, sergeants, and officers of various branches of the armed forces who distinguished themselves in battle and had military orders. The composite regiment was moving in order of their location from North to South: Karelian, Leningrad, 1st Baltic, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Belorussian, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian, Navy. Polish regiment marched as a special column as part of representatives of the 1st Belorussian Front. The orchestra performed a special march for each regiment. There were not involved to participation in parade the divisions from seven other Fronts of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union which were active on date of 9th May 1945: Transcaucasian, the Far Eastern, Transbaikalian, and four Air Defense Fronts — Western, Central, South-Western, Transcaucasian. The composite regiments from two disbanded before the end of the Great Patriotic War Fronts —Karelian and the First Baltic took part in parade as well. Column of self-propelled artillery installations on Red Square Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army»

Mechanized column of T-34-85 tanks waiting Planes are forming a five-pointed star in the sky for the command to start moving Rehearsal of the parade Moscow. June 1945 Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» Victory Museum

An important part of the parade was the display of military hardware. It all started with the passage of large-caliber machine guns, as well as small and medium-caliber guns. After that, anti-tank guns of 45, 76, 100 mm caliber went to the square. — «ZiS-3», «BS-3», «M-30» howitzers, «M- 31» rocket launchers. The artillery review ended with the departure of large-caliber guns from 122 to 305 mm. and tanks «T-34-85» and «IS-2», self-propelled artillery installations «SU-76», «SU-100» and «ISU-152». The parade was attended by allied military vehicles, such as American trucks «Studebaker», «Dodge» and commander` jeeps «Willis». In total, 1,850 units of military hardware were displayed on the Square for 50 minutes. 216 aircraft — 81 La-7, 81 Yak-3 and 54 Yak-9- remained on the land. The flight of aircraft over Red Square and the demonstration of workers of the capital were canceled due to bad weather.

Entered the army in the spring of 1944, T-34-85 tanks fought on all fronts of the Great Patriotic War. More information about the history of the T-34-85 tank, you can find here: The tremendous consolidated wind orchestra of the Moscow garrison accompanied movement of troops. Its preparation was under supervision of Major General Semyon Chernitsky. The musical group consisted of 38 orchestras of Moscow military schools, military units of the Red Army and the NKVD. The combined orchestra consisted of 1,220 musicians and performed under the direction of 50 conductors. The repertoire was ready for approval on 5th June 1945. The final list includes 36 compositions including the national anthem, fanfare, and drumming. 20 compositions, presented at the parade, were written personally by General S. A. Chernitsky. The orchestra played several old Russian marches, including the old «Jaeger March» of the XVIII century three times. The final choir performance of «Glory» from Mikhail Glinka’s Opera «Ivan Susanin» became one of the main decorations of the Victory Parade.

Conductor of the orchestra at the Victory Parade, major General S. A. Chernetsky Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

An unbreakable union of free republics, The Great Russia has welded forever to stand. Long live the creation of the will of the people, The united, mighty Soviet Union!

Be glorious, our free Fatherland, A reliable stronghold of the peoples’ friendship! Banner of the Soviets, banner of the people, May it lead from victory to victory!

Fragment of the text of the Anthem of the Soviet Union

Cover of the first edition of the Anthem of the Soviet Union Moscow. 1944 Victory Museum «Suddenly«Suddenly thethe orchestraorchestra stops.stops. ThereThere isis aa sharpsharp drumming.drumming. AA columncolumn ofof fightersfighters approachesapproaches thethe tribune.tribune. EachEach ofof themthem isis holdingholding aa GermanGerman banner.banner. 200200 capturedcaptured enemy`senemy`s bannersbanners areare carriedcarried byby aa column.column. NowNow theythey areare thethe onlyonly thingthing thatthat remindsreminds ofof thethe formerformer regimentsregiments andand divisionsdivisions ofof Hitler.Hitler. WhenWhen theythey reachreach thethe tribune,tribune, thethe soldierssoldiers withwith aa contemptuouscontemptuous gesture,gesture, forcefullyforcefully throwthrow thethe enemy’senemy’s bannersbanners toto thethe footfoot ofof thethe Mausoleum»Mausoleum»

«Pravda»«Pravda» newspaper,newspaper, 25th25th JuneJune 19451945

The Victory Parade. Soviet soldiers-victors with Nazi standard and banners Captured banners and colours in the hands of soldiers-victors Moscow. June 1945 Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army»

At the end of May 1945, Stalin gave instructions to the generals:

«It is necessary to take out Hitler’s banners on the Parade and throw them with disgrace at the feet of the victors. Think about how to do this». The scenarists of the Parade had to urgently conduct the historical research. As a result, our soldiers, who carried the fascist banners, had to perform complex re-formation, which were used by the legionaries of Ancient Rome. And the idea of «public execution» of enemy banners was borrowed from the great commander Alexander Suvorov, in whose troops there was a ritual of «disregard not for the enemy, but to his defeated military marks of distinction»

From the memoirs of former Chief of the General Staff General Sergei Shtemenko Salute of Victory over the Kremlin Moscow. 1945 Victory Museum

On the evening of 24th June 1945, the weather returned to normal. The celebratory illumination was switched on, and five searchlight rings encircled Moscow: around the Kremlin, along the Boulevard Ring, along the Garden Ring, along the railway stations, and along the Circular railway. At 23 hours out of 100 aerostats, raised by anti- aircraft gunners, volleys of 20 thousand missiles flew. The culmination of the celebration was a banner with the image of the Order of Victory, which appeared high in the sky in the beams of searchlights.

Victory salute. June 24, 1945 Moscow. June 1945 Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army» «We«We caughtcaught thethe mostmost interestinginteresting thingsthings –– howhow theythey prepareprepare forfor thethe ParadeParade onon ManezhnayaManezhnaya Square,Square, howhow thethe tribunestribunes areare admiredadmired andand exulted.exulted. ThereThere werewere twicetwice asas manymany childrenchildren asas therethere werewere adults.adults. 40,00040,000 peoplepeople marchedmarched inin thethe rain.rain. TheyThey werewere filmedfilmed nonstop»nonstop»

S.S.S.S. ShkolnikovShkolnikov CinematographerCinematographer

When we watch the military chronicle footage, we hardly think about the people who captured all these distant events on film, they captured history, including for us. Before the commence of the Berlin operation, a Central operational film group was created, coordinating the work of 38 operators in all crucial battles` areas. They captured the last shots of the Great Patriotic War: the capture of Berlin, the assaulting of the Reichstag, the signing of the act of surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945. The logical continuation of the front-line work was the shooting of the historical Victory Parade on Red Square on June 24, 1945. On this day, cameramen were stationed at all Captain S. S. Shkolnikov with his camera 1943 the main points of Red Square and adjacent Victory Museum buildings. They were supposed to show the future audience the scale of the parade, its participants, and, if possible, capture all the details of the tremendous event. Unfortunately, some of the footage was defective due to rain. In an operational order, it was necessary to separately film General of the Army I.K. Bagramyan in Krakow, and General of the Army A. I. Eremenko in Riga. As a result of filming by the Central Studio of documentaries, two full-length films were made - color (captured on German trophy film footage) and black-and-white.

Photojournalist at the Victory Parade Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

You can watch the color version of the parade here: The day after the parade, on 25th June, the Kremlin organized a government reception for partic- ipants of the Victory Parade, which was attended by more than a thousand people. The event was scheduled for 5 p.m., but the guests started arriving earlier. In the St. George’s Hall, tables were set for important political figures headed by J. V. Stalin, while officers and soldiers were received in the Palace of the Facets.

Program of a concert in the Kremlin dedicated to the Victory Parade on 24th June 1945 It belonged to Marshal of The Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum

Invitation card to K. K. Rokossovsky from the government of the USSR for a reception in honor of participants of the Victory Parade in the Grand Kremlin Palace on 25th June 1945 Fragment of an article from «Pravda» newspaper Moscow. June 1945 from 27.06.1945 Victory Museum On 25th June 1945, the Grand Kremlin Palace hosted a reception in honor of the participants of the Victory Parade. At the reception, Stalin made his historic toast:

«Don’t think I will say anything unusual. I have the simplest and most ordinary of toasts. I would like to drink to the health of people who have few ranks and whose status is unenviable. To people who are considered « cogs» of the great state machine, but without whom we – marshals and commanders of fronts and armies, - speaking crudely, are not worth a tinker`s cuss. If any «cogs» cease to work – it`s the end. I propose a toast to simple, ordinary, and modest people, to the «cogs», who keep our great state machine in motion in all branches of science, economy, and military affairs. There are very many of them, their name is legion, because there are tens of millions of them. They are modest people. No one writes about them, they have no high status and few ranks, but they are the people who maintain us as the base maintains the summit. I drink to the health of these people, our respected comrades»

From the newspaper «Pravda» for June 27, 1945 Portrait of Marshal of The Soviet Union F. I. Tolbukhin V. V. Shilov Russia. 2002 Victory Museum 7575 yearsyears havehave passedpassed sincesince thethe historichistoric RedRed SquareSquare waswas heldheld thethe VictoryVictory Parade.Parade. SeveralSeveral generationsgenerations havehave alreadyalready growngrown up,up, andand muchmuch hashas changedchanged inin thethe world.world. ButBut itit isis stillstill difficultdifficult toto findfind aa personperson whowho wouldwould notnot havehave beenbeen affectedaffected inin anyany wayway byby thethe eventsevents ofof thisthis terribleterrible war,war, whichwhich tooktook thethe liveslives ofof millionsmillions ofof soldierssoldiers andand civilians.civilians. ThisThis datedate willwill nevernever bebe erasederased fromfrom history,history, itit willwill remainremain foreverforever inin thethe calendar,calendar, andand willwill alwaysalways remindremind youyou ofof thethe triumphtriumph ofof thethe militarymilitary artart ofof thethe SovietSoviet commanders,commanders, allall thethe ArmedArmed ForcesForces andand thethe gloryglory ofof theirtheir fightingfighting spirit.spirit.

Celebration on the streets of the city Demonstration of workers Moscow. June 1945 Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum Advertising and Information Agency «Russian Army»

24 marshals, 249 generals, 2536 other officers, 31,116 sergeants and soldiers took part in the parade. It lasted 2 hours (122 minutes), it was cool — plus 15 °C, under heavy rain, thousands of people who filled Red Square did not seem to notice it. By evening, the rain stopped, and the celebration continued on the streets of Moscow. Orchestras thundered in the squares. And soon the sky over the city lit up with a celebratory salute. At 23 o’clock, from 100 aerostats raised by anti-aircraft gunners, 20 thousand missiles flew in volleys. This is how that historic day ended.

Square in front of Belorussky railway station Moscow. June 1945 Victory Museum