Victory Day in Russia commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and honors the sacrifice and heroism of those who fought in the Great Patriotic War. It is marked by military parades, fireworks and remembrance ceremonies across the nation.

When is Victory Day?

Victory Day in Russia is celebrated on May 9 every year.

The following is the list of Victory Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Victory Day?

In Russia and much of the former Soviet Union, World War II is remembered as the Great Patriotic War, which began on June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The war became one of the deadliest and most decisive conflicts in human history, claiming the lives of over 27 million Soviet citizens, both military and civilian.

Despite the enormous loss and devastation, the Soviet Union played a crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany, with landmark battles such as Stalingrad (1942–1943) and Kursk (1943) turning the tide in favor of the Allies. The final Soviet offensive ended with the capture of Berlin in May 1945.

On May 8, 1945, Germany signed an act of unconditional surrender in Reims, France, marking the end of the war in Europe. However, because of time zone differences, the surrender took effect in Moscow after midnight, on May 9. Thus, the Soviet Union declared May 9, 1945, as Victory Day. The next day, Joseph Stalin announced the victory to the Soviet people, and massive celebrations erupted across Moscow and other cities.

In 1946, May 9 became an official holiday, though it was not yet a public day off. During the late 1940s and 1950s, official celebrations were subdued. Veterans, however, continued to observe the day privately, visiting war memorials and honoring fallen comrades.

In 1965, on the 20th anniversary of victory, Leonid Brezhnev restored Victory Day as a major state holiday and declared it a non-working day across the USSR. In the 1970s and 1980s, Victory Day became one of the most significant Soviet holidays.

The 1985, 40th anniversary saw massive celebrations and recognition of war veterans as heroes of the nation.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, newly independent republics adopted their own forms of remembrance, but Russia retained May 9 as its principal Victory Day holiday. In modern Russia, the day serves both as a commemoration of sacrifice and a display of national strength and continuity.