Victory Parade in Moscow on June 24, 1945

The legendary Victory Parade took place in Moscow’s Red Square on June 24, 1945 to mark the end of the Great Patriotic War and the triumph of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany. 

The Parade commenced at precisely 10 am and lasted for over two hours under the command of Marshall of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky. The Parade was reviewed by Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov.

Ten combined regiments – one from each front still operating at the end of the war – were formed to take part in the Parade. Each regiment had over a thousand of the most distinguished fighters, including Heroes of the Soviet Union and holders of the Order of Glory.

After riding past the soldiers on horseback to the accompaniment of the sounds of a combined military orchestra of almost 1,400 musicians and the continuous “hooray,” Georgy Zhukov congratulated the Soviet people and their valiant Armed Forces on the Victory.

Georgy Zhukov: “Glorious warriors [of the Red Army] befittingly fulfilled their duty to the Motherland. The Red Army not only upheld the freedom and independence of our homeland but also rid the nations of Europe from the German yoke. From now on and forever, our victorious Red Army will go down in global history as a liberating army with a halo of unfading glory.”

Georgy Zhukov’s address was followed by the Soviet Union national anthem and 50 salvoes of an artillery salute. The combined regiments started their march. 

Drummer-cadets from the Suvorov Military School were the first to pass through the square. They were followed by the combined regiments of the fronts in order of their north-to-south location.

War veterans were carrying purple standards with gold embroidery that were made for the Parade at the art shops of the Bolshoi Theatre. Hundreds of streamers that crowned the poles of 360 combat banners were also produced.

Infantry, marines, pilots, cavalry, cadets, Katuysha rocket launchers, artillery and tanks paraded past the rostrums.

Dogs, that were fighting alongside soldiers, walked across the cobblestones on Red Square together with the other participants of the Parade. The military band was the last to leave the square.

The Parade reached a peak with the passage of a column of Soviet soldiers that carried 200 lowered banners and standards of the defeated Nazis, including Hitler’s personal standard. To the accompaniment of the sharp drumbeat, Soviet soldiers brought them to the rostrums and threw them at the foot of the Mausoleum amid a thunder of applause.

Overall, 24 marshals, 249 generals, 2,536 officers, 31,116 sergeants and soldiers that distinguished themselves in combat and were awarded with orders and medals took part in the march. Around 1,850 units of military equipment were part of the Parade.

Participant in the Parade, Hero of the Soviet Union, and artillery man Ivan Yeremenko recalls: “When we went from the square to the streets of Moscow, people welcomed us everywhere. Strangers smiled at us as if we were family. Girls showered us with flowers. This was an unforgettable day, a celebration for all the people – those who fought at the front line, and those who worked for Victory on the home front.

The anniversary parade for war veterans and home-front workers took place on Red Square on May 9, 1995 to celebrate 50 years since the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The combined regiments of veterans (457 soldiers each) represented all 10 fronts of the war years with their combat banners. Since that time, the Victory Parade has been held on Red Square every year in honour of those who gave the world freedom at the cost of their own lives.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin on the Victory Parade (June 24, 2020): “This Parade went down in history as a triumph of unprecedented scale, the triumph of good over evil, of peace over war, and life over death. <…> Combined regiments of fronts and fleets marched in Red Square. Their hammered, steel march reminded people of all those who courageously, selflessly fought for the Motherland and returned home with a Victory, as well as millions of warriors that remained on battlefields forever.”