1. At 7 TO 8:05 minutes of the video you can see the original Victory Banner;
2. At 8:47 minutes you can see as the General of the Army the Defense Minister of Russia’s Armed Forces Sergey Shoygu crosses himself with the Orthodox cross prior to his greeting of the troops;
2. At 33 minutes look at the Russian Kuban Cossacks’ horses. They are filmed from beneath. So cool!
3. At 34 minutes Armenian and Azerbaijan troops are matching next to each other;
4. At 35 minutes are can see the troops of Belorussia, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan and Tajikistan;
5. At 36 minutes you can see the troops of India. Mongolia and Serbia;
6. At 37 minutes the troops of the People’s Republic of China;
Tens of thousands of volunteers were patrolling the streets of Moscow to insure the safety of the city.
My relative, a mountain climber and a member of one of the Caucasus mountain rescue teams, told me that they all volunteered to patrol Moscow streets for the night before and the time during the parade.
It’s amazing how many people volunteer their time and skills in Russia and elsewhere for the greater good.
Thanks for those links I really needed them – very grateful for that; you saved me a lot of searching.
You did a great service providing the raw Russian coverage because the English coverage on RT (with exception of Anissa Naoui, who was serious and professional) was absolute garbage, even the BBC did a better job of giving a more coherent presentation of the Parade (despite they’re pathetic sour-grapes under-handed jibes).
The RT English coverage was:
-Totally uncoordinated
-Poorly directed, bad camera coordination (and timing), missed views
-Poorly rehearsed
-The host Kevin Owen should be fired/reprimanded because he seemed not to take it seriously, he was unprofessional, cavalier, mocking, joking, –> totally unprofessional – he kept interrupting the experts trying to explain the parade, he made fun of various players including the Russian General ordering the start of the parade by ordering the parade of the victory banner. Kevin Owen’s moderating was just ignorant and unprofessional.
-The sound was screwed up
-The camera angles and timing was totally screwed up; we don’t even get a proper view of the Tu-160 supersonic bomber.
-No coverage of what was actually happening on the parade ground.
It’s funny to watch how Western propagandists are desperate at lying in their attempt to smear Russia. Look at this devoted servant of Zionist Empire – Carl Bildt – talking about Victory Day parade in Donetsk: http://i.imgur.com/2ZmkWTN.jpg
Carl Bildt was the Swedish minister of foreign relations with the past government. He is notorious for his rabid irrational hate of Russia since many years. The curious thing why was appointed as minister before in the first place? He still enjoys an enormous support from the Swedish MSM (not so strange) but in spite of this average Swedes do not seem to trust him that much any longer. He is a strange guy, has a monotonous voice, talks non stop (like having a tape) and do not seem to reflect about questions in a normal way. Could be an Asperger syndrom?
Doubt that, people with autism are known to be talented and above all consistent.. Carl Bildt is the guy that called Svoboda for a “democratic party” while he called Svoboda sister party in Sweden for “Neo-nazi.”
Let’s hope that the Russian people also remember the less glorious parts of their history around WW2, such as the Nazi-Soviet Pact and the Gulags, in which millions lost their lives.
Could you elaborate on that? What do you have in mind?
The reactions here indicate that I’ve touched a weak spot that people don’t like hearing about. I’m sorry about this, but ignoring the truth does not make it any less true.
As long as I manage to get people to think for themselves, I’m happy to be a troll.
I haven’t seen anyone here but trolls not thinking for themselves.
As for USSR, it’s long gone, along with the abuses of the time (as well as some very good stuff).
I’ve heard that ‘everyone is Russia is nostalgic for the USSR and no one wants it back’.
No one forgets it, but Russians live in the present and think about what Russia is now and is becoming. You should try it instead of just carping and thinking you know anything people are not aware of.
re: Salbot. And your comments today May 9th. It is about basic human relations: you do not bring up a person’s traumatic birth ( i.e.” remember your birth caused your mother’s death”) on their birthday. Hello? you are not a troll—you are just an incredibly insensitive person. And I am a dyed in the wool RED Trotskyist ( not a wimp sell out Western intellectualized self proclaimed one) and this I say today: I Am so proud to see the incredible solidarity of the Russian people and their pride in each other and especially between the generations .
The Molotov- Ribbentrop pact was a act of desperation by the USSR when it realized that repeated overtures to the West to combat Hitler fell on deaf years since Hitler was actually being encouraged by the West to smash Bolshevism (Churchill’s comment after the 1917 revolution: “We should strangle the baby in its cradle.”). About millions loosing their lives, please provide the specific time frame (other than 1941-1945) when such events happened along with historical scholarly citations.
Just to know, is your stance that the Gulags never happened? Since it’s written in every school book in the west, with bibliography citations, encyclopedias and Wikipedia, perhaps you should be the one to provide scholarly citations about them not existing! I have watched interviews with children of the survivors in Syberia. Are you saying your syberian compatriots lie? Have i watched a fake documentary? I’m genuinely interested in the truth.
Don’t worry the West and their helpers are constantly reminding the Russian people of those things that were Soviet ,not Russian actions.So I doubt they will forget.
So if “the Russian people did not do those things”, then who did it?
As we all know, Nazi Germany brutally and unjustifiably invaded Poland in 1939. And who came shortly after that? The former Poland was divided between the Nazis and who…?
Saibot, there is a time and a place for everything.
Your place is NOT HERE if you are going to troll.
For illustration, maybe you can understand it better like this…..
Say your grandfather nearly drowned, saving 3 children from a flood. He got a bravery medal for it, which entitles you to attend a city event every year. Do you want people to come and say “you don’t deserve to go to that event, because your grandfather was a convicted bank robber”????
You say “…Nazi Germany brutally and unjustifiably invaded Poland in 1939….” so did the GERMAN PEOPLE DO THAT? Would you ban today’s German people from commemorating the deaths of their grandfathers, because of that invasion?
You can NEVER blame people for what their Governments did, and that goes double when they were dictatorships. You can NEVER blame today’s people for what others did in the past.
But today’s people are fully entitled to commemorate the sacrifices made by their ancestors, and celebrate their victories. Those were individual sacrifices, individual deaths, personal losses to today’s people, millions of whom grew up with no fathers or grandfathers because of it.
thanks for your reply. I’ve always appreciated your comments as reasonable and informative.
I never tried to keep anyone from commemorating the deaths of their ancestors. That may have been your interpretation of my comment, but it’s not what I said and it’s also not what I had in mind.
As for the question whether it was German people who invaded Poland in 1939, the answer is an obvious yes: it was German soldiers and tanks who crossed the border. However, the question of responsibility and whether those individual soldiers are to blame for the invasion is different and very difficult, and I don’t have a good answer. One can also ask how it is possible that seemingly nice and polite people commit such atrocities, and I think that the answer lies here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink
You may have seen this recent reddit Q&A where a 92-year-old German woman was interviewed about her youth under the Nazi regime:
Yeah, the Nazis invaded Poland, and the Red Army liberated it, and much of the rest of Europe. The Soviets occupied the territories for a while and then left. The US is still occupying Europe.
ok jerk time for a history lesson Pay attention now
March, 16 1933
At the World conference on disarmament the British prime minister has offered to
allow to Germany to double the strength German Army and to reduce the strength of the French army.
1933
Refusal of Poland to take part in offered by the USSR ” East pact “. Poland and
Germany have offered the USSR to conclude such pact without France and Czechoslovakia but on such conditions USSR has refused.
January 1934
The nonaggression pact between Germany and Poland.
May, 2 1935
The Soviet-French political treaty about mutual aid. However in June 1936 L.Blume’s government came to authority in France which was against signing the military treaty with the USSR has come, and it was not made.
June, 18 – 1935
England signed with Germany the sea agreement allowing Germany to have the military fleet.
March, 7 1936
German Army came to the Rhine area. Poland has supported this step. France has declared, that has no more obligations to Warsaw. England has taken a neutral position. Later Poland also has supported invasion of Austria.
November, 19 1937
Lord Halifax while visiting Hitler in Oberzaltzberg offers agreement of 4 powers without the USSR; he told that ” and other members of the English government are full of consciousness, that fuhrer has achieved a lot not only in the Germany, but as a result of destruction of communism in the country he has blocked a way of communism to the Western Europe and consequently Germany can be considered as
a bastion of the West against Bolshevism “.
The end of April 1938
Halifax has declared to German representative Kordt that the Great Britain will
not undertake additional military obligations to France, not speaking about
Czechoslovakia.
May, 18 1938
The president of Czechoslovakia Benes has told the English ambassador: ” if the
Western Europe will lose interest to Russia, Czechoslovakia will lose it too “.
September, 20 1938
The Soviet government has answered Benes that will assist Czechoslovakia if
France too will assist; refusal of Poland to pass the Soviet armies even at the
request of France. In Poland at that time they speak: ” with Germany we can lose
independence, and with Russia – our soul “.
September, 21 1938
At 2 o’clock in the morning the Anglo-French ultimatum to the government of
Czechoslovakia about acceptance of the German requirements issued. After signing
the Munich agreements the president of USA has sent congratulation Chamberlan.
October, 2 1938
The Polish armies occupied the Czech Tesin and adjoining territory . Thus,
Poland together with hitlerite Germany participated in occupation and a
partition of Czechoslovakia and input of the Soviet armies to Poland was not
unique and not the first similar action of that time.
November 1938
Armies of Hungary have occupied a part of Slovakia and belonging to Slovakia
Zakarpatye Ukraine (Slovakia that time was halfindependent country after a
partition of Czechoslovakia).
November 1938
The ambassador of USA in Paris: “it would be desirable for the democratic
countries that there, in the East, business has reached the sanction of
questions at issue by war between Germany and Russia ? In England, and USA hotly
trust France, that the nearest months the great sanction of questions in the
east ” will begin.
March, 9 1939
The British ambassador in Berlin Genderson: ” it seems inevitable to me , that
Germany wants tear off this rich country (Ukraine) from the huge Russian state.
we can not to give Germany of cardblanche in the East blindly. But achievement
of the agreement with Hitler is not impossible, assuming that it will be limited
to reasonable conditions which observance is possible to expect from Hitler”.
March, 10 1939
Stalin’s application that the main warmongers are England and France, instead of
Germany.
March, 27 1939
The British Minister for Foreign Affairs Halifax to the ambassador in Warsaw
Kennard: ” it should be clear that all our attempts to consolidate position are
destroyed, if the Soviet government openly will take part in this plan “.
(concerning the offer of the USSR to call conference on discussion of the help
of Romania).
April, 14 1939
The British government has offered Soviet Union to give unilateral obligations
to neighbouring countries. Obligations to the USSR was not provided.
April, 17 1939
The answer of the Soviet government about desirability of the conclusion
tripartite (the USSR, England, France) agreements.
May, 3 1939
Minister for Foreign Affairs Litvinov with pro-Western orientation is removed
and replaced with Molotov.
May, 8 1939
The answer of the governments of England and France with a rejection to the
Soviet offer and recurrence of their memorandum from April, 14.
May, 28 September, 15 1939
The ÿÍÁÅÐßÉÍ-Japanese conflict on the river the Halhin-Gol. In same time England
concludes the contract with the Japanese government.
June 1939
Confidential negotiations of the Great Britain with Germany on sections of
spheres of influence. Russia and China were offered to Germany.
June, 12 1939
The offer to Halifax to arrive to Moscow. Halifax refused.
August, 11 1939
The English delegation of minor figures arrives to Moscow. It is typical, that
they have gone to Moscow by steamship, instead of usual at that time plane. In
Moscow it is found out, that the English delegation has no official powers on
negotiating. The English and French military missions have offered to discuss
the general(common) principles without consideration of real military plans.
August, 19 1939
The conclusion in Berlin of the trading – credit agreement between the USSR and
Germany.
August, 23 1939
The conclusion of the notorious Soviet-German pact in Moscow.
Actually many would say that Russian independence really began in mid 2000 when Putin took over the Presidency, but technically (based on formal documents), you are right.
Sure, I know about the difference between Russia and the Soviet Union. But since we were talking about Russians (plus some others) celebrating the victory of the Soviet Union from 70 years ago, I was wondering how today’s Russians deal with the darker parts of the Soviet Union’s history. I knew that this was a potentially difficult question, but I never expected such an aggressive response ending in name-calling (‘jerk’) and a statement that one could understand as a call for violence.
Since somebody asked my own background, let me explain. This may also help to illustrate the background of my original question a bit better. I grew up in West Germany in the 80s and 90s. The subject of the Hitler regime and WW2 was discussed at length in school, and it was made very clear to us that the Hitler regime had been very evil, that we carry a lot of guilt especially towards the Jews, and that we should strive to never ever repeat anything like that again. On the other hand, outside of school the topic rarely ever come up. In particular, I never heard my own grandparents talk about it, although my dad once told me that my granddad had been a POW. Now I wish that I had been more interested in this difficult piece of history earlier on, so that I would actually have asked them while they were still around.
In later years, I learnt that Japan is dealing with its WW2 history very differently. So, I was curious to learn how these things are handled in Russia.
Over the last ten years, I have lived and worked in various Western countries. Currently I am indeed in Canada. In all of these places, I have been in an international (academic) environment. I have colleagues from Russia, India, the US, and pretty much anywhere else in the world, and we get along perfectly well.
Since nobody here seems to be willing to answer my question, I think I will have to pose my original question to one of my Russian colleagues here. From them I will get a reasonable answer.
“[..] What is interesting about being offended, is it is all about you rather than the other person. When that guy pulls up next to you in the other lane and berates you for something that wasn’t you fault, then you chose to get offended by it, it is merely an indication that you are a bit insecure about something he said. [..]
Choosing to react and to get offended about something is merely an indication that you are at least a little bit insecure about it. The next step is then to ask yourself why, and then ask yourself what it is that you are afraid of? [..]
Just remember – The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude towards the problem. So if your attitude toward something that someone says is to get offended, the problem is that you have that attitude. You can then work on why you have that attitude, and change it.”
Let’s forget the pop psychology. Often people get offended because what was said IS OFFENSIVE. Objectively offensive.
“…then you chose to get offended by it, it is merely an indication that you are a bit insecure about something he said….” is classic blaming the victim.
NOW you say “.. But since we were talking about Russians (plus some others) celebrating the victory of the Soviet Union from 70 years ago, I was wondering how today’s Russians deal with the darker parts of the Soviet Union’s history..” but what you did say was
“…Let’s hope that the Russian people also remember the less glorious parts of their history around WW2,…”
You juxtaposed the victory “less glorious parts of history….” to imply they should be ashamed or feel guilty for them. That is objectively offensive. … and doubly offensive as it was not their guilt in the first place.
They were not fighting to perpetuate the Soviet state. They were fighting to prevent their lands, their villages and towns, from being occupied by an invading enemy. The same as the Donbass today.
===========
Gulags stopped being used (slowly emptied) when Stalin died – 61 years ago. It is living memory for maybe 5% of the population. About 28% of Russians never even lived under any kind of Soviet system at all. What do you demand they feel guilty about?
But about 95% lost at least one relative in the War. And that sacrifice bought the victory. The eventual benefits of the Soviet system — industrialization, education, health care etc were also bought at the cost of millions of lives. The Stalin times in particular were a reign of terror — the people themselves were the victims of it. Do you want them to feel guilty for being victims? or you want them to say the free education was bad because the same system also sent people to the gulag?
What do you want? and why on the day they are commemorating a victory that cost them 25 million lives?
For a scholarly analysis of the Stalin period, please see:
“Victims of the Soviet penal system in the pre-war years: a first approach on the basis of archival evidence,” JA Getty, GT Rittersporn, VN Zemskov – The American Historical Review, Vol. 98, No. 4, (October 1993), pp. 1017-1049.
Superb commemoration. I am really delightful to see Russians celebrating a historic day marking the end of one of the worst agonies befallen up on humanity by the lunatic Fascists and Nazis who sprung out from the rotten heart of Europe. I was mesmerized not only by such a colorful commemoration with powerful symbolism immortalizing the heroism and sacrifices of the Red Army, but also by president Putin’s speech which never failed to maintain the spirit of that heroism, tenacity and kindness of the Red Army by giving thanks to the people’s of WWII allies and all anti-fascist forces,including in Nazi Germany. In today’s world of political perversion that we see infecting the former allies, it has almost become “normal” to erode those shared values of the past that saved humanity from falling under the totalitarian control and cruel hands of Fascism and Nazism. In this regard, Today’s Russia stands out the sole defender of those values, like the USSR did the greatest job, paid the heaviest sacrifice, demonstrated the most remarkable tenacity and heroism to defeat Nazism once and for all. I think, this is what makes the celebration of Victory day in Moscow eternally relevant while at the same time it makes any smear campaign against this symbolic event a folly. As an Ethiopian and a student of history, I see in this event an unforgettable historical tragedy aggressively inflicted up on humanity by Fascists the first victim of which was my country and USSR was the country that almost solely finished off that beastly power. I would simply like to thank Russians for still cherishing the values and meanings of this historic day. Selam Mama Russia!
The Red Army reminds me of the trash collectors. They picked up the garbage last week, and again this week, and they will be again next week, and the one after: there’s never an end to the garbage piling up and needing to be hauled away to the dump.
“Eternal vigilance”, and all that.
Thanks for the video link, but what an incredibly depressing spectacle…
Not just because of the rain and the umbrellas and wet tarmac, and who wants to watch that awful goosestepping? It is inhuman and degrading. Poor Russia, you are not made for war and suffering, though you have had enough – more than the rest of the globe put together most likely.
Laurens Van Der Post in his extraordinary book Journey into Russia writes about his experiences and impressions of May Day parades. He was there in the 1960’s, rather different then of course -infinitely more depressing! It’s a great read of the life and times of the Soviet sixties anyhow, with a lot of historical depth and details which helps one appreciate and understand the present.
Goosestepping? what? where? are we watching the same video?
What I saw was a tremendous public confirmation of unity, arising from continuity with a brave and victorious past….. not in the history books but personal. For each of them, a family victorious past, paid for with personal loss and sacrifice.
The Donbass forefathers were not just soldiers in the War. The war was fought right there, on their own land, the land still fertilized by the blood of ancestors, the land they are again fighting for today.
Depressing that they have to fight for it yet again. Wonderful that they have the memory of victory — and how to gain it — to give them some solace.
Was that rain? looked like holy angel tears to me.
I watched this live this morning – it was very impressive.
I then went to a memorial Victory Day celebration in my City. A lot of people turned up including Ambassadors from other Soviet countries and Russia; other dignatries and militrary personnel, war vets, many organisations etc. and they all laid flowers at the memorial. The Russian Orthodox Church was also present and songs were sung.
A few Embassies then offered vodka, food, wine after to everyone. I met some people who were over from Moscow. After food a large group stood around singing Russian songs. Each time you had a shot of vodka people said Victory. I really enjoyed some of the food we got to sample too.
It was a very moving and uplifting event and I was so glad we went and paid our respects and got to meet some interesting people.
The immortal march is still taking place now – watching on RT over 350,000 in Moscow with photo’s of their relatives – including Putin.
I also have my St. George’s ribbon now and was wearing it proudly :).
Of the two parades,the best was Donetsk’s.Not because of the grandeur,that surely belongs to Moscow.But solely because of the heroism of those people.They today are fighting and dying to defeat a live nazi evil.While in Moscow they are celebrating the victory over a past one.No one coming to the Moscow parade had a real fear of bombs falling on them at the parade.But the people that came to honor the Victory Day in Donetsk had to have had that fear.Would the fascists shell Donetsk while the parade was going on.No one knew for sure.They have shelled Donetsk so many times they could have again.It took real courage to attend that parade and risk your life to do so.For that reason alone I think the bigger honor would be to have been at that parade.
I saw where President Putin marched in Moscow in the “Immortal Army” to honor his families service in the Great Patriotic War.That act more than any other in Moscow today (and there were many wonderful scenes) touched my heart.I can’t imagine a leader in the West doing something that “human” and personal.
Lugansk doesn’t seem to have had an official videographer. I can’t find anything with marching past the leadership.
This seems to start with the tanks, followed by some Night Wolves, then the descendants of war heroes, then apparently various youth groups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDWWH-7Un8A
This strange piece might be on the way to the parade? all the tanks and APCs are flying down the street and greeted with cheers as if they were liberators rolling in, not part of a solemn parade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDWWH-7Un8A
I could only watch the Donbass parade, how nice, how simple, how worthy, and so many people parading in the end.
I have to say it has been very moving for me, I was moved to tears from the beginning to the end, maybe that’s why it rained, because many of us, who had wanted to be there, dead or alive, we were weeping.
Today I sense that I am part of this people, and that, basically, after this year of struggle, Donbass is country of mine too.
I did not know how much I love this people.
Donbass people, you will prevail, because your heart is hug and because you are together, united.
God bless you and happy Victory Day!
Happy V-Day to all the Russian people and to all the anti-fascist resistance around the world!
If it wasn’t tragic it’d be laughable. For days our media have written about “Putin’s embarrassment” when an Armata tank broke down during the parade’s rehearsals. ….and today on the day of the parade a ‘hi-tech’ military transport plane Airbus A 400 crashes in Spain.
Congrats to all Russians on the mighty victory parade….and never forget my grandparents in Germany were victims in this war too.
A Ukrainian site offers us
“Ukraine War – The Russian invasion army’s May 9 parade in Yanekijeve ”
in which the military convoy does actually get flowers thrown at it.
Well after seeing the parade of Moscow ( twice ), I have to say that I see a people, a nation that march united, becoming one with their leaders, with its army, with its veterans, with their fallen ( that inmortals regiment, unique in the world, priceless ), with its history, its memory, without throwing away any of these things. And for all this, it seems to me invincible. Whoever does not want to deny the reality, can see it.
Russian people, in the times and the way things are, you are very lucky, you are safe.
Generally so beautiful, the excitement transcends, it is clear that all those who make up the Russian military are not there just to collect salary, is that there is more, pride, good mood and determination. Spectacular and also very beautiful the flyover.
The Chinese and Indian regiments, what a glamorous elegance.
Some questions (apologies for my complete ignorance on military issues):
-What is the difference between green berets (with striped shirts or khakis), the blue berets and red berets? I think the latter are Spetsnatz aren´t they?
– What is the difference between them, with the same color beret, and different shirt (stripes or khaki)?
-What Is the role of the regiment of girls with flowers in their hair?
Here is unique flash animation on WW2 from June 22 1941 till May 9 1945 with testimonies of veterans:
http://english.pobediteli.ru/
It says:
“This video has been removed by the user.”
What happened?
Here’s some of it from Kazzura, and there are other found if you search on youtube — some of the parade and some of the rest of the celebration.
Probabably should give the link…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJcb-oXat6I
Victory Day 2015 Parade in Moscow
Парад Победы в Москве
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYRuFAJMGZo#t=20
Some highlights of the Moscow parade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYRuFAJMGZo#t=20
1. At 7 TO 8:05 minutes of the video you can see the original Victory Banner;
2. At 8:47 minutes you can see as the General of the Army the Defense Minister of Russia’s Armed Forces Sergey Shoygu crosses himself with the Orthodox cross prior to his greeting of the troops;
2. At 33 minutes look at the Russian Kuban Cossacks’ horses. They are filmed from beneath. So cool!
3. At 34 minutes Armenian and Azerbaijan troops are matching next to each other;
4. At 35 minutes are can see the troops of Belorussia, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan and Tajikistan;
5. At 36 minutes you can see the troops of India. Mongolia and Serbia;
6. At 37 minutes the troops of the People’s Republic of China;
Tens of thousands of volunteers were patrolling the streets of Moscow to insure the safety of the city.
My relative, a mountain climber and a member of one of the Caucasus mountain rescue teams, told me that they all volunteered to patrol Moscow streets for the night before and the time during the parade.
It’s amazing how many people volunteer their time and skills in Russia and elsewhere for the greater good.
@Scott
Thanks for those links I really needed them – very grateful for that; you saved me a lot of searching.
You did a great service providing the raw Russian coverage because the English coverage on RT (with exception of Anissa Naoui, who was serious and professional) was absolute garbage, even the BBC did a better job of giving a more coherent presentation of the Parade (despite they’re pathetic sour-grapes under-handed jibes).
The RT English coverage was:
-Totally uncoordinated
-Poorly directed, bad camera coordination (and timing), missed views
-Poorly rehearsed
-The host Kevin Owen should be fired/reprimanded because he seemed not to take it seriously, he was unprofessional, cavalier, mocking, joking, –> totally unprofessional – he kept interrupting the experts trying to explain the parade, he made fun of various players including the Russian General ordering the start of the parade by ordering the parade of the victory banner. Kevin Owen’s moderating was just ignorant and unprofessional.
-The sound was screwed up
-The camera angles and timing was totally screwed up; we don’t even get a proper view of the Tu-160 supersonic bomber.
-No coverage of what was actually happening on the parade ground.
Thanks again for the direct video links.
Actually I felt sorry for Kevin Owen. He spent a difficult hour trying to coax a simple observation or two out of the Military Expert on the panel.
He would have been far better with Neil Harvey in the commentary box, who at least was ready to volunteer the names of planes, tanks or regiments.
It’s funny to watch how Western propagandists are desperate at lying in their attempt to smear Russia. Look at this devoted servant of Zionist Empire – Carl Bildt – talking about Victory Day parade in Donetsk: http://i.imgur.com/2ZmkWTN.jpg
Carl Bildt was the Swedish minister of foreign relations with the past government. He is notorious for his rabid irrational hate of Russia since many years. The curious thing why was appointed as minister before in the first place? He still enjoys an enormous support from the Swedish MSM (not so strange) but in spite of this average Swedes do not seem to trust him that much any longer. He is a strange guy, has a monotonous voice, talks non stop (like having a tape) and do not seem to reflect about questions in a normal way. Could be an Asperger syndrom?
bildt the pos said orthodoxy was a threat to western civilization
Doubt that, people with autism are known to be talented and above all consistent.. Carl Bildt is the guy that called Svoboda for a “democratic party” while he called Svoboda sister party in Sweden for “Neo-nazi.”
A lol is in place.
Let’s hope that the Russian people also remember the less glorious parts of their history around WW2, such as the Nazi-Soviet Pact and the Gulags, in which millions lost their lives.
Saker, whats happend to your moderation policy? Since when you allow to post insulting anti-Russian trolling comments?
They grow in the dark. The light of day destroys them (or lets better people see to destroy them)
Vineyard Moderator wrote:
Could you elaborate on that? What do you have in mind?
The reactions here indicate that I’ve touched a weak spot that people don’t like hearing about. I’m sorry about this, but ignoring the truth does not make it any less true.
As long as I manage to get people to think for themselves, I’m happy to be a troll.
I haven’t seen anyone here but trolls not thinking for themselves.
As for USSR, it’s long gone, along with the abuses of the time (as well as some very good stuff).
I’ve heard that ‘everyone is Russia is nostalgic for the USSR and no one wants it back’.
No one forgets it, but Russians live in the present and think about what Russia is now and is becoming. You should try it instead of just carping and thinking you know anything people are not aware of.
re: Salbot. And your comments today May 9th. It is about basic human relations: you do not bring up a person’s traumatic birth ( i.e.” remember your birth caused your mother’s death”) on their birthday. Hello? you are not a troll—you are just an incredibly insensitive person. And I am a dyed in the wool RED Trotskyist ( not a wimp sell out Western intellectualized self proclaimed one) and this I say today: I Am so proud to see the incredible solidarity of the Russian people and their pride in each other and especially between the generations .
I’ll go with that – well said indeed. These guys are making history not trapped in it.
Since when does Saker promote censorship, if you disagree with someone argue with them, don’t cry for them to be silenced.
The Molotov- Ribbentrop pact was a act of desperation by the USSR when it realized that repeated overtures to the West to combat Hitler fell on deaf years since Hitler was actually being encouraged by the West to smash Bolshevism (Churchill’s comment after the 1917 revolution: “We should strangle the baby in its cradle.”). About millions loosing their lives, please provide the specific time frame (other than 1941-1945) when such events happened along with historical scholarly citations.
Just to know, is your stance that the Gulags never happened? Since it’s written in every school book in the west, with bibliography citations, encyclopedias and Wikipedia, perhaps you should be the one to provide scholarly citations about them not existing! I have watched interviews with children of the survivors in Syberia. Are you saying your syberian compatriots lie? Have i watched a fake documentary? I’m genuinely interested in the truth.
Don’t worry the West and their helpers are constantly reminding the Russian people of those things that were Soviet ,not Russian actions.So I doubt they will forget.
The “Russian people” did not do those things. Many of their forefathers were in fact victims of them. Be sure they remember.
They DID however fight valiantly, to the tune of at least 25 million dead, half of them civilians, to win the Great Patriotic War.
So if “the Russian people did not do those things”, then who did it?
As we all know, Nazi Germany brutally and unjustifiably invaded Poland in 1939. And who came shortly after that? The former Poland was divided between the Nazis and who…?
Saibot, there is a time and a place for everything.
Your place is NOT HERE if you are going to troll.
For illustration, maybe you can understand it better like this…..
Say your grandfather nearly drowned, saving 3 children from a flood. He got a bravery medal for it, which entitles you to attend a city event every year. Do you want people to come and say “you don’t deserve to go to that event, because your grandfather was a convicted bank robber”????
You say “…Nazi Germany brutally and unjustifiably invaded Poland in 1939….” so did the GERMAN PEOPLE DO THAT? Would you ban today’s German people from commemorating the deaths of their grandfathers, because of that invasion?
You can NEVER blame people for what their Governments did, and that goes double when they were dictatorships. You can NEVER blame today’s people for what others did in the past.
But today’s people are fully entitled to commemorate the sacrifices made by their ancestors, and celebrate their victories. Those were individual sacrifices, individual deaths, personal losses to today’s people, millions of whom grew up with no fathers or grandfathers because of it.
Kat Kan,
thanks for your reply. I’ve always appreciated your comments as reasonable and informative.
I never tried to keep anyone from commemorating the deaths of their ancestors. That may have been your interpretation of my comment, but it’s not what I said and it’s also not what I had in mind.
As for the question whether it was German people who invaded Poland in 1939, the answer is an obvious yes: it was German soldiers and tanks who crossed the border. However, the question of responsibility and whether those individual soldiers are to blame for the invasion is different and very difficult, and I don’t have a good answer. One can also ask how it is possible that seemingly nice and polite people commit such atrocities, and I think that the answer lies here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink
You may have seen this recent reddit Q&A where a 92-year-old German woman was interviewed about her youth under the Nazi regime:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/33wtmk/iama_92_year_old_woman_from_stuttgart_germany_and/
I found it very curious to see how she never answered any question along the lines of whether she supported the regime.
Yeah, the Nazis invaded Poland, and the Red Army liberated it, and much of the rest of Europe. The Soviets occupied the territories for a while and then left. The US is still occupying Europe.
So, your point is???
I think you’ve summarized my point fairly well, so I don’t have anything to add.
ok jerk time for a history lesson Pay attention now
March, 16 1933
At the World conference on disarmament the British prime minister has offered to
allow to Germany to double the strength German Army and to reduce the strength of the French army.
1933
Refusal of Poland to take part in offered by the USSR ” East pact “. Poland and
Germany have offered the USSR to conclude such pact without France and Czechoslovakia but on such conditions USSR has refused.
January 1934
The nonaggression pact between Germany and Poland.
May, 2 1935
The Soviet-French political treaty about mutual aid. However in June 1936 L.Blume’s government came to authority in France which was against signing the military treaty with the USSR has come, and it was not made.
June, 18 – 1935
England signed with Germany the sea agreement allowing Germany to have the military fleet.
March, 7 1936
German Army came to the Rhine area. Poland has supported this step. France has declared, that has no more obligations to Warsaw. England has taken a neutral position. Later Poland also has supported invasion of Austria.
November, 19 1937
Lord Halifax while visiting Hitler in Oberzaltzberg offers agreement of 4 powers without the USSR; he told that ” and other members of the English government are full of consciousness, that fuhrer has achieved a lot not only in the Germany, but as a result of destruction of communism in the country he has blocked a way of communism to the Western Europe and consequently Germany can be considered as
a bastion of the West against Bolshevism “.
The end of April 1938
Halifax has declared to German representative Kordt that the Great Britain will
not undertake additional military obligations to France, not speaking about
Czechoslovakia.
May, 18 1938
The president of Czechoslovakia Benes has told the English ambassador: ” if the
Western Europe will lose interest to Russia, Czechoslovakia will lose it too “.
September, 20 1938
The Soviet government has answered Benes that will assist Czechoslovakia if
France too will assist; refusal of Poland to pass the Soviet armies even at the
request of France. In Poland at that time they speak: ” with Germany we can lose
independence, and with Russia – our soul “.
September, 21 1938
At 2 o’clock in the morning the Anglo-French ultimatum to the government of
Czechoslovakia about acceptance of the German requirements issued. After signing
the Munich agreements the president of USA has sent congratulation Chamberlan.
October, 2 1938
The Polish armies occupied the Czech Tesin and adjoining territory . Thus,
Poland together with hitlerite Germany participated in occupation and a
partition of Czechoslovakia and input of the Soviet armies to Poland was not
unique and not the first similar action of that time.
November 1938
Armies of Hungary have occupied a part of Slovakia and belonging to Slovakia
Zakarpatye Ukraine (Slovakia that time was halfindependent country after a
partition of Czechoslovakia).
November 1938
The ambassador of USA in Paris: “it would be desirable for the democratic
countries that there, in the East, business has reached the sanction of
questions at issue by war between Germany and Russia ? In England, and USA hotly
trust France, that the nearest months the great sanction of questions in the
east ” will begin.
March, 9 1939
The British ambassador in Berlin Genderson: ” it seems inevitable to me , that
Germany wants tear off this rich country (Ukraine) from the huge Russian state.
we can not to give Germany of cardblanche in the East blindly. But achievement
of the agreement with Hitler is not impossible, assuming that it will be limited
to reasonable conditions which observance is possible to expect from Hitler”.
March, 10 1939
Stalin’s application that the main warmongers are England and France, instead of
Germany.
March, 27 1939
The British Minister for Foreign Affairs Halifax to the ambassador in Warsaw
Kennard: ” it should be clear that all our attempts to consolidate position are
destroyed, if the Soviet government openly will take part in this plan “.
(concerning the offer of the USSR to call conference on discussion of the help
of Romania).
April, 14 1939
The British government has offered Soviet Union to give unilateral obligations
to neighbouring countries. Obligations to the USSR was not provided.
April, 17 1939
The answer of the Soviet government about desirability of the conclusion
tripartite (the USSR, England, France) agreements.
May, 3 1939
Minister for Foreign Affairs Litvinov with pro-Western orientation is removed
and replaced with Molotov.
May, 8 1939
The answer of the governments of England and France with a rejection to the
Soviet offer and recurrence of their memorandum from April, 14.
May, 28 September, 15 1939
The ÿÍÁÅÐßÉÍ-Japanese conflict on the river the Halhin-Gol. In same time England
concludes the contract with the Japanese government.
June 1939
Confidential negotiations of the Great Britain with Germany on sections of
spheres of influence. Russia and China were offered to Germany.
June, 12 1939
The offer to Halifax to arrive to Moscow. Halifax refused.
August, 11 1939
The English delegation of minor figures arrives to Moscow. It is typical, that
they have gone to Moscow by steamship, instead of usual at that time plane. In
Moscow it is found out, that the English delegation has no official powers on
negotiating. The English and French military missions have offered to discuss
the general(common) principles without consideration of real military plans.
August, 19 1939
The conclusion in Berlin of the trading – credit agreement between the USSR and
Germany.
August, 23 1939
The conclusion of the notorious Soviet-German pact in Moscow.
stfu Let’s remember all the murders the damn americans have committed in the name of democrapcy and freedom
Russia did not exist during that period, you are mixing up Soviet with Russia.
Russia’s independence history ends at 1917 and start at 1991.
Actually many would say that Russian independence really began in mid 2000 when Putin took over the Presidency, but technically (based on formal documents), you are right.
What is your less glorious history Sai-bot……..
The Russian Federation is not the USSR…back in your box.
Gauntanamo bay is a Gulag,is that your countries ….sin?
Or are you from Canada Ukieland? you certainly sound Russophobic.
To paraphrase the ‘War Nerd’….
“Western countries are like sewage treatment plants…but without the treatment!”
Sure, I know about the difference between Russia and the Soviet Union. But since we were talking about Russians (plus some others) celebrating the victory of the Soviet Union from 70 years ago, I was wondering how today’s Russians deal with the darker parts of the Soviet Union’s history. I knew that this was a potentially difficult question, but I never expected such an aggressive response ending in name-calling (‘jerk’) and a statement that one could understand as a call for violence.
Since somebody asked my own background, let me explain. This may also help to illustrate the background of my original question a bit better. I grew up in West Germany in the 80s and 90s. The subject of the Hitler regime and WW2 was discussed at length in school, and it was made very clear to us that the Hitler regime had been very evil, that we carry a lot of guilt especially towards the Jews, and that we should strive to never ever repeat anything like that again. On the other hand, outside of school the topic rarely ever come up. In particular, I never heard my own grandparents talk about it, although my dad once told me that my granddad had been a POW. Now I wish that I had been more interested in this difficult piece of history earlier on, so that I would actually have asked them while they were still around.
In later years, I learnt that Japan is dealing with its WW2 history very differently. So, I was curious to learn how these things are handled in Russia.
Over the last ten years, I have lived and worked in various Western countries. Currently I am indeed in Canada. In all of these places, I have been in an international (academic) environment. I have colleagues from Russia, India, the US, and pretty much anywhere else in the world, and we get along perfectly well.
Since nobody here seems to be willing to answer my question, I think I will have to pose my original question to one of my Russian colleagues here. From them I will get a reasonable answer.
I now realize that my original comment was not phrased as a question, although it probably should have been. Sorry about this…
In any case, for all of those who got offended by my comments: here’s an interesting lesson on human psychology,
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-only-get-offended-youre-insecure-brett-ellis
“[..] What is interesting about being offended, is it is all about you rather than the other person. When that guy pulls up next to you in the other lane and berates you for something that wasn’t you fault, then you chose to get offended by it, it is merely an indication that you are a bit insecure about something he said. [..]
Choosing to react and to get offended about something is merely an indication that you are at least a little bit insecure about it. The next step is then to ask yourself why, and then ask yourself what it is that you are afraid of? [..]
Just remember – The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude towards the problem. So if your attitude toward something that someone says is to get offended, the problem is that you have that attitude. You can then work on why you have that attitude, and change it.”
Let’s forget the pop psychology. Often people get offended because what was said IS OFFENSIVE. Objectively offensive.
“…then you chose to get offended by it, it is merely an indication that you are a bit insecure about something he said….” is classic blaming the victim.
NOW you say “.. But since we were talking about Russians (plus some others) celebrating the victory of the Soviet Union from 70 years ago, I was wondering how today’s Russians deal with the darker parts of the Soviet Union’s history..” but what you did say was
“…Let’s hope that the Russian people also remember the less glorious parts of their history around WW2,…”
You juxtaposed the victory “less glorious parts of history….” to imply they should be ashamed or feel guilty for them. That is objectively offensive. … and doubly offensive as it was not their guilt in the first place.
They were not fighting to perpetuate the Soviet state. They were fighting to prevent their lands, their villages and towns, from being occupied by an invading enemy. The same as the Donbass today.
===========
Gulags stopped being used (slowly emptied) when Stalin died – 61 years ago. It is living memory for maybe 5% of the population. About 28% of Russians never even lived under any kind of Soviet system at all. What do you demand they feel guilty about?
But about 95% lost at least one relative in the War. And that sacrifice bought the victory. The eventual benefits of the Soviet system — industrialization, education, health care etc were also bought at the cost of millions of lives. The Stalin times in particular were a reign of terror — the people themselves were the victims of it. Do you want them to feel guilty for being victims? or you want them to say the free education was bad because the same system also sent people to the gulag?
What do you want? and why on the day they are commemorating a victory that cost them 25 million lives?
For a scholarly analysis of the Stalin period, please see:
“Victims of the Soviet penal system in the pre-war years: a first approach on the basis of archival evidence,” JA Getty, GT Rittersporn, VN Zemskov – The American Historical Review, Vol. 98, No. 4, (October 1993), pp. 1017-1049.
Superb commemoration. I am really delightful to see Russians celebrating a historic day marking the end of one of the worst agonies befallen up on humanity by the lunatic Fascists and Nazis who sprung out from the rotten heart of Europe. I was mesmerized not only by such a colorful commemoration with powerful symbolism immortalizing the heroism and sacrifices of the Red Army, but also by president Putin’s speech which never failed to maintain the spirit of that heroism, tenacity and kindness of the Red Army by giving thanks to the people’s of WWII allies and all anti-fascist forces,including in Nazi Germany. In today’s world of political perversion that we see infecting the former allies, it has almost become “normal” to erode those shared values of the past that saved humanity from falling under the totalitarian control and cruel hands of Fascism and Nazism. In this regard, Today’s Russia stands out the sole defender of those values, like the USSR did the greatest job, paid the heaviest sacrifice, demonstrated the most remarkable tenacity and heroism to defeat Nazism once and for all. I think, this is what makes the celebration of Victory day in Moscow eternally relevant while at the same time it makes any smear campaign against this symbolic event a folly. As an Ethiopian and a student of history, I see in this event an unforgettable historical tragedy aggressively inflicted up on humanity by Fascists the first victim of which was my country and USSR was the country that almost solely finished off that beastly power. I would simply like to thank Russians for still cherishing the values and meanings of this historic day. Selam Mama Russia!
“heroism to defeat Nazism once and for all”
The Red Army reminds me of the trash collectors. They picked up the garbage last week, and again this week, and they will be again next week, and the one after: there’s never an end to the garbage piling up and needing to be hauled away to the dump.
“Eternal vigilance”, and all that.
Time to take out the trash again.
Taking flowers to bronze statue in Tallinn:
http://tallinncity.postimees.ee/3184567/fotod-ja-video-rahvamassid-kaivad-pronksmehele-austust-avaldamas/4044883
Thanks for the video link, but what an incredibly depressing spectacle…
Not just because of the rain and the umbrellas and wet tarmac, and who wants to watch that awful goosestepping? It is inhuman and degrading. Poor Russia, you are not made for war and suffering, though you have had enough – more than the rest of the globe put together most likely.
Laurens Van Der Post in his extraordinary book Journey into Russia writes about his experiences and impressions of May Day parades. He was there in the 1960’s, rather different then of course -infinitely more depressing! It’s a great read of the life and times of the Soviet sixties anyhow, with a lot of historical depth and details which helps one appreciate and understand the present.
Goosestepping? what? where? are we watching the same video?
What I saw was a tremendous public confirmation of unity, arising from continuity with a brave and victorious past….. not in the history books but personal. For each of them, a family victorious past, paid for with personal loss and sacrifice.
The Donbass forefathers were not just soldiers in the War. The war was fought right there, on their own land, the land still fertilized by the blood of ancestors, the land they are again fighting for today.
Depressing that they have to fight for it yet again. Wonderful that they have the memory of victory — and how to gain it — to give them some solace.
Was that rain? looked like holy angel tears to me.
Look up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_step
It’s a formal step used for fancy occasions and ceremonies.
Dear The Saker,
I watched this live this morning – it was very impressive.
I then went to a memorial Victory Day celebration in my City. A lot of people turned up including Ambassadors from other Soviet countries and Russia; other dignatries and militrary personnel, war vets, many organisations etc. and they all laid flowers at the memorial. The Russian Orthodox Church was also present and songs were sung.
A few Embassies then offered vodka, food, wine after to everyone. I met some people who were over from Moscow. After food a large group stood around singing Russian songs. Each time you had a shot of vodka people said Victory. I really enjoyed some of the food we got to sample too.
It was a very moving and uplifting event and I was so glad we went and paid our respects and got to meet some interesting people.
The immortal march is still taking place now – watching on RT over 350,000 in Moscow with photo’s of their relatives – including Putin.
I also have my St. George’s ribbon now and was wearing it proudly :).
Rgds,
Veritas
Of the two parades,the best was Donetsk’s.Not because of the grandeur,that surely belongs to Moscow.But solely because of the heroism of those people.They today are fighting and dying to defeat a live nazi evil.While in Moscow they are celebrating the victory over a past one.No one coming to the Moscow parade had a real fear of bombs falling on them at the parade.But the people that came to honor the Victory Day in Donetsk had to have had that fear.Would the fascists shell Donetsk while the parade was going on.No one knew for sure.They have shelled Donetsk so many times they could have again.It took real courage to attend that parade and risk your life to do so.For that reason alone I think the bigger honor would be to have been at that parade.
This people have built a Nation.
I saw where President Putin marched in Moscow in the “Immortal Army” to honor his families service in the Great Patriotic War.That act more than any other in Moscow today (and there were many wonderful scenes) touched my heart.I can’t imagine a leader in the West doing something that “human” and personal.
http://rt.com/news/257145-immortal-regiment-ww2-worldwide/
A video of thousands of Novorossians at Saur Mogila to honor the heroes of yesterdays, and those of todays fight against fascism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2czJ3iCdfhM
Lugansk doesn’t seem to have had an official videographer. I can’t find anything with marching past the leadership.
This seems to start with the tanks, followed by some Night Wolves, then the descendants of war heroes, then apparently various youth groups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDWWH-7Un8A
This strange piece might be on the way to the parade? all the tanks and APCs are flying down the street and greeted with cheers as if they were liberators rolling in, not part of a solemn parade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDWWH-7Un8A
I could only watch the Donbass parade, how nice, how simple, how worthy, and so many people parading in the end.
I have to say it has been very moving for me, I was moved to tears from the beginning to the end, maybe that’s why it rained, because many of us, who had wanted to be there, dead or alive, we were weeping.
Today I sense that I am part of this people, and that, basically, after this year of struggle, Donbass is country of mine too.
I did not know how much I love this people.
Donbass people, you will prevail, because your heart is hug and because you are together, united.
God bless you and happy Victory Day!
Happy V-Day to all the Russian people and to all the anti-fascist resistance around the world!
The only way you would get this many Murcians together would be the riot when the gubmint cuts off EBT cards!
If it wasn’t tragic it’d be laughable. For days our media have written about “Putin’s embarrassment” when an Armata tank broke down during the parade’s rehearsals. ….and today on the day of the parade a ‘hi-tech’ military transport plane Airbus A 400 crashes in Spain.
Congrats to all Russians on the mighty victory parade….and never forget my grandparents in Germany were victims in this war too.
[MOD: story on the crash for those who’ve missed it http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11594603/Military-plane-crashes-during-test-flight-near-Seville.html%5D
Finally found a good one for Lugansk. Strange they did it without marching music. although there is a band visible at one stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ETKKGiUEM
A Ukrainian site offers us
“Ukraine War – The Russian invasion army’s May 9 parade in Yanekijeve ”
in which the military convoy does actually get flowers thrown at it.
I haven’t finished watching it yet…but I’m wondering where Kadyrov and his Chechens are.
Well after seeing the parade of Moscow ( twice ), I have to say that I see a people, a nation that march united, becoming one with their leaders, with its army, with its veterans, with their fallen ( that inmortals regiment, unique in the world, priceless ), with its history, its memory, without throwing away any of these things. And for all this, it seems to me invincible. Whoever does not want to deny the reality, can see it.
Russian people, in the times and the way things are, you are very lucky, you are safe.
Generally so beautiful, the excitement transcends, it is clear that all those who make up the Russian military are not there just to collect salary, is that there is more, pride, good mood and determination. Spectacular and also very beautiful the flyover.
The Chinese and Indian regiments, what a glamorous elegance.
Some questions (apologies for my complete ignorance on military issues):
-What is the difference between green berets (with striped shirts or khakis), the blue berets and red berets? I think the latter are Spetsnatz aren´t they?
– What is the difference between them, with the same color beret, and different shirt (stripes or khaki)?
-What Is the role of the regiment of girls with flowers in their hair?
I’ve watched the moving parade in Donetsk.
That people will never give up, they are not for sale for some cokes and McDonalds…