Moscow Victory Day Parade
On the 24th of June 1945, Moscow's Red Square hosted its largest military parade in history. Forty thousand Red Army soldiers marched across the cobblestones alongside 1,850 military vehicles. The event occurred over a month after Germany surrendered on the 9th of May, marking the end of the Eastern Front of World War II. Preparations began in late May and early June at Khodynka Aerodrome before moving to Red Square for general rehearsals on the 22nd of June. Marshal Georgy Zhukov received reports from Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky during the ceremony. A small detachment from the First Polish Army appeared as guests, establishing an early tradition of international participation. The day concluded with a reception in the Grand Kremlin Palace honoring all participants.
After the 1945 spectacle, Victory Day parades became obsolete within the Soviet Union. Officials prioritized October Revolution Day celebrations held annually in autumn instead. Only three major jubilee parades occurred between 1945 and 1991: in 1965, 1985, and 1990. These events commemorated significant anniversaries rather than serving as annual rituals. The gap between 1945 and 1965 allowed decades to pass without a grand display on Red Square. In 1985, veterans of the Polish People's Army and Czechoslovak People's Army joined the procession. By 1990, Colonel General Nikolai Vasilyevich Kalinin commanded the parade while Marshal Dmitry Yazov served as inspector. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 halted these ceremonies entirely for four years.
The first deputy prime minister Gennady Burbulis deemed annual parades impractical due to state costs following the 1991 collapse. A new tradition emerged in 1995 when Russia held its golden jubilee celebration four years after the Soviet Union fell. This event split into two parts: a full military parade on Poklonnaya Hill and a veterans ceremony on Red Square. Since then, annual celebrations resumed every year on the 9th of May except during the 2020 edition postponed to the 24th of June due to the coronavirus pandemic. The parade commander now typically holds the rank of Colonel General or rarely General of the Army. Modern limousines replaced older ZIL models starting in 2019 with the introduction of Aurus Senat armored convertibles.
On the morning of the parade, approximately 14,000 military personnel assemble by battalions on the square. More than 210 vehicles and 3,800 vehicle crews gather on Tverskaya Street north of Manezhnaya Square. Eighty-eight aircraft prepare at air bases like Kubinka for the flypast segment. Celebrations begin at 9:55 am Moscow Standard Time with the arrival of the President and Prime Minister. They greet service commanders and veterans before the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment marches in. The announcer traditionally states "This is Moscow speaking" as the Spasskaya Tower chimes at 10 am. Massed Bands play The Sacred War while color guards carry the Flag of Russia and Victory Banner past dignitaries.
The act of inviting foreign leaders to the parade became a jubilee tradition beginning in 1995. In 1965, East German Prime Minister Willi Stoph attended as the first international guest. By 2010, President Dmitry Medvedev invited foreign troops for the first time since the fall of the USSR. Contingents from France, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States marched alongside Russian forces. Turkmenistan requested an officer lead their contingent on horseback flown into Moscow from Ashgabat. The 2015 platinum jubilee saw units return from CIS nations plus Serbia, China, Mongolia, and Grenada. In 2020, all participants from 2015 returned including Turkmenistan and Moldova after a decade-long absence.
Prior to 1945 most parades occurred on horseback until Stalin opposed changing the tradition saying "Let's not change the good tradition." Cars replaced horses at military parades in 1953 following Stalin's death. The main vehicle then was the ZIS-110B developed during the war. Convertibles participated until 1980 before the ZIL-115V arrived in 1981. Three convertibles were built at the Likhachev Plant for parade duties until 2009. Historical columns now wear replica uniforms similar to those worn in 1945 during jubilee years. A mobile column featuring tanks like the T-34/85 leads modern displays while historical vehicles appear only in special anniversaries. The flypast marks formal termination with aircraft flying past above the square unless weather cancels it as happened in 2022.
Common questions
When did the largest military parade in history take place on Moscow's Red Square?
The largest military parade in history took place on the 24th of June 1945. Forty thousand Red Army soldiers marched across the cobblestones alongside 1,850 military vehicles to mark the end of the Eastern Front of World War II.
Why were annual Victory Day parades obsolete within the Soviet Union after 1945?
Annual Victory Day parades became obsolete because officials prioritized October Revolution Day celebrations held annually in autumn instead. Only three major jubilee parades occurred between 1945 and 1991: in 1965, 1985, and 1990.
What changed about the format of the parade when Russia resumed celebrations in 1995?
A new tradition emerged in 1995 when Russia held its golden jubilee celebration four years after the Soviet Union fell. This event split into two parts: a full military parade on Poklonnaya Hill and a veterans ceremony on Red Square.
How many aircraft prepare for the flypast segment at the modern Moscow Victory Day Parade?
Eighty-eight aircraft prepare at air bases like Kubinka for the flypast segment. The flypast marks formal termination with aircraft flying past above the square unless weather cancels it as happened in 2022.
Which foreign troops marched alongside Russian forces during the first international participation since the fall of the USSR in 2010?
Contingents from France, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States marched alongside Russian forces. President Dmitry Medvedev invited these foreign troops for the first time since the fall of the USSR in 2010.