When was the victory parade in 1945. History of Victory parades

On June 24, 1945, the legendary first Victory Parade took place in Moscow. On that rainy day on Red Square, the capital honored the winners of fascism. The parade was commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky, and hosted by Marshal G.K. Zhukov.

In theory, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was to take over the parade on a white horse, i.e. I.V. Stalin, but as the leader’s son, Vasily, later told Zhukov, Stalin supposedly was supposed to host the parade himself, but while training, fell from his horse and, citing the fact that he was “already too old to host parades,” entrusted this matter to Zhukov.

An interesting detail: marching along Red Square, our troops turned their heads towards the trumpet of the Mausoleum, greeting and saluting the Politburo, and when passing by representatives of the Allies (who had delayed the opening of the second front for so long), no matter how demonstratively they did this, keeping their heads straight.

~40,000 people were involved in the first Victory Parade. According to the recollections of the participants, the main task of the marchers was not to lose their stride and to keep in line. To do this, those walking nearby clasped their little fingers with each other, which made it possible to walk more harmoniously.

It is also curious that the gloves of the standard bearers, who threw 200 captured German banners onto special platforms at the Mausoleum (Hitler’s personal standard was thrown first), were burned after the Parade, as were the platforms themselves. This is disinfection from the fascist infection.

It is not clear why, having held such a grandiose parade in 1945, Stalin no longer organized similar celebrations on either June 24 or May 9. It was only in 1965 that Victory Day became an official holiday in our country and parades began to be held regularly on May 9.

The first Victory Parade was filmed by numerous photographers and was also filmed, incl. and on color trophy film (video links are also attached).

ORDER OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER-CHIEF

“In commemoration of the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint a parade of troops of the active Army, Navy and Moscow garrison on June 24, 1945 in Moscow on Red Square - the Victory Parade.

Bring to the parade: consolidated regiments of the fronts, consolidated regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, consolidated regiment of the Navy, military academies, military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison.

The Victory Parade will be hosted by my Deputy Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov. Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky will command the victory parade. I entrust general leadership for organizing the parade to the commander of the Moscow Military District and the head of the garrison of the city of Moscow, Colonel General Artemyev."

Supreme Commander
Marshal of the Soviet Union
I. Stalin
June 22, 1945. N 370

Marshals Zhukov and Rokossovsky on horseback. Manezhnaya Square
(on the left is Zholtovsky’s house, where the American Embassy was, in the background is the National Hotel):

Georgy Zhukov listens to the report of Konstantin Rokossovsky:

These guys won the war
(probably not even 20):

And their "fathers-commanders"

Tankers at the Victory Parade:

Sailors at the Victory Parade:

Kuban Cossacks at the Victory Parade:

Artillerymen and their guns at the National Hotel are preparing to enter Red Square
(on the site of the house to the right of the hotel, the now broken Intourist will later be built):

Memoirs of an old Muscovite who took part in the first Victory Parade:

“The day of June 24, 1945, when the Victory Parade took place, unfortunately turned out to be cloudy, it has been raining since morning. On Red Square, occupied by the consolidated regiments, we were positioned next to the Execution Ground, on which for some reason a fountain was built. It worked and made a lot of noise, the jets rose up to twenty meters, and this, together with the rain, created the impression that streams of water were falling on you. However, it was difficult to cool our excited mood!

Was published yesterday order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on the Victory Parade, and we finally officially learned that G.K. will host the parade. Zhukov, and commanded by K.K. Rokossovsky. Many of us thought that Stalin might be the host. I also admitted this idea, but it was not entirely clear what he would look like on a horse. This parade has been described many times and formally, so for me its everyday details, perceived from the point of view of an ordinary participant, are of intrinsic value; they make this event mine.

The consolidated shelves stood on the square in relation to the Mausoleum in two rows: the 1st row corresponded to the northern half of the former Soviet-German front, the second - to the south. Our combined Navy regiment stood behind the regiment of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, that is, in the second row (behind us was already a company carrying enemy banners and battle relics). So we could see the back of the first row. I was delighted by the magnificent spontaneity of the front-line soldiers: hidden from the eyes of their superiors, some of them managed to quietly smoke in their fists, and one, apparently tired of standing, even took off his helmet and, placing it on the pavement, sat down. From the cadet's point of view, such liberties were impossible.

Until the “ceremonial march” began, I kept glancing at the German banners and especially at Hitler's personal standard. We saw these priceless trophies for the first time, and their spectacle was amazing. It was impossible to take your eyes off the dazzling whiteness of the silk of the flag banners touching the wet, almost black paving stones of Red Square. The white color on the banners was an unexpected dominant feature. I thought that red and black should prevail, as on the former state flag of Hitler's Third Empire.

After Zhukov’s speech, the performance of the anthem and the roar of artillery salute the passage of troops began. I really wanted to get a better look at Stalin. With greedy interest, as we passed by the Mausoleum, I stared at his face for several seconds. It was thoughtful, calm, tired and stern. And motionless. The pockmarks on the cheeks were very clearly visible. No one stood close to Stalin; there was some kind of space, a sphere, an exclusion zone around him. And this despite the fact that there were a lot of people at the Mausoleum. He stood alone. I looked at him for these few seconds, turning my head to the right in alignment, raising my chin and touching my neighbor in the line with my elbow so that the line would in no case lose its ideal straightness. I didn’t experience any special feelings other than curiosity. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief was unattainable.

As soon as our regiment passed the Mausoleum, the orchestra fell silent, and a thunderous crash of drums was heard over the quiet square. The culmination of the parade came: the banners of defeated Germany were thrown onto the wooden platforms at the foot of the Mausoleum, to its stands, and to Stalin.

Radio report from the Victory Parade led by well-known writers, poets and journalists: Sun. Ivanov, A. Tvardovsky, L. Kassil and several more people. The passage of our regiment was commented on by the author of "Optimistic Tragedy" and the film script "We are from Kronstadt" Vs.Vit.Vishnevsky. Of course, during the march, fragments of phrases from the speakers reached my ears, but my attention was not focused on them. The text of that comment was later published. It contains these words:

“A battalion of naval school cadets is coming - future officers of the USSR Large Fleet, those who will lead ships into the open ocean, those who will show the USSR flag in the waters and ports of the whole world. Greetings to you, who shed blood in the battles for Russia!”

From Red Square I left inspired. The world was arranged correctly: we won. I felt like a part of the victorious people, and what could be sweeter than the feeling of fulfilled duty!

We were soaked to the skin: having taken off the flannel, I saw with some sadness that the new snow-white uniform underneath was covered in purple stains on the shoulders and chest, but the vest was fine, just wet. At lunch we received a festive "one hundred grams", and then we received parcels from American Christian Baptists. Of course, this was pleasant, despite the fact that the boxes had previously been opened (they said that either special officers or political officers confiscated the Bibles).

The parcels contained: a pack of Old Gold cigarettes, Pearl soap, candy, a chocolate bar, granulated sugar, a small towel and some other small items. It made us all laugh that many of the packages contained knitting needles and white gloves. This somehow resonated with my idea of ​​the allies: well, which of us will knit during the war, we must fight! They don't quite understand what war is. And white gloves, not our cut, were of no use: they may be comfortable to play golf in, but we have nowhere to put them (we wear white thread gloves to the parade, but these American ones have a completely different cut and shade). So, most of all, I was happy with the cigarettes, and my mother, as I noticed when I got home, was happy with the granulated sugar, although she and Nonna said that they weren’t interested in the package at all, what was important was that I was home, at least for a little while.

The next day, a parade was organized for the parade participants. the reception at which Stalin made his famous toast about the patience of the Russian people. Naturally, the authorities were invited to the reception, and even then not all of them, and by order of the People's Commissar of the Navy, we were thanked, which, frankly speaking, is very dear to me.

There were two receptions in honor of the Victory: May 24 and June 25, 1945, both of them took place in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. Stalin made his famous toast about the patience of the Russian people at the first one.

It was written incredibly quickly a huge painting dedicated to this significant reception, I saw her in the Tretyakov Gallery later, in September or November. If my memory serves me correctly, it was called “For the Russian People!” At a huge table in the St. George's Hall of the Kremlin, Stalin, Molotov, Beria, Zhukov, all the marshals, members of the Politburo and Council of People's Commissars, commanders of fronts and fleets, and in general all the celebrities of that time are depicted with photographic precision. Some kind of hard bluish radiation emanated from the painting. There were no people in the painting... It’s a pity that this painting is not on display; it managed to retain the hypnotic charm of that year.

After the second reception, on June 26, 1945, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced, and on June 27, 1945, this title was awarded to Stalin.

The painting occupied the entire hall. The visitors spoke only in whispers and moved around the hall almost on tiptoe: the picture was overwhelming. A whole range of thoughts were born - from admiration for the splendor of the victory, to... to “to whom is war, and to whom is a mother.” It was this picture that involuntarily and gradually led me ultimately to the idea that for Stalin it, the war, was “native mother.” But this understanding came much later."

70 years ago, on June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade took place on Red Square in Moscow. It was a triumph of the victorious Soviet people, who defeated Nazi Germany, which led the united forces of Europe in the Great Patriotic War.

The decision to hold a parade in honor of the victory over Germany was made by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin shortly after Victory Day - in mid-May 1945. Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Army General S.M. Shtemenko recalled: “The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered us to think over and report to him our thoughts on the parade to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany, and indicated: “We need to prepare and hold a special parade. Let representatives of all fronts and all branches of the military take part in it..."

On May 24, 1945, the General Staff presented Joseph Stalin with its considerations for holding a “special parade.” The Supreme Commander accepted them, but postponed the date of the parade. The General Staff asked for two months to prepare. Stalin gave instructions to hold the parade in a month. On the same day, the commanders of the Leningrad, 1st and 2nd Belorussian, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts received a directive from the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Alexei Innokentyevich Antonov, to hold a parade:

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered:

1. To participate in the parade in the city of Moscow in honor of the victory over Germany, select a consolidated regiment from the front.

2. Form the consolidated regiment according to the following calculation: five two-company battalions of 100 people in each company (ten squads of 10 people). In addition, 19 command personnel consisting of: regiment commander - 1, deputy regiment commander - 2 (combatant and political), regimental chief of staff - 1, battalion commanders - 5, company commanders - 10 and 36 flag bearers with 4 assistant officers. In total there are 1059 people in the combined regiment and 10 reserve people.

3. In a consolidated regiment, have six companies of infantry, one company of artillerymen, one company of tank crews, one company of pilots and one composite company (cavalrymen, sappers, signalmen).

4. The companies should be staffed so that the squad commanders are mid-level officers, and in each squad there are privates and sergeants.

5. Personnel to participate in the parade shall be selected from among the soldiers and officers who have most distinguished themselves in battle and have military orders.

6. Arm the combined regiment with: three rifle companies - with rifles, three rifle companies - with machine guns, a company of artillerymen - with carbines on their backs, a company of tankers and a company of pilots - with pistols, a company of sappers, signalmen and cavalrymen - with carbines on their backs, cavalrymen, in addition - checkers.

7. The front commander and all commanders, including the aviation and tank armies, arrive at the parade.

8. The consolidated regiment arrive in Moscow on June 10, 1945, with 36 combat banners, the most distinguished formations and units of the front in battles, and all enemy banners captured in battle, regardless of their number.

9. Ceremonial uniforms for the entire regiment will be issued in Moscow.

Defeated standards of Hitler's troops

Ten combined regiments of the fronts and a combined regiment of the Navy were supposed to participate in the festive event. Students of military academies, cadets of military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison, as well as military equipment, including aircraft, were also involved in the parade. At the same time, the troops that existed as of May 9, 1945 of seven more fronts of the USSR Armed Forces did not take part in the parade: Transcaucasian Front, Far Eastern Front, Transbaikal Front, Western Air Defense Front, Central Air Defense Front, Southwestern Air Defense Front and Transcaucasian Air Defense Front.

The troops immediately began creating consolidated regiments. The fighters for the country's main parade were meticulously selected. First of all, they took those who showed heroism, courage and military skill in battles. Qualities such as height and age mattered. For example, the order for the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front dated May 24, 1945 stated that height should be no lower than 176 cm, and age no older than 30 years.

At the end of May the regiments were formed. According to the order of May 24, the combined regiment was supposed to have 1059 people and 10 reserve people, but in the end the number was increased to 1465 people and 10 reserve people. The commanders of the combined regiments were determined to be:

- from the Karelian Front - Major General G. E. Kalinovsky;

- from Leningradsky - Major General A. T. Stupchenko;

- from the 1st Baltic - Lieutenant General A.I. Lopatin;

- from the 3rd Belorussian - Lieutenant General P.K. Koshevoy;

- from the 2nd Belorussian - Lieutenant General K. M. Erastov;

- from the 1st Belorussian - Lieutenant General I.P. Rosly;

- from the 1st Ukrainian - Major General G.V. Baklanov;

- from the 4th Ukrainian - Lieutenant General A. L. Bondarev;

- from the 2nd Ukrainian - Guard, Lieutenant General I. M. Afonin;

- from the 3rd Ukrainian - Guard, Lieutenant General N.I. Biryukov;

- from the Navy - Vice Admiral V. G. Fadeev.

The Victory Parade was hosted by Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov. The parade was commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky. The entire organization of the parade was led by the commander of the Moscow Military District and the head of the Moscow garrison, Colonel General Pavel Artemyevich Artemyev.

Marshal G.K. Zhukov accepts the Victory Parade in Moscow

During the organization of the parade, a number of problems had to be solved in a very short time. So, if students of military academies, cadets of military schools in the capital and soldiers of the Moscow garrison had ceremonial uniforms, then thousands of front-line soldiers needed to sew them. This problem was solved by garment factories in Moscow and the Moscow region. And the responsible task of preparing ten standards, under which the combined regiments were to march, was entrusted to a unit of military builders. However, their project was rejected. In an emergency, we turned to specialists from the Bolshoi Theater art and production workshops for help. The head of the art and props shop, V. Terzibashyan, and the head of the metalworking and mechanical shop, N. Chistyakov, coped with the assigned task. A horizontal metal pin with “golden” spiers at the ends was attached to a vertical oak shaft with a silver wreath, which framed a gold five-pointed star. On it hung a double-sided scarlet velvet panel of the standard, bordered with gold patterned hand lettering and with the name of the front. Individual heavy golden tassels fell along the sides. This sketch was accepted. Hundreds of order ribbons, which crowned the staffs of 360 battle flags, which were carried at the head of the combined regiments, were also made in the workshops of the Bolshoi Theater. Each banner represented a military unit or formation that had distinguished itself in battle, and each of the ribbons commemorated a collective feat, marked by a military order. Most of the banners were guards.

By June 10, special trains carrying parade participants began arriving in the capital. In total, 24 marshals, 249 generals, 2,536 officers, 31,116 privates and sergeants took part in the parade. Hundreds of military equipment were prepared for the parade. The training took place at the Central Airfield named after M.V. Frunze. Soldiers and officers trained for 6-7 hours every day. And all this for the sake of three and a half minutes of immaculate march across Red Square. The parade participants were the first in the army to be awarded the medal “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,” established on May 9, 1945.

At the direction of the General Staff, about 900 units of captured banners and standards were delivered to Moscow from Berlin and Dresden. Of these, 200 banners and standards were selected and placed under guard in a special room. On the day of the parade, they were taken in covered trucks to Red Square and handed over to the soldiers of the parade company of “porters.” Soviet soldiers carried enemy banners and standards with gloves, emphasizing that it was disgusting to even hold the poles of these symbols in your hands. At the parade, they will be thrown onto a special platform so that the standards do not touch the pavement of the sacred Red Square. Hitler's personal standard will be thrown first, the last - the banner of Vlasov's army. Later this platform and gloves will be burned.

The parade was planned to begin with the removal of the Victory Banner, which was delivered to the capital on June 20 from Berlin. However, the standard bearer Neustroyev and his assistants Egorov, Kantaria and Berest, who hoisted it above the Reichstag and sent to Moscow, went extremely poorly at the rehearsal. During the war there was no time for drill training. The same battalion commander of the 150th Idritso-Berlin Rifle Division, Stepan Neustroev, had several wounds and his legs were damaged. As a result, they refused to carry out the Victory Banner. By order of Marshal Zhukov, the banner was transferred to the Central Museum of the Armed Forces. The Victory Banner was brought to the parade for the first time in 1965.

Victory parade. Standard bearers

Victory parade. Formation of sailors

Victory parade. Formation of tank officers

Kuban Cossacks

On June 22, 1945, order No. 370 of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was published in the central newspapers of the Union:

Order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief

“In commemoration of the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint a parade of troops of the active army, the Navy and the Moscow garrison on June 24, 1945 in Moscow on Red Square - the Victory Parade.

Bring the combined front regiments, the combined regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, the combined regiment of the Navy, military academies, military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison to the parade.

The Victory Parade will be hosted by my Deputy Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov.

Command the Victory Parade to Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky.

I entrust general leadership for organizing the parade to the commander of the Moscow Military District and the head of the garrison of the city of Moscow, Colonel General Artemyev.”

Supreme Commander

Marshal of the Soviet Union I. Stalin.

The morning of June 24 turned out to be rainy. Fifteen minutes before the parade started, it started to rain. The weather improved only in the evening. Because of this, the aviation part of the parade and the passage of Soviet workers were canceled. At exactly 10 o'clock, with the Kremlin chimes striking, Marshal Zhukov rode out onto Red Square on a white horse. At 10:50 a.m. the troop detour began. The Grand Marshal alternately greeted the soldiers of the combined regiments and congratulated the Parade participants on the victory over Germany. The troops responded with a mighty “Hurray!” Having toured the regiments, Georgy Konstantinovich rose to the podium. The Marshal congratulated the Soviet people and their valiant armed forces on their victory. Then the USSR anthem was played, performed by 1,400 military musicians, 50 artillery salutes thundered, and three times the Russian “Hurray!” echoed over the square.

The ceremonial march of the victorious soldiers was opened by the commander of the parade, Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky. He was followed by a group of young drummers, students of the 2nd Moscow Military Music School. Behind them came the consolidated regiments of the fronts in the order in which they were located during the Great Patriotic War, from north to south. The first was the regiment of the Karelian Front, then the Leningrad, 1st Baltic, 3rd Belorussian, 2nd Belorussian, 1st Belorussian (there was a group of soldiers of the Polish Army), 1st Ukrainian, 4th Ukrainian, 2nd th Ukrainian and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. The combined regiment of the Navy brought up the rear of the solemn procession.

The movement of the troops was accompanied by a huge orchestra of 1,400 people. Each combined regiment marches through its own battle march almost without pause. Then the orchestra fell silent and 80 drums beat in silence. A group of soldiers appeared carrying 200 lowered banners and standards of the defeated German troops. They threw banners onto the wooden platforms near the Mausoleum. The stands exploded with applause. It was an act full of sacred meaning, a kind of sacred rite. The symbols of Hitler’s Germany, and therefore of “European Union 1,” were defeated. Soviet civilization has proven its superiority over the West.

After this the orchestra started playing again. Units of the Moscow garrison, a combined regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, students of military academies and cadets of military schools marched across Red Square. Closing the march were students of the Suvorov schools, the future of the victorious Red Empire.

Then a combined cavalry brigade led by Lieutenant General N. Ya. Kirichenko trotted past the stands, and crews of anti-aircraft guns on vehicles, batteries of anti-tank and large-caliber artillery, guards mortars, motorcyclists, armored vehicles, and vehicles with paratroopers passed by. The parade of equipment was continued by the best tanks of the Great Patriotic War, T-34 and IS, and self-propelled artillery units. The parade ended on Red Square with the march of the combined orchestra.

The parade lasted 2 hours in heavy rain. However, this did not bother people and did not spoil the holiday. The orchestras played and the celebration continued. Late in the evening the fireworks began. At 23:00, out of 100 balloons raised by anti-aircraft gunners, 20 thousand missiles flew in volleys. Thus ended this great day. On June 25, 1945, a reception was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace in honor of the participants of the Victory Parade.

It was a real triumph of the victorious people, of Soviet civilization. The Soviet Union survived and won the most terrible war in human history. Our people and army defeated the most effective military machine in the Western world. They destroyed the terrible embryo of the “New World Order” - the “Eternal Reich”, in which they planned to destroy the entire Slavic world and enslave humanity. Unfortunately, this victory, like others, did not last forever. New generations of Russian people will again have to stand in the fight against world evil and defeat it.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin quite rightly noted in his written address addressed to visitors to the exhibition “Victory Parade of June 24, 1945,” which opened at the State Historical Museum on the eve of the 55th anniversary of the Victory Parade: “We must not forget about this strong parade. Historical memory is the key to a worthy future for Russia. We must adopt the main thing from the heroic generation of front-line soldiers - the habit of winning. This habit is very necessary in our peaceful life today. It will help the current generation build a strong, stable and prosperous Russia. I am confident that the spirit of the Great Victory will continue to preserve our Motherland in the new, 21st century.”

Exactly 70 years ago, on June 24, 1945, the historic Victory Parade took place in Moscow on Red Square. This event, friends, is what this photo collection is dedicated to.

1. Victory parade. Soviet soldiers with defeated standards of Nazi troops.
The march of the combined regiments during the Victory Parade completed the formation of soldiers carrying 200 lowered banners and standards of the defeated Nazi troops. These banners, accompanied by the gloomy beat of drums, were thrown onto a special platform at the foot of the Lenin Mausoleum. Hitler's personal standard was thrown first.

2. Victory Parade. Soviet soldiers with defeated standards of Nazi troops.

3. Group portrait of pilots participating in the Victory Parade. From left to right in the first row: three officers from the 3rd APDD (long-range air regiment), pilots of the 1st Guards APDD: Mitnikov Pavel Tikhonovich, Kotelkov Alexander Nikolaevich, Bodnar Alexander Nikolaevich, Voevodin Ivan Ilyich. In the second row: Bychkov Ivan Nikolaevich, Kuznetsov Leonid Borisovich, two officers of the 3rd APDD, Polishchuk Illarion Semenovich (3rd APDD), Sevastyanov Konstantin Petrovich, Gubin Petr Fedorovich.

4. The farewell ceremony for the Red Army soldiers with the Victory Banner before its departure to Moscow. In the foreground is the Soviet self-propelled gun SU-76. Berlin, Germany. 05/20/1945

5. Banner group of the combined regiment of the 1st Ukrainian Front at the Victory Parade. First on the left is three times Hero of the Soviet Union, fighter pilot Colonel A.I. Pokryshkin, second from left - twice Hero of the Soviet Union fighter pilot Major D.B. Glinka. Third from left is Hero of the Soviet Union Guard Major I.P. Slavic.

6. Heavy tanks IS-2 pass through Red Square during the parade in honor of the Victory on June 24, 1945.

7. The ceremonial formation of Soviet troops before the parade dedicated to sending the Victory Banner to Moscow. Berlin. 05/20/1945

8. IS-2 tanks in Moscow on Gorky Street (now Tverskaya) before entering Red Square during the parade in honor of the Victory on June 24, 1945.

9. Formation of Soviet soldiers and officers at the Victory Parade in Moscow.

10. Head of the political department of the 4th Ukrainian Front, Major General Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (center), future leader of the USSR in 1964-1982, during the Victory Parade. At the parade, he was the commissar of the combined regiment of the 4th Ukrainian Front. On the far left is the commander of the 101st Rifle Corps, Lieutenant General A.L. Bondarev, hero of the Soviet Union.

11. Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov accepts the Victory Parade in Moscow. Underneath him is a horse of the Terek breed, light gray in color, named Idol.

12. Pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union - participants in the Victory Parade. 06/24/1945
Fifth from the right is Guard Captain Vitaly Ivanovich Popkov, commander of the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, twice Hero of the Soviet Union (personally shot down 41 enemy aircraft). While there is only one Gold Star on his chest, the second one will appear in 3 days. Facts from his biography formed the basis of the film “Only Old Men Go to Battle” (the prototype of the commander Titarenko (“Maestro”) and the Grasshopper). Sixth from the right is Colonel General, Commander of the 17th Air Army Vladimir Aleksandrovich Sudets (1904-1981).

13. Victory Parade. Formation of sailors of the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea fleets, as well as the Dnieper and Danube flotillas. In the foreground is Vice Admiral V.G. Fadeev, who led the combined regiment of sailors, Captain 2nd Rank V.D. Sharoiko, Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain 2nd Rank V.N. Alekseev, Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel of the Coastal Service F.E. Kotanov, captain 3rd rank G.K. Nikiporets.

14. Victory Parade. Soviet soldiers with defeated standards of Nazi troops.

16. Victory Parade. Formation of tank officers.

17. Soldiers of the 150th Idritsa Rifle Division against the background of their assault flag, hoisted on May 1, 1945 over the Reichstag building in Berlin and which later became a state relic of the USSR - the Victory Banner.
In the photo, participants in the storming of the Reichstag, escorting the flag to Moscow from the Berlin Tempelhof airfield on June 20, 1945 (from left to right): captain K.Ya. Samsonov, junior sergeant M.V. Kantaria, Sergeant M.A. Egorov, senior sergeant M.Ya. Soyanov, captain S.A. Neustroev.

18. Victory Parade. Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov receives a parade of troops of the Active Army, Navy and Moscow Garrison to commemorate the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War.

19. Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General A.V. Gladkov and his wife at the end of the Victory Parade. Original title: “The Joy and Pain of Victory.”

20. IS-2 tanks in Moscow on Gorky Street (now Tverskaya) before entering Red Square during the parade in honor of the Victory on June 24, 1945.

21. Meeting the Victory Banner at the airfield in Moscow. The Victory Banner is carried through the Central Moscow Airfield on the day of its arrival in Moscow from Berlin. At the head of the column is Captain Valentin Ivanovich Varennikov (future first deputy chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, army general, Hero of the Soviet Union). 06/20/1945

22. Soldiers carry the Victory Banner through the Central Moscow airfield on the day of its arrival in Moscow from Berlin. June 20, 1945

23. Troops at the Victory Parade.

24. Guards mortars "Katyusha" at the Victory Parade.

25. Column of paratroopers and submariners on Red Square.

26. A column of Red Army officers with defeated fascist banners at the Victory Parade.

27. A column of Red Army officers with defeated fascist banners approaching the Mausoleum of V. I. Lenin.

28. A column of Red Army officers throwing fascist banners at the foot of the Mausoleum of V. I. Lenin.

29. Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov greets the troops taking part in the Victory Parade.

30. A meeting at one of the airfields near Berlin before the departure of the Victory Banner to Moscow for the Victory Parade.

31. German banners thrown by Soviet soldiers on Red Square during the Victory Parade.

32. General view of Red Square during the passage of troops on the day of the Victory Parade.

34. Victory Parade on Red Square.

35. Before the start of the Victory Parade.

36. Combined regiment of the 1st Belorussian Front during the Victory Parade on Red Square.

37. Tanks at the Victory Parade.

38. The solemn ceremony of handing over the Victory Banner to the military commandant of Berlin, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General Berzarin N.E. for sending to Moscow. May 20, 1945

39. Participants in the Victory Parade walk along Manezhnaya Square.

40. Consolidated regiment of the Third Belorussian Front, led by Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky.

41. Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Armed Forces Joseph Stalin and Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov on the podium of the Lenin Mausoleum.

THE DECISION to hold a parade of winners was made shortly after Victory Day - May 15, 1945 Deputy Chief of the General Staff Army General remembered : “The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered us to think over and report to him our thoughts on the parade to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany, and indicated: “We need to prepare and hold a special parade. Let representatives of all fronts and all branches of the military take part in it...”

May 24 I.V. Stalin was informed of the General Staff's proposals for holding the Victory Parade. He accepted them, but did not agree with the timing. While the General Staff allowed two months for preparations, Stalin ordered the parade to be held in a month. On the same day, a directive signed by the Chief of the General Staff, Army General, was sent to the commander of the troops of the Leningrad, 1st and 2nd Belorussian, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian fronts:

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered:

1. To participate in the parade in the city of Moscow in honor of the victory over Germany, select a consolidated regiment from the front.

2. Form the consolidated regiment according to the following calculation: five two-company battalions of 100 people in each company (ten squads of 10 people). In addition, 19 command personnel consisting of: regiment commander - 1, deputy regiment commander - 2 (combatant and political), regimental chief of staff - 1, battalion commanders - 5, company commanders - 10 and 36 flag bearers with 4 assistant officers. In total there are 1059 people in the combined regiment and 10 reserve people.

3. In a consolidated regiment, have six companies of infantry, one company of artillerymen, one company of tank crews, one company of pilots and one composite company (cavalrymen, sappers, signalmen).

4. The companies should be staffed so that the squad commanders are mid-level officers, and in each squad there are privates and sergeants.

5. Personnel to participate in the parade shall be selected from among the soldiers and officers who have most distinguished themselves in battle and have military orders.

6. Arm the combined regiment with: three rifle companies - with rifles, three rifle companies - with machine guns, a company of artillerymen - with carbines on their backs, a company of tankers and a company of pilots - with pistols, a company of sappers, signalmen and cavalrymen - with carbines on their backs, cavalrymen, in addition - checkers.

7. The front commander and all commanders, including the aviation and tank armies, arrive at the parade.

8. The consolidated regiment arrive in Moscow on June 10, 1945, with 36 combat banners, the most distinguished formations and units of the front in battles, and all enemy banners captured in battle, regardless of their number.

9. Ceremonial uniforms for the entire regiment will be issued in Moscow.

ANTONOV

It was planned to bring ten combined regiments of the fronts and a combined regiment of the Navy to the parade. Students of military academies, cadets of military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison, as well as military equipment, including aviation, were also invited to participate in it.

At the fronts, they immediately began to form and staff consolidated regiments.

At the end of May, consolidated front regiments of five battalions were formed.

The commanders of the combined regiments were appointed:

• - from the Karelian Front - Major General G.E. Kalinovsky
• - from Leningradsky - Major General A.T. Stupchenko
• - from the 1st Baltic - Lieutenant General
• - from the 3rd Belorussian - Lieutenant General P.K. Koshevoy
• - from the 2nd Belorussian - Lieutenant General K.M. Erastov
• - from the 1st Belorussian - Lieutenant General I.P. Tall
• - from the 1st Ukrainian - Major General G.V. Baklanov
• - from the 4th Ukrainian - Lieutenant General A.L. Bondarev
• - from the 2nd Ukrainian - Guard, Lieutenant General I.M. Afonin
• - from the 3rd Ukrainian - Guard, Lieutenant General N.I. Biryukov.

Most of them were corps commanders. The combined naval regiment was headed by Vice Admiral V.G. Fadeev.

Although the directive of the General Staff determined the strength of each combined regiment at 1059 people with 10 reserves, during the course of recruitment it increased to 1465 people, but with the same number of reserves.

IN VERY Many problems had to be solved in a short time frame. So, if students of military academies, cadets of military schools of the capital and soldiers of the Moscow garrison, who were to march along Red Square on June 24, had ceremonial uniforms, regularly engaged in drill training, and many participated in the May Day parade of 1945, then with the preparation of more than 15 thousand front-line soldiers, everything was different. They had to be received, accommodated, and prepared for the parade. The most difficult thing was to manage the tailoring of the ceremonial uniforms on time. However, garment factories in Moscow and the Moscow region, which began sewing it at the end of May, managed to cope with this difficult task. By June 20, all parade participants were dressed in new-style ceremonial uniforms.

Another problem arose in connection with the production of ten standards, under which the combined regiments of the fronts were to parade. The execution of such a responsible task was entrusted to a unit of Moscow military builders, commanded by engineer major S. Maksimov. They worked around the clock to make a sample, but it was rejected. But there were about ten days left before the parade. It was decided to turn to specialists from the Bolshoi Theater art and production workshops for help. The head of the art and props shop, V. Terzibashyan, and the head of the metalworking and mechanical shop, N. Chistyakov, were involved in the production of the standards. Together with them we made a new sketch of the original form. A horizontal metal pin with “golden” spiers at the ends was attached to a vertical oak shaft with a silver wreath framing a gold five-pointed star. On it hung a double-sided scarlet velvet panel of the standard, bordered with gold patterned hand lettering and the name of the front. Individual heavy golden tassels fell along the sides.

The sample was immediately approved, and the craftsmen completed the work even ahead of schedule.

The best of the best front-line soldiers were assigned to carry the standards at the head of the combined regiments. And here not everything went smoothly. The fact is that when assembled, the standard weighed more than 10 kg. Not everyone could walk along Red Square in a military step, holding it at arm's length. As always happens in such cases, people's ingenuity came to the rescue. The standard bearer of the cavalry regiment, I. Luchaninov, recalled how an unfurled knife banner was attached on the march. Based on this model, but in relation to the foot formation, the saddlery factory in two days produced special sword belts, slung on wide belts over the left shoulder, with a leather cup in which the standard shaft was attached. And many hundreds of order ribbons that crowned the staffs of 360 military banners, which had to be carried across Red Square at the head of the combined regiments, were made in the workshops of the Bolshoi Theater. Each banner represented a military unit or formation that had distinguished itself in battle, and each of the ribbons commemorated a collective feat, marked by a military order. Most of the banners were guards.

By June 10, special trains carrying parade participants began arriving in Moscow. The personnel were stationed in the Chernyshevsky, Aleshinsky, Oktyabrsky and Lefortovo barracks, in the towns of Khlebnikovo, Bolshevo, Likhobory. As part of the combined regiments, the soldiers began drills and training at the Central Airfield named after. They were held every day for six to seven hours. Intensive preparation for the parade required all its participants to exert all their physical and moral strength. Honored heroes did not receive any relief.

Horses were selected in advance for the host of the parade and the commander of the parade: for the marshal - a white light gray color of the Terek breed named “Idol”, for the marshal - a black krak color named “Polyus”.

Starting from June 10, 1945, the medal “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,” established on May 9, 1945, was the first in the Armed Forces to be awarded to front-line soldiers - participants in the Victory Parade. Along the way, orders and medals that had defects, as well as those awarded back in 1941-1943, were exchanged for new ones that appeared after the introduction of order bars in 1943.

At the direction of the General Staff, about They were received in the gym of the Lefortovo barracks by the commander of the 181st Infantry Regiment of the 291st Infantry Division, Colonel A.K. Korkishko. 200 banners and standards, then selected by a special commission, were placed in a special room and taken under the protection of the military commandant of Moscow. On the day of the Victory Parade, they were taken to Red Square in covered trucks and handed over to the personnel of the parade company of “porters.”

On June 10, a company was formed from the front-line soldiers of the combined regiments (10 ranks, and 20 people in a rank). It was located in the parade formation opposite St. Basil's Cathedral. On the parade ground, where training began, the front-line soldiers did not look their best, but after all, aces were required, and not just combat soldiers. Things took off when, at the suggestion of the commandant of Moscow, Lieutenant General K. Sinilov, an excellent combat soldier, Senior Lieutenant D. Vovk, deputy commander of the honor guard company, was appointed commander. They trained with poles from soldiers' tents, 1.8 m long. But some could not withstand such physical exertion, while others did not go well with drill training. I had to do a partial replacement. The company included a group of tall warriors of the 3rd regiment of the division named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky. With their help, single combat training began. <Кавалер двух орденов Славы С. Шипкин вспоминал: “We were drilled like recruits, our tunics did not dry out from sweat. But we were 20-25 years old, and the great joy of victory easily prevailed over fatigue. The classes were beneficial, and we were sincerely grateful to the Dzerzhinsky guys.”. The company was prepared for the day of the parade. June 21, late evening, Marshal G.K. Zhukov examined the training of “porters” on Red Square and was satisfied.

Unfortunately, not everyone “passed the exam” at the dress rehearsal. According to the organizers, the march of troops was to begin with the removal of the Victory Banner, which was delivered to Moscow on June 20 from Berlin.

But due to S.A.’s poor drill training. Neustroeva, M.A. Egorova and M.V. Kantaria Marshal G.K. Zhukov decided not to take it to the parade.

Two days before the parade, June 22, signed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union I.V. Stalin issued order No. 370:

ORDER
Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Bring the consolidated regiments of the fronts, the consolidated regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, the consolidated regiment of the Navy, military academies, military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison to the parade.

On June 22, 1945, the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Armed Forces I.V. Stalin No. 370 was published in the central newspapers of the USSR:

“In commemoration of the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, I appoint a parade of troops of the Active Army, Navy and Moscow Garrison on June 24, 1945 in Moscow on Red Square - the Victory Parade.

Bring to the parade: consolidated regiments of the fronts, consolidated regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, consolidated regiment of the Navy, military academies, military schools and troops of the Moscow garrison.

The Victory Parade will be hosted by my Deputy Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov.

Command the Victory Parade to Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky.

I entrust general leadership for organizing the parade to the commander of the Moscow Military District and the head of the garrison of the city of Moscow, Colonel General P. A. Artemyev.

Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Marshal of the Soviet Union

I. Stalin"

The Victory Parade was hosted by Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov. The parade was commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky. Zhukov and Rokossovsky rode across Red Square on white and black horses. I.V.

Stalin watched the parade from the stands of the Lenin Mausoleum. Molotov, Kalinin, Voroshilov and other members of the Politburo were also present at the podium.

On behalf of and on behalf of the Soviet government and the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, G. K. Zhukov congratulated the valiant Soviet soldiers “on the Great Victory over German imperialism.”

Zhukov's speech at the 1945 Victory Parade (original voice)

Contrary to popular belief, there was no Victory Banner on Red Square during the Victory Parade.

The first to cross the area was the combined regiment of Suvorov drummers, followed by the combined regiments of the fronts (in the order of their location in the theater of military operations - from north to south): Karelian, Leningrad, 1st Baltic, 3rd, 2nd and 1st 1st Belarusian, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian, combined regiment of the Navy.

As part of the regiment of the 1st Belorussian Front, representatives of the Polish Army marched in a special column.

In front of the combined front regiments were the commanders of the fronts and armies, the Heroes of the Soviet Union carried the banners of the famous units and formations.

For each combined regiment, the orchestra performed a special march.

The combined regiments were staffed by privates, sergeants and officers (in each regiment, including the command staff, over a thousand people) of various branches of the military, who had distinguished themselves in battle and had military orders.

The flag bearers and assistants carried 36 battle banners of the most distinguished formations and units of each front in battle. The combined Navy regiment (regiment commander Vice Admiral Fadeev) consisted of representatives of the Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets, the Dnieper and Danube flotillas. A combined military band of 1,400 people also took part in the parade.

The march of the combined regiments was completed by a column of soldiers carrying 200 lowered banners and standards of the defeated German troops. These banners were thrown to the beat of drums on a special platform at the foot of the Lenin Mausoleum. The first to be abandoned by Fyodor Legkoshkur was the Leibstandarte LSSAH - the SS battalion of Hitler's personal guard.

Then units of the Moscow garrison marched in a solemn march: a combined regiment of the People's Commissariat of Defense, a military academy, military and Suvorov schools, a combined cavalry brigade, artillery, mechanized, airborne and tank units and subunits.

Units from seven more fronts of the USSR Armed Forces operating as of May 9, 1945 (Transcaucasian Front, Far Eastern Front, Transbaikal Front, Western Air Defense Front, Central Air Defense Front, Southwestern Air Defense Front, Transcaucasian Air Defense Front) were not involved in the parade. But two combined regiments from two fronts disbanded before the end of the Great Patriotic War took part in the Victory Parade (combined regiments of the Karelian and First Baltic Fronts)

In the evening of the same day, a government reception was held in the Kremlin in honor of the parade participants.

The Victory Parade is dedicated to a documentary film of the same name, shot in 1945, one of the first color films in the USSR.

Victory Parade 1945

Photo gallery

Helpful information

Organizing the parade

General leadership for organizing the Victory Parade was entrusted to the commander of the Moscow Military District and the head of the Moscow garrison, Colonel General P. A. Artemyev.

One of the main organizers of the parade was the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, Colonel General S. M. Shtemenko and the Chief of the General Staff, Army General A. I. Antonov.

Data

• The decision to hold the Victory Parade was made by Stalin in mid-May 1945 (May 24, 1945), almost immediately after the defeat of the last group of German troops that did not surrender on May 13.
• The total number of troops at the parade was about 40,000.
• An order for sewing dress uniforms for participants in the Victory Parade on Red Square was placed at the Moscow Bolshevichka factory.
• Zhukov's horse was the Idol of the Terek breed, light gray in color. There is a version that Marshal Zhukov’s horse was an Akhal-Teke breed, light gray in color, named Arab. However, this version has not been confirmed. Rokossovsky's horse is a purebred karak riding horse, nickname is Polyus.
• Marshal Zhukov, who hosted the parade, was accompanied by Major General P. P. Zelensky on a white horse named Celebes. Marshal Rokossovsky, who commanded the parade, was accompanied by his adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Klykov, on a horse named Eaglet.
• G.K. Zhukov immediately violated two ancient traditions, which prohibit traveling on horseback and with a covered head through the gates of the Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower.
• It was pouring rain during the Victory Parade, which is clearly visible on the newsreel. Many participants in the Victory Parade remember that rain.
• Due to heavy rain, the aerial part of the parade and the passage of columns of workers in the capital were canceled.
• The Victory Parade was hosted not by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Stalin), but by his deputy (Zhukov). S. M. Shtemenko, who was responsible for preparing the parade, argued that Zhukov should have hosted the parade initially. A number of sources claim that Stalin did not accept the parade due to the fact that he did not have sufficient horse riding skills. In the memoirs of Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, “Memories and Reflections,” according to Stalin’s son, Vasily, it is stated that just before the parade, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief tried to learn how to handle a horse, but it carried him, and Stalin fell. This episode is missing from the first editions of the book.
• The lowering of German flags was deliberately carried out with gloves on to emphasize disgust at the defeated enemy. After the parade, the gloves and wooden platform were ceremonially burned.
• Enemy banners and standards thrown onto the platform at the Mausoleum were collected by captured Smersh teams in May 1945. All of them are of the outdated 1935 model (new ones were not made until the end of the war; the Germans never went into battle under the banner), taken from regimental storage areas and workshops. The dismantled Leibstandart LSSAH is also an old model - 1935 (the panel from it is stored separately in the FSB archive). In addition, among the banners there are almost two dozen Kaiser banners, mostly cavalry ones, as well as flags of the NSDAP party, Hitler Youth, Labor Front, etc. All of them are now stored in the Central Military Museum.
• On the personal order of I.V. Stalin, the service dog-sapper Dzhulbars was carried on his jacket; he discovered more than 7 thousand mines and 150 shells, and was wounded shortly before the end of the war.
• The only foreign general who was awarded the right to lead, together with Soviet generals, a column of the combined regiment of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, was the commander of the 1st Bulgarian Army, Lieutenant General Vladimir Stoychev. In 1945, he received both of the highest military orders of the USSR - Suvorov 1st class. and Kutuzov 1st Art.
• The combined orchestra ended the parade with the march of Semyon Chernetsky “Glory to the Motherland.”