An English Teacher Abroad: Victory Day

As mentioned in my previous post, Victory Day on 9th May of each year is a very special occasion in Russia and is also a public holiday. While Moscow boasts a very grand military parade, Saint Petersburg also has its own parade and fireworks display. Across the country people marked the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, to which the Soviet Union paid a very high price: in the tens of millions. This city alone lost over half a million civilians during the blockade between 8th September 1941 and 27th January 1944. Most of those died from starvation, the bombing and disease. The Red Army lost over a million soldiers defending the city. Therefore, with such huge numbers of people killed, captured and missing, it is small wonder that this remains in the collective conscience of ordinary Russians today.

The huge human cost in lives during the Siege of Leningrad

Victory Day in the Hero City of Leningrad

Victory Day ribbon in the colours of the Order of St George

In the western world we celebrate V.E Day, but this does not really compare to the scale of the celebrations in modern Russia. It is a big deal, and people of all ages participate. There are the dwindling numbers of veterans who take part, with their medals on their jackets and coats. There are also members of the armed forces of the Russian Federation who march on parade and down the avenues of Saint Petersburg. This also always contains a contingent of military cadets from the army and naval academies; of whom some are only a little over 10 years of age. Then there are groups of young folk, dressed in period uniforms of the Red Army.

Re-enactors in Red Army and Navy Uniforms

The day had started off on a wet note. It had been raining heavily. So, I decided to see the procession that was starting (near me) from Sovietskaya Street and would make its way past the victory obelisk in Ploschad Vosstaniya and onto Nevsky Prospekt. Its final destination would be the Peter and Paul Fortress several kilometres away. I walked passed the gathering of re-enactors, veterans, soldiers and civilians as I made my way to the area around the metro station. This would give me a fairly good view of the parade which would start at 5 pm. Just before the start it began to rain. And when it rains here, it pours. However, this did not dampen people's spirits and I can only describe the atmosphere around me as emotional - sombre and yet jubilant. I looked at the ancient faces of the veterans and wondered about the pains they had gone through, the loss of friends and family. This brought a tear rolling down my cheek. I suppose a lot of tears were mixing with the rain that day.

A car for some veterans. Hero City of Leningrad is the sign on the building

Then the parade began. At the vanguard of the procession were troops holding banners with the names of the various fronts (army groups) of the Great Patriotic War. To their rear were the drummers and musicians. I think the drums made the spectacle even more dramatic. The deep booms echoed throughout the soaked streets. Next came the veterans and the re-enactors, and then finally ordinary citizens of Saint Petersburg carrying placards with the pictures and names of the fallen. Again, very emotional. But, what struck me were the cheers coming from the crowd. Every time a car full of veterans passed by a huge urrah! could be heard from the well-wishers.