Every year, on May 9, millions of Russians watch the Victory Parade with tears of joy. This day became a national holiday almost seventy years ago. Finally, the act of surrender of the German troops was signed on May 8, 1945. On the morning of May 9, fireworks sounded in Moscow. Thirty volleys from a hundred guns marked the great Victory. On May 24, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief announced the decision to hold the Victory Parade on Red Square, the main square of the country.
Combined regiments from all fronts, representatives of all types of the Armed Forces, holders of the Order of Glory, Heroes of the Soviet Union, participants in the storming of Berlin, distinguished soldiers and officers were supposed to participate. However, it was not easy to get into the number of the chosen ones, those who would march in front of the main square of the country. For this, it was not enough “just” to distinguish themselves in battles, it was also necessary to have an appropriate appearance. Parade participants had to be no older than 30 years old and no lower than 176 centimeters. For them, the full dress uniform was sewn - after all, during the hostilities, no one thought about it, no one had it preserved. time forpreparation - a month. JV Stalin set the date - June 24th. And on June 23, G. K. Zhukov himself strictly took the “exam” from future participants, who trained every day for several hours. Not everyone successfully passed the test. The heroes who hoisted the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag on May 1, 1945 failed to do this. Three soldiers of the 150th Infantry Division were not strong enough in combat training. And the marshal did not want anyone else to carry this symbol. That is why the Banner of Victory did not participate in the Parade, and after it it was given to the Central Museum of the Armed Forces for storage.
G. K. Zhukov took not only the “exam” of the participants, but also the Victory Parade of 1945 itself instead of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief I. V. Stalin. And Marshal K. K. Rokossovsky commanded them. Together they rode on white and black horses along Red Square. By the way, picking up a horse for Zhukov was not so easy. The snow-white Idol, a Tersk breed, was not a novice in such matters. He participated in the parade on November 7, 1941. But it so happened that the rehearsal of the Victory Parade did not bypass him either. He was taught to make stops at the right moment, accustomed to tanks, volleys of guns, screams, so that at a crucial moment he would not be frightened. The idol did not disappoint.
At ten in the morning on June 24, 1945, a magnificent horse passed through the gates of the Spasskaya Tower with the famous commander on his back. And G. K. Zhukov thereby violated two indestructible traditions at once: he rode on horseback and even in a headdress through the main gates of the Kremlin.
Thisthe day the weather did not indulge, it was pouring rain, so we had to cancel air performances and a demonstration of civilians. But all this could not overshadow the solemnity of the moment and the joy of all those gathered in the square. The Victory Parade took place. The consolidated regiments marched across Red Square, the combined orchestra played a special march for each of them, 200 enemy banners were thrown on a special pedestal near the Mausoleum as a sign of victory over Nazi Germany, and the heroic sapper dog Dzhulbars, on Stalin's personal order, was carried on his tunic.
Now the Victory Parade is held every year in every city as a tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes and as a sign of respect for the survivors, as gratitude to those who fought for their country.
