May 9th — the Victory Day over fascism in World War II of 1941-45 — is one of the most important, touching and great holidays in Russia, the former Soviet republics and many countries in Europe.
Over 2.5 million soldiers and officers, 6 250 tanks and self-propelled tools, 7 500 planes were involved in the last operation on May, 9th, 1945 which became finishing for Russia and Soviet Union in World War II.
Many celebration-related events take place this day: flower-laying ceremonies and wreaths to monuments to heroes of the war, various events for a celebration of veterans of war and workers of the rear front, gala concerts, courage lessons in educational institutions, reconstruction of battles, military parades, festive salutes and many other things.
Over the last years, there is a tradition to hold a civil patriotic action called Immortal Regiment – the international social movement on maintaining personal memory of generation of the World War II.
On the Victory Day participants of the movement pass a column on streets of the cities with photos of their relatives — veterans of army and fleet, guerrillas, underground workers, fighters of Resistance, home front workers, blockade survivors, children of war — and also write down family stories about them in the National chronicle on the website of the movement “Immortal Regiment”.
So far, the action covers more than 80 states and territories including Spain, US, UK, Germany, France, Israel, Argentina, Serbia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Canada, Cambodia, Austria and others.
