Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
A historical meeting on the Elbe River took place 7️⃣8️⃣ years ago – on April 25, 1945. The Red Army’s First Ukrainian Front troops under the command of Marshal Ivan Konev met the 69th and 104th infantry divisions of the First US Army under the command of General Omar Bradley.
This event is important not only historically but also symbolically. It became a prelude for the defeat of Nazi Germany and marked the peak of the allied struggle waged by the anti-Hitler coalition against Nazism. A spirit of unity against a common enemy, which came to be called the Elbe spirit, opened prospects for postwar cooperation at a new level.
📻 Although rank-and-file soldiers and their command on both sides of the Elbe River intercepted each other’s signals, they did not know how far away their allies were. They were only too happy to meet friendly troops instead of retreating Nazis.
Having forgotten about cultural differences and the language barrier, comrades-in-arms exchanged patches, signs of distinction, household items and even valuables. Later, the celebrations continued at the Soviet command headquarters on the eastern bank of the Elbe River where Omar Bradley came to meet Ivan Konev.
This is how first-hand witnesses described the historical moment. They became world famous owing to a photo by Bill Robertson (left), a reporter for US Life magazine. He said the meeting with the Soviet military created the impression that the world was one. Alexander Silvashko, depicted next to him (right) often said that if American and Soviet soldiers could maintain their comradely relations, “the world could become a better place.”
🤝 In the joint statement on the 75th anniversary of the meeting on the Elbe, the presidents of Russia and the US expressed the same feelings as their compatriots in 1945. “The meeting on the Elbe is the culmination of enormous efforts by many countries and peoples. The Elbe spirit shows how our countries can put aside their differences and cooperate in the name of a common goal”
#WeWereAllies
#Victory78
This event is important not only historically but also symbolically. It became a prelude for the defeat of Nazi Germany and marked the peak of the allied struggle waged by the anti-Hitler coalition against Nazism. A spirit of unity against a common enemy, which came to be called the Elbe spirit, opened prospects for postwar cooperation at a new level.
📻 Although rank-and-file soldiers and their command on both sides of the Elbe River intercepted each other’s signals, they did not know how far away their allies were. They were only too happy to meet friendly troops instead of retreating Nazis.
Having forgotten about cultural differences and the language barrier, comrades-in-arms exchanged patches, signs of distinction, household items and even valuables. Later, the celebrations continued at the Soviet command headquarters on the eastern bank of the Elbe River where Omar Bradley came to meet Ivan Konev.
This is how first-hand witnesses described the historical moment. They became world famous owing to a photo by Bill Robertson (left), a reporter for US Life magazine. He said the meeting with the Soviet military created the impression that the world was one. Alexander Silvashko, depicted next to him (right) often said that if American and Soviet soldiers could maintain their comradely relations, “the world could become a better place.”
🤝 In the joint statement on the 75th anniversary of the meeting on the Elbe, the presidents of Russia and the US expressed the same feelings as their compatriots in 1945. “The meeting on the Elbe is the culmination of enormous efforts by many countries and peoples. The Elbe spirit shows how our countries can put aside their differences and cooperate in the name of a common goal”
#WeWereAllies
#Victory78
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇱🇧 Russian Embassy in Lebanon:
📅 On May 7, the annual Immortal Regiment procession took place in Beirut, which has become an integral part of the Victory Day celebrations and a good tradition not only in the Russian Federation, but also in countries near and far abroad.
Today, thousands of kilometers from our country - in the Lebanese Republic - hundreds of compatriots - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War carried photographs of their relatives, fallen soldiers, forever young, and veterans who have already left us.
#Victory78
📅 On May 7, the annual Immortal Regiment procession took place in Beirut, which has become an integral part of the Victory Day celebrations and a good tradition not only in the Russian Federation, but also in countries near and far abroad.
Today, thousands of kilometers from our country - in the Lebanese Republic - hundreds of compatriots - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War carried photographs of their relatives, fallen soldiers, forever young, and veterans who have already left us.
#Victory78
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🕯 June 22 marks the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow in Russia.
82 years ago, at 4 am, Nazi Germany perfidiously attacked the Soviet Union after a lengthy artillery barrage and without a declaration of war. Nazi forces launched attacks along the entire length of the Soviet border, from the Barents to the Black Sea.
This is how the Great Patriotic War began, opening one of the most tragic chapters in the history of our country.
Romania and Italy sided with Germany. Slovakia, Finland and Hungary joined them in several days later. The aggressors controlled the industrial potential and other resources of virtually all the continental European countries.
The bloodiest war in history lasted 1,418 days and nights and culminated in the Victory of the Soviet Union and its allies, and it entailed the complete defeat of Axis countries.
❗️ The Soviet Union accounted for 40 percent of wartime losses. Its casualties totalled 26.6 million war dead, including over 8.7 million killed in action. The Nazis deliberately exterminated 7.42 million people on the occupied territories.
#WeRemember how, after living through the war and despite certain disagreements, the nations of the world were united by a striving to prevent another monstrous conflict in the future and to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Unfortunately, Nazi ideology has proved resilient over the decades. They are using Nazi ideology once again for monstrous geopolitical experiments aimed at containing Russia. Collaborators who found refuge in the West after the war, Nazi criminals and their young followers are brandishing the banner of these ideas today.
🕯 The Candle of Remembrance memorial event has been held every June 22 since 2009. Everyone can honour the memory of the deceased with a moment of silence, light a candle and lay flowers at a military burial site or a Great Patriotic War monument.
#NoStatuteOfLimitations #Victory78
82 years ago, at 4 am, Nazi Germany perfidiously attacked the Soviet Union after a lengthy artillery barrage and without a declaration of war. Nazi forces launched attacks along the entire length of the Soviet border, from the Barents to the Black Sea.
This is how the Great Patriotic War began, opening one of the most tragic chapters in the history of our country.
Romania and Italy sided with Germany. Slovakia, Finland and Hungary joined them in several days later. The aggressors controlled the industrial potential and other resources of virtually all the continental European countries.
The bloodiest war in history lasted 1,418 days and nights and culminated in the Victory of the Soviet Union and its allies, and it entailed the complete defeat of Axis countries.
❗️ The Soviet Union accounted for 40 percent of wartime losses. Its casualties totalled 26.6 million war dead, including over 8.7 million killed in action. The Nazis deliberately exterminated 7.42 million people on the occupied territories.
#WeRemember how, after living through the war and despite certain disagreements, the nations of the world were united by a striving to prevent another monstrous conflict in the future and to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Unfortunately, Nazi ideology has proved resilient over the decades. They are using Nazi ideology once again for monstrous geopolitical experiments aimed at containing Russia. Collaborators who found refuge in the West after the war, Nazi criminals and their young followers are brandishing the banner of these ideas today.
🕯 The Candle of Remembrance memorial event has been held every June 22 since 2009. Everyone can honour the memory of the deceased with a moment of silence, light a candle and lay flowers at a military burial site or a Great Patriotic War monument.
#NoStatuteOfLimitations #Victory78
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🗓 On November 5, 1957, a monument to the Soviet soldier liberator, commonly known as "Alyosha", was unveiled in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Bulgarian government entered into an alliance with the Nazi Germany. However, a large part of the country's population refused to accept this choice and created one of the largest anti-Nazi movements in Eastern Europe.
🥇 In September 1944, when the liberation of Bulgaria from the German invaders commenced, the Red Army did not engage in combat with the Bulgarian army, which, in turn, did not hinder its progress. After the change of government in Bulgaria, Soviet and Bulgarian soldiers fought together against the Nazis to liberate Europe.
The idea to build a monument in Plovdiv originated on May 9, 1948 in the local community. Following a competition, the project proposed by Vasil Radoslavov was chosen as the winner.
Private Alexey Skurlatov, who took part in the liberation of Bulgaria as part of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, served as the model for this statue. Skurlatov was unaware of the monument's existence as his image was taken from a photo, and only learned about it in 1974 through an article in the "Ogonyok" magazine. In 1982, the war veteran visited Plovdiv, where he was awarded the title of honorary citizen.
❌ Since the late 1980s, the new city authorities, who came to power amidst political changes, sought to get rid of the cultural heritage of the so-called "Soviet occupation." In 1996, a decision was even made to demolish the monument, but the Supreme Court of Bulgaria prohibited the destruction of "Alyosha", since it is a World War II monument.
💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (from the briefing on March 2, 2017):
#Victory78
During the Great Patriotic War, the Bulgarian government entered into an alliance with the Nazi Germany. However, a large part of the country's population refused to accept this choice and created one of the largest anti-Nazi movements in Eastern Europe.
🥇 In September 1944, when the liberation of Bulgaria from the German invaders commenced, the Red Army did not engage in combat with the Bulgarian army, which, in turn, did not hinder its progress. After the change of government in Bulgaria, Soviet and Bulgarian soldiers fought together against the Nazis to liberate Europe.
The idea to build a monument in Plovdiv originated on May 9, 1948 in the local community. Following a competition, the project proposed by Vasil Radoslavov was chosen as the winner.
Private Alexey Skurlatov, who took part in the liberation of Bulgaria as part of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, served as the model for this statue. Skurlatov was unaware of the monument's existence as his image was taken from a photo, and only learned about it in 1974 through an article in the "Ogonyok" magazine. In 1982, the war veteran visited Plovdiv, where he was awarded the title of honorary citizen.
❌ Since the late 1980s, the new city authorities, who came to power amidst political changes, sought to get rid of the cultural heritage of the so-called "Soviet occupation." In 1996, a decision was even made to demolish the monument, but the Supreme Court of Bulgaria prohibited the destruction of "Alyosha", since it is a World War II monument.
💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (from the briefing on March 2, 2017):
This monument was unveiled as a symbol of Bulgarians’ gratitude to the Soviet Army’s invaluable contribution to the liberation of Europe from the Nazi occupiers.
#Victory78
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👉 This famous military commander won his first major victory as early as 1939 by defeating Japan during the Battles of Khalkhin Gol and forcing the adversary to abandon the idea of launching a full-scale invasion of the USSR. With Zhukov serving as Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Great Patriotic War showcased his talents as a military commander.
It was Zhukov’s resolve that enabled the USSR to withstand the first months of the war with their immense challenges. He headed the front at a critical moment when there were almost no troops left between the advancing Nazi forces and Moscow and the command had to urgently find reserves and create new units. It was Zhukov who led the troops in August 1941 when they liberated Yelnya, marking the USSR’s first triumph in the fight against Nazism.
☝️A strategic genius, Zhukov had the ability to turn the tide in the most challenging sections along the Soviet-German front. Not only did he prevent the Nazis from seizing Leningrad, but he also made a decisive contribution to the defence of Moscow, and coordinated four fronts during the Battle of Kursk. It is symbolic that he headed the 1st Byelorussian Front during the Berlin Offensive and accepted Germany’s surrender, as well as presided over the first ever Victory Parade.
After the war, Zhukov served as First Deputy Minister and later Minister of Defence of the USSR, carrying out major reforms within the Soviet army. After retiring from the military, he focused on writing, as well as engaging in historical and educational activities.
✍️ From Zhukov’s memoirs: Serving the Motherland and my people was what mattered most to me. <...> I did everything to fulfil this duty.
#Victory78 #WeRemember
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