At 9th May 1945, Nazi regime in Germany had been eradicated by Soviet Army, and war in Europe finally finished. In this war, USSR lost about 27 millions of its people, about 8 millions of soldiers and 20 of civilians.
Since then every year Russia and ex-USSR celebrate Victory Day.
70 years later, visitors of the Moscow Victory Day Parade at 9th May 2015, share what war and the victory day mean to them.
Petr Sergeevich. "We brought peace to Europe. The fact that we live in peaceful times is definitely a service of warriors of that time, the grandest conquest of our victory. You exist for this victory, your children and my grandchildren do. This cheers me up so much."
Unnamed character. No comments. I don't want to say anything.
Oleg. The heroic deed of our fathers and grandfathers to which we all should look up to and correspondingly never sell and betray our homeland. It's really important.
Ludmila Konstantinovna. My grandfather fought under Buddenov's command as far back as Civil War (November 1917 - October 1922) but hadn't been touched by the Great Patriotic War because he was subjected to repression and spent that time in concentration camps. For me the victory day is everything. Tears and joy. I always think of all the kids' eyes who's blood had been shed during the war. I hate fascism.
Evgenia Illarionovna. I had been working in army hospital since I was 14. Always waiting for the victory day.
Timur. My great-grandfathers fought. My grandfather didn't but he served planes. With such situation in the world this celebration is the most important for our country and our people. It's a celebration of pride and bravery that our people performed at the war. The greatest celebration for all the countries of former USSR.
Evgeniy Ivanovich. My elder brother became a Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously in 1943. Later then we received the golden star of hero, a book of hero and presented it all to a city museum for public observation but in the Perestroika period (1985-1991) they disappeared. The only thing that's left is a photo of him and the decree of his commander about awarding him a hero star in the newspaper.
Vlad. As far as I know war hadn't touched my family. For me it's a national celebration, plus I shoot visitors of the parade, doing street-photography today.
Stanislav Nikolaevich and Igor Alekseevich. Just like all the families of soviet, almost in every family there are relatives that are lost, tortured in concentration camps or survived in this war. That's why I hope that the Victory Day will forever stay the only one, so there's no more victory days of ours.
Sergey Ivanovich. My grandfather, great-grandfathers and their brothers, they all served in the army. In fact, on my mother's side there are only military people. For us the victory day is everything. A celebration after such terrific war when all our people united.
Valeriy Sergeevich. On my mother's side three people were lost at the war and two passed away after the war was over. On my father's side almost the whole family of 8 people was perished. He didn't tell much about it. Victory is joy with tears in the eyes. For Russian soviet man the fact that we won is a big deal. The war was not easy, it was very severe. Now we know a lot more about it, back then they disguised the facts. So many people died. Now they're talking about 28 million lives, but it all began with 17 million.
Ekaterina. I've got relatives that were in captivity. It's my grandfather who is still alive. For me it's a big honor to remember it. The Victory Day is pride for the country, honor, dignity and defense of the homeland. For me it's joy with tears in the eyes.
Kirill. All of my great-grandfathers passed through the very hearth of war. Fortunately, my grandfather Ivan Georgevich returned from war and I even remember him. He served in the North Caucasus district. My other great-grandfather Serezha was lost in the first months of war. The last letter from him came in September, 1941. There's no such family in Russia that hadn't been side-stepped by war. It's something very personal concerning each of us. The victory day is a celebration which allows to think of all the things we owe our veterans and everything we have — peaceful skies above, opportunity to learn and work, it all is due to our grandfathers and great-grandfathers who created the grand victory.
Afanasiy Dmitrievich. I was a machine-gunner. Fought in Prague, Czechoslovakia and Germany. I celebrated the 9th of May if Prague, we were welcomed there, received gifts. After war old people were demobilized and we stayed in Czechoslovakia for longer. Later we returned by ourselves and were commanded to entrain to Japan. While we were entraining the war with Japan was over. We freed Russia from fascism and started building new peaceful life for our country.
Elena. Both of my great-grandfathers fought. One returned disabled and one never returned. The Victory Day to me is inner feeling of patriotism and gratitude.
Petr. My grandmother was taken prisoner to a concentration camp, came back alive and passed away not too long ago. For me the Victory Day anyway is an ocean of emotions and a great report.
Arkadiy Shainov. My two grandfathers fought, served in infantry and the Baltic navy. They came back with wounds. A big bow to everyone, thank you, non of them is alive now but there is a feeling that you're not alone in this world and thanks God you've got a base to lean on — your fathers and grandfathers. And we don't let them down I guess.
Gennadiy. My grandfather on the father's side perished at the beginning of the war in 1941. He was a civilian, his village got occupied. The Victory Day to me is everything, without it I don't know what would happen next. It's a great celebration of ours and I am very proud of it. Thanks to our grandfathers, fathers.
Pablo Kosets. Arrived in Moscow with his family for two weeks specially to see the victory parade. They're very interested in this subject however in South America they know nothing about Russia's participation in the World War II. His relatives fought during the World War I.
Elena. Both of my grandfathers fought, served as privates, returned alive and already passed away. For me it's our pride, the day of memory, sorrow and joy. Our history. And for us it's a job too today.
