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Home > Cold War Cast > May 9 – Victory Day
Podcast: Cold War Cast
Episode:

May 9 – Victory Day
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:14:43
Publish Date: 2017-05-18 12:52:45
Description:

This one is slightly off our timeline, but last week Russia celebrated Victory Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.  The Victory Day parade in Red Square has produced some of the most iconic imagery of the Cold War over the course of time and today is a bit of a throwback to the Soviet period because they drag the hammer & sickles out for the day.   In this episode I’ll outline the festivities and give you a few things to watch for.

In contemporary Russia (and to a lesser extent the former Soviet Republics) there’s a complex relationship with the Soviet past, which is certainly on display May 9.   On one hand, no one wants to go back to those days.  On the other, people acknowledge the sense of greatness/importance that came with the large empire and the achievements that came from the Soviet era – including and especially defeating Nazi Germany.

Here’s the link to this year’s parade

Here’s 2015, which was the 70th anniversary 

Here’s 2014 in Sevastopol, right after the Russian annexation – the world got a little pissy over this one!
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