@117: What you've heard about discipline in Soviet Army is the same if I start to talking about discipline in US army in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Or after seeing movies like "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket", "Jarhead". Not You or me were there so we cannot spoke about this. Those men were marching to death. So we can sit here on our saved asses talking about this bullshit. They did a great job in WWII.

Regardless of the attrocities of Stalin, we in the west must recognise the enormous influence that Russia had on our own destinies in relation to the Nazi occupation of Europe.

They fought for our freedom too. Be it often unwillingly, wearing US boots and led by a meglamaniac despot, we can not deny that those millions of Russians ultimately paid the highest sacrifice.

Ha! To say that Russia saved Europe from the Nazis is about as ludicrous as saying that Hitler invaded Poland for the spring water. The war was fought on the beaches of Normandy, through France, Italy, and into Germany BY THE AMERICANS, BRITISH, and AUSTRALIANS. The Russians allied themselves with Hitler and only late in the war took a stand at Stalingrad. Gee, thanks. The Americans had already reached the Elbe. Did I mention we were fighting the Japanese in the Pacific theater as well? And Russia was getting supplies from Roosevelt. We didn't get supplied by Russia who could only send waves of unarmed men to die against the Panzers in an attempt to slow down the German Army. We even allowed Russia to take Berlin. Johnny Come Lately Communists. 27 million dead? Could have been the Russian gulags.

Stalin said: If Hitler has not attack-assault us, we( UdSSR and Germany) will be
invinsible-we can conquere all world!-with German industry and Russian resources-raw materials-crude oil,coal, all kind ores etc.

Absolutly beautiful pictures. It brings to light how many people are in this world sacrificing their life so that others can have freedom. Thank you

Russia, for your sacrifices...Thank you. To your children who lived, this American child who also lived, celebrates with you. God Bless.

@124: Now that's really stupid person who says that. Shut up with you British, American, Australian Allies. Those troops were on the quietest western front, drinking wine and champagne in France. Yes, America give supplies for Soviet Army in latest years of WWII - For F*CKING LEASE! It was all for credit. and Soviet government pays for that. Aaand what were the exact role of US troops in Berlin?
You weren't capturing the Reichstagg. No archive footage of US troops under German fire on the streets of Berlin. Soviet army blocade 200000 of German-nazi troops by surrounding Berlin April 19th, and take control over Berlin May 2nd. While Allies were slowly headed to Lubek. Read the books, you burger(oh, that's Germans invention) lover.

@125: Petar! With all my respect, in every century every major country tries to conquer the world. It the nature. What did Alexander III of Macedon did his whole life? The Tchingiz Khan? The Great Britain Empire? The Germans? The Modern US?

Soviet Union Never attack. We were defending ourselves. And helps other smaller western europe countries to get rid of nazi.

WTF with your mind?

#128--Only someone ignorant of history would retort with claim of "drinking champagne in France." Tell that to the 83rd Division We didn't capture the Reichstag moron because we agreed to let the Russians enter the city. Gee, didn't they teach you that in Communist Brainwashing 101? Sorry about the 27 million dead. As someone earlier said, they wouldn't have grieved for us had they kept the Nazi-Soviet pact and instead divided up Europe amongst two totalitarian states.

@122. I live in eastern europe, and many of my friends grandparents remember well the difference of civility between german and russian troops. I personally wasn't there ,yes, you are right, but I heard stories from people directly involved who had rather neutral viewpoint - for them, both, russians and germans were occupants. But I'm not going to defend germans or argue on this topic any further as it is not relevant to what I tried to say. I just tried to point out the reasons, why the losses of USSR were so large, why they were marching to death - as you said, instead of marching to battle with good perspective not to die - for that you need well trained soldiers, well educated officers, good equipment etc. Western troops had it all, and therefore the losses were smaller. And I was speculating really, I am not an expert... I did not want to offend anyone. Sorry.
By the way, my grandfather fought in USSR army. Life is complicated and not black and white. We have to respect the fallen, not arguing that, but maybe we should try to remember wider picture, not just hurray blindly, not just see on side of the coin.

@119. Hitler also wanted to occupy so he can restore and build. To former USSR countries there is not much difference between Hitler and Stalin. Both brought suffering and death. But I understand that psychologically you need different point of view and that is ok. :P

Oh, and in last post I forgot to say, the photos are great!:P

"119.
@57: Before naming someone "occupants", and blaming Sovietz for not to leaving the countries they set to free from nazis, you should know that Russians were helping build those countries after they were destroyed by war. Al the technology was from Sovietz.
And at the time they were heroes in those countries.
The only mistake is the given economic and political regime to that countries."
Is that what they teach you over there? Yeah, USSR started depleting natural resources in those countries, that's about all the building they did, I didn't know of any space exploration programs from those countries.
An old relative told me the tale of how russian soldiers tried to r*pe her as a teenager, and other stories - they were definitely not seen as heroes. She didn't have bad memories regarding the german soldiers though.
As for the fight against nazism, that's BS, USSR and Germany invaded Poland together, they were allies. The only reason Stalin fought Hitler was self defense.
I know people don't like to hear this (and I like democracy and not totalitarianism), but the numbers of communism victims dwarf the numbers of nazism victims.
The social and economic impact on eastern european countries is what creates the big gap between eastern and western Europe - 50 years of darkness and social values destroyed.
The Russian army could have went straight for Berlin, there was no need for all the detours - good all heroic Russia that saved the world (and permitted forbidden German millitary training on it's soil).

I think the most amazing thing about this photo documentary(besides the amazing pictures themselves), is the remarkable similarity between russia and the u.s. when it comes to honoring their soldiers.

Each individual has the right to his or her opinion of course, and our ideas are shaped by our personal exposures and experiences. As someone who was fortunate to have been in Moscow on the 9th of May 2009, as a visitor from South Africa, I would like to share the following. Although I did not see the parade, I shared the day with friends, who live in Moscow, at 'Victory Park' amongst throngs of Russian citizens. Veterans were dressed in their best, wearing the medals they had earned partaking in WW II, and most were accompanied by their family members. It was awesome to hand out flowers, and shake the hands of people who had survived a horific event in the history of human existance, who had experienced unmentionable sufferings during the war, and hard times to follow.
I was also moved by this celebration, remembering my late father, who was a POW in Italy and Germany during WW II. This is a day to be celebrated annually, to remember with pride, humbleness, sorrow, joy, and gratitude. It is not about who won the war, or justifying war, or who is to be blamed; it is not about guilt or judgement or accusation. As preparations progress, enthusiasm becomes evident by the displaying of flags and ribbons. It is a day for celebrating life after war, for nostalgia and reminiscense. Russia's veterans are supported by children and grandchildren (therefor the presence of young and old), so that generations to follow will always commemorate this day. It is surely a choice any nation can make, to what extent they prefer to 'remember' the sacrifices of war, and the grace of survival! The day was poignent yet festive, and I feel priviledged to have witnessed it. Thank you Boston Globe for stunning pics!

The day

who had made it through

Comment number 59 pptravis, you sir, are a f*cking idiot. America practiced mostly isolationist policies for many years, this policy ended with world war 2. However, we did not wait for Germany to be worn out, we didn't attack until WE were attacked by the Japs. And even before that we supported the allied powers with the lend-lease act. Don't hate on your own nation. But anyways, these pictures were breathtaking, especially number 4.

@129- Hitlers attack against UdSSR was inspired from british (secret-service) agents near to Hitler-like admiral Kanaris. Without their instigation-for example lies about the real power of UdSSR army-and the real picture of soviet (military) economics, UK must surrender in 1942-because Germany-with supply of all kinds of raw materials from UdSSR was invincible. 80% of German soldiers were on soviet front. By Normandia-D-day were only 60 years old (german) soldiers! I am from Bulgaria-I repeat-this war-Germany-UdSSR must be avoid-and Germany will be the winner in WW 2!! Churchill-1941 sought an shelter in Canada (because all-out UK blockade)-only this stupy attack-22.6.1941 against UdSSR saved him!

@129- Hitlers attack against UdSSR was inspired from british (secret-service) agents near to Hitler-like admiral Kanaris. Without their instigation-for example lies about the real power of UdSSR army-and the real picture of soviet (military) economics, UK must surrender in 1942-because Germany-with supply of all kinds of raw materials from UdSSR was invincible. 80% of German soldiers were on soviet front. By Normandia-D-day were only 60 years old (german) soldiers! I am from Bulgaria-I repeat-this war-Germany-UdSSR must be avoid-and Germany will be the winner in WW 2!! Churchill-1941 sought an shelter in Canada (because all-out UK blockade)-only this stupy attack-22.6.1941 against UdSSR saved him!

I`m european, I live in the U.S.
I don`t understand why everyone is commenting about gulags. If America was celebrating victory in war world 2 would you mention the atomic bombs, or the horrible civilian massacres in Germany? Russia saved our asses from the Nazis.

@138
Let me explain then. For many(millions civilians) the victory of USSR, the end of WW2, was a start of deportation to siberia, hunger, suffering, execution - GULAG. For you or your parents, grandparents, it was end of nazi threat and beginning of good life, but for many occupied eastern-european countries it was beginning of Soviet totalitarian regime for 50 years. So some people find this celebration bit controversial. I hope you understand that.

It's pretty amazing that nationalist Russians have to claim not only victory over the Nazis, but overwhelming moral superiority over all others involved. I especially like the guy who mourns the loss of a grave following Soviet suppression of Hungary in 1968, decrying the loss of communists in the streets during that popular uprising which was brutally quashed by the Red Army. Nice, that.

The Russians bore the brunt of Nazi Germany's onslaught, true. Lend-lease did make a major contribution to the salvation of the Soviet Union. Credit? Sure... it was never repaid. Instead, the Russians interned a B-29, which they copied and it bacame their first strategic omber with which to threaten the west.

Accusations of waiting until Germany spent itself against the USSR before invading Normandy... what about Russia's late declaration of war against Japan? Nothing like claiming a few quick, cheap victories and a lot of real estate without much payment in terms of lives and money... and still not paying the lend-lease debt.

North Korea would not be the thorn in the side of the world that it is today if not for Russian perfidy at the very end of WW-II. We have Russia to thank for that, as well. We can thank them for over 70,000 dead Americans in the Korean War.

Yes, Russians are lovely people.

That doesn't take away from the sacrifice of millions to save their country from the Nazi onslaught, nor does it remove the hundreds of thousands of rapes in Germany at the end of the war as the Russian peasant horde swept through Germany with revenge on its mind.

No doubt there were many sacrifices by Russians, et al in WW-II. There were acts of valor and selflessness. The Russians were not, however, somehow morally superior.

Thanks for the Cold War, by the way. WEho won that one... I can't remember... something about a wall in Germany because of Russian good guys... eastern Europeans celebrating independence after so many years of occupations... now who was that? Hmmm.

I like how everyone gets all touchy about Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, while completely forgetting a little nuisance called Munich Treachery. If not for it, not only would have been millions of lives saved, Germany itself would have been liberated of fascists years earlier.
Somehow, when Western states break their treaties to strengthen a militarist regime they hope to direct as they find necessary, it's perfectly fine. When USSR tries to take back the lands it lost during the WWI and the Russian Civil War (and the wars with Finland and Poland that followed while it was weak and vulnerable), it's all bad bloody tyranny only looking to enslave and kill.
Also worth note, quite a few cosmonauts on Soviet space stations were from the Eastern bloc countries, and for many of them those are still their only citizens to ever be sent to space. What comes to industry, duh, I call shenanigans - please, Soviets did not build industry in the Eastern bloc? Where did the newly independent states get their nuclear stations and ship docks and car factories and tool plants and the ,multitude of other industry installations they so gladly ruined in the beginning of the 90ies? Out of thin year?

Yes, yes... Russian industry. While West Germany was building BMW's, Audis, Porsches and Volkswagens, East Germany was building...

Ta da! the Trabant.

Yes, thank you, mighty and benevolent Russia, for cardboard cars.

And don't forget the Yugo. Very nice.

I fully support any nation celebrating its version of Memorial Day. I do not, however, appreciate the arrogance of Russians railing on about their superiority. You didn't do it for the world, you did it to save your own skins. The rest may have benefitted, but many eastern Europeans, space monkeys aside, didn't feel very lucky for about 50 years.

And there is the enduring gift of North Korea. Russia gave the world the Kim Dynasty. Nice gift. I'd rather have a Trabant, thank you.

This is a marvelous way of presenting photojournalism photos. So, civil, and so sophisticated. Thank you, big picture.

Some more pictures here :
http://alexandrelatsa.blogspot.com/2009/05/un-9-mai-2009-moscou.html

I am from India.
I took almost 2 hours and read through the complete list of comments posted.

The best comment is number 43.

It is love which ultimately won !!

Lets pay homage to the ones who laid down their lives for us. They all are great, lets praise the humans who could make this happen.
It really does not matter if the person was from X or Y country.

What matters is because of that life spent by that person our lives are what we are.

Ted Turner did a week long documentary in the mid 1980's on Russia's contributions to WWII and it was awesome in the revealing nature of their sacrifices. There were communities where the only males remaining were children. Women had to maintain life for the surviving. The suffering of the Eastern European peoples from the German invasion was all encompassing.
But they were also cruel to their own people with the gulags and all but socialism has to be to survive. Taking and stealing is the only way socialist nations can pay their way. And do not forget the huge amounts of materials sent to the Russians by the American merchant marine during WWII. Without these contributions they would have been driven to the Urals and possibly defeated.

Russia isn't good country. Most of the writers simply never used to live there for a long time with a russian passport...

pptravis: I suspect you just weren't paying attention in history class and since then have picked up a few simplistic "answers" that accord with your biases, probably from the History Channel.

Really glorious moments! Great photos!

Not Russia - but USSR. Ukraine was a part of USSR and also won the war!

A deomcratic, modern and self-confident state wont need all that parading and showing off weapons. Its ridiculous.
If you have nothing else, show off your big gun... alright. They just do it, because they know they are weak actually.

photo #4 is so great..

Ugh. Is that all Russia can do? Wave around big guns?
Oh well, at least I'm confident in the fact that we have a superior Military force as well as government. They wouldn't shut down a major thoroughfare just to show off our military might. They don't need to, everyone already knows, or should know, that America has the best military money can buy.

And for you idiots going off on how Russia won the war, or America waited too long, well, you're wrong. America was responsible for winning WW2. I know so because my history teacher lectured to us about how we did it.
Maybe you all should go back to school, then you would at least have a semblence of what you're talking about.

And another thing, Russia is nothing but a bunch of backwards, Vodka drunk, uneducated, simpletons. Their economy is a complete mess, and they think things will get better just by driving around in big tanks?
Just shows how worthless their education system is.
I, however, take pride in the world-class, American education system. It's one that teaches values and actually benefits you later in life. It's the best public government school system bar none.

Cerraron Auschwitz y abrieron Siberia...

153 «And another thing, Russia is nothing but a bunch of backwards, Vodka drunk, uneducated, simpletons» - was that written by an educated, well-mannered, civilized person?
By posting such things you demonstrate the qualities you so readily assume Russians possess – the sense of superiority and drive to dominate the world.
142 «I do not, however, appreciate the arrogance of Russians railing on about their superiority» - this arrogance exists in your mind only. The Victory Day is celebrated by Russians/Soviet people and for Russians/Soviet people.
I studied about the WW2 from the people who were there and survived it – and I know precisely what I commemorate on this day. It’s OUR History and that all happened to US – that’s why we decide how to commemorate it, – but I’d think twice before sharing it with people who are barely able to follow the principles they declare – mutual respect, equality and good will.
It’s been more than 60 years since then – and now we really have some more important things to do rather than trying to make people hear something they refuse to hear.

As for your likes and dislikes about Russia - what do you expect to happen after you’ve posted them? That all the country will start changing immediately to please you? Sorry to disappoint you, but no – we live our own life – you can take it or leave it, or even better - turn to your own countries and see how you can make things better there.
We do appreciate advice and different opinions, but only when treated with respect, otherwise – no.

@119: NOTHING EVER good came from the USSR to the occupied countries in Europe. They did NOTHING to heal the wounds, improve the life, help the people!
They took EVERYTHING! Whole factories, technology, people to work, everything!
They took our freedom and they took away our spirit.
To many Nations in Europe, Russia brought back the DARK AGES!
50 years of communism: destruction, death, dictatotship, terror.
Russia was and is today an Empire based on force, hate and terror.
"THE EVIL EMPIRE" as Reagen said. And today, by blackmailing Europe through their fuel politics, they try to regain control in Eastern Europe. NEVER AGAIN!

"Wave around big guns", Rob? How does that differ from your country parading with their big guns all over the Middle East, Africa, Europe...? What about Vietnam?

"I know so because my history teacher lectured to us about how we did it."

Wow, your history teacher is such an authority on the matter. Could he be an American by any chance? If he is, everything he says must be true, if he follows the Great Leader.

"And another thing, Russia is nothing but a bunch of backwards, Vodka drunk, uneducated, simpletons."

It's lucky for us you're not full of prejudice. I assume you also think people in eastern Europe walk around in their undershirt and all Arabs are trying to crash a plane into your mother.

Anyway, "Rob", as an indoctrinated simpleton, you're not allowed to call people names. Try revisiting a school somewhere in Europe, perhaps even Russia. You'll benefit. A lot.

Russia defeated the enemy, which has not won a no army . True cost of 20 million lives...

"Yep, russians won in WWII, not yankees or english."
X2

if the yankees ... and the British say they won the war ... but in reality it was the Soviets ... has them we owe the victory ... without detracting from the work of the other allies of course ...

viet nam love russia

unas fotos geniales .amor patriotico
viva la paz.

We people have learned almost nothing over the last 4000 years but suppressing and terrorizing each other. We can make or create anything we like with our resources and brains but we fail in respecting each other and share all earth's resources with each other. We also fail to respect animals and plants life. The poverty and scarcity in this world is a result of our greed and fear. We have done so much pain and sadness to each other and we hesitate to learn our lesson. The time will come that resources will become scarce and if we are not prepared to change our behaviour then tough times will come for all of us.

Afghanistan love Charlie Wilson (U.S. Texan Senator)

Why, oh why do web-sites such as this provide room for comments?
We end up with a list of mostly insulting, derogatory, hate-filled, purile rubbish that is best left unpublished.
This scathing opinion does not, of course, include this post.

Thanks to this country, we have Sharapova!
Love you!

Quote from Todd: "The Russians allied themselves with Hitler and only late in the war took a stand at Stalingrad."

No, honestly, people, is THAT how they teach them WWII history in the USA? This must be a joke, no sane person would believe in THAT... I mean, without even knowing the actual events @ Eastern front, a person with half-a-brain would think "hang on a second, if the Russians DID ally themselves with Hitler then how come the German army got as far as damn Stalingrad?!" Does that mean that the Russians didn't notice the German armies until they reached the Volga river?! Well then who fought and won the Battle of Moscow?! The Aztecs?!

As for "NEVER AGAIN", never say never, Karol, you know very well that your country together with a bunch of others had only pulled on a brave face after they were ALLOWED to do so and your so-called "independence" has been hanging in the air for almost two decades between Russian supplies and American money.

After all that was loss to rid the world of Nazi'ism, the Soviets forgot their people and butcher millions of their own. Let's not forget the that the Soviets joined the rest of the world to get rid of one evil, only to replace it with a worse one. This, my father, a former Russian soldier, told me was why I was now living in the land of the free--USA.

@ 75 : Georgia is not occupied by the Russian army, only the secessionist province of Abkhazia. It's worth to mention that it's the Abkhazians themselves who asked Russia for Russian passports, they don't want to be under Georgian rule (neither do the Ossetians ), it's their godamn right.

Quote from #168, "After all that was loss to rid the world of Nazi'ism, the Soviets forgot their people and butcher millions of their own."

Dear Evhenij Golbiw, although your father once was a Russian soldier, he taught you wrong. Or maybe you forgot what he told you. Because the alleged "butchering millions of their own" happened BEFORE the war, not after it -- that's why some historians say that the "buchering" of the top army Generals had weakened the Red Army and therefore encouraged Hitler to invade the USSR.

Despite the clear fact that the infamous "butchering of milloins" never actually happened, the myth apparently remains circulating and even playing its powerful role to form anti-Russian mindset in people like Evhenij Golbiw. So it goes that even living in the land of the free, one can not stay free from brain-washing.

And for those talking about the significance of Western lend-lease for the Soviet victory. OK, I'm now volunteering to buy the best boxing gear in the world and let someone else do the EASY bit, beat the World boxing champion. And then we will share the glory -- the fighter with his broken jaw, and me bragging about how decisive for the victory was the exellent boxer-shorts I bought.

Stalin Stalinovich Stalinovskiy from Stalingrad,

I guess they teach that Molotov-Ribbentrop is a vodka drink in Russian schools. I mean, seriously, where do you Stalinist apologists get your revisionist history from? Oh, wait...I answered my own question.

The Soviet Union was more of a scourge on humanity than even Hitler's Germany. Take your Communist gulags, your political assassinations, your mass murders of Polish, Latvians, Estonians, Finns, Czechs, Hungarians, Georgians, Afghanis and minority races and go back to your motherland.

Just think....the Afghan resistance fought this behemoth and eventually got them to leave in disgrace.

@170
What makes you think the 'butchering' never happened?

pictures are just great...

THANK YOU ALL THE SOLDIES, FIGHTING AGAINST FASHISM!!!!!!

Thank you so much Irina for sharing these beautiful photos with me.
Have a Great Memorial Day!!

Before D-Day, the Russians faced 75 percent of the German army, while only
a fraction of the balance was actually engaged by Allied troops. By any
measure, the Russians shouldered the main burden of the ground war.
--David Eisenhower,_ Eisenhower: At War 1943-1945_, p. 843

Eisenhower called the European conflict a "holy war," an array
of the forces of evil against those of righteousness, a conflict that
"had to have its leaders...and had to be won, no matter what the
sacrifices, no matter what the suffering to populations , to materials, to
our wealth...no matter what the cost the war had to be won. In Europe it
has been won and to no man in Europe does the United Nations owe a greater
debt than to Marshall Zhukov."
--General Eisenhower's reply to Marshall Georgi Zhukov,

WW2 was won outside Moscow in 1941 (before Us joined the war) and before UK effectively opposed Japan. After that point it was all over bar the shouting and many many deaths (and I'm Anglo-American)

(yes the russians were brutal, often dumb, and visous, but that doesn't change the magnitude of the sacrifice)

None of them aren't forgotten !!!!!!!!!!

#26 Mig 25 Foxbat escorts.

#153"
And for you idiots going off on how Russia won the war, or America waited too long, well, you're wrong. America was responsible for winning WW2. I know so because my history teacher lectured to us about how we did it.
Maybe you all should go back to school, then you would at least have a semblence of what you're talking about."

you are just a stupid boy, your history teacher washed your brain :)
Soviet army destroyed 75% of German Army, and your american heroes with Great Britain, France, and other "allies" killed 25% of German Army!
P.S. sorry for my bad english ))

Wonderful photos - wonderful country - wonderful people

thats cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^_^

STUNNING PHOTOS ! THANK YOU.

Maravilhosas fotos. Parabéns. Great!

Just got back last night from a visit to St. Petersburg. Russia is still a third world country with a first rate military. I can not forget the major shipyard outside of St. Petersburg that looks like a bomb site. Mr. Putin just announced that Russia has committed One Billion Ruples to restore this disaster while the people in the countryside go without necesseties

Great pictures. I wonder if they know the European and American international bankers funded their criminal communist regime? That little piece of history nobody seems to talk about.

This images are greatting, may be that every people, never takes a reason to use weapons to make prevail a reason, we can live in peace without weapon, withaout slaving our brothers, without having, never more, murderers of their own brothers like Josef Stalin, this man was as the same that Adolf Hitler...

For more information on the identity capsules in #33:
http://drugoi.livejournal.com/2940441.html
There is a video showing them opening up one of these capsules. The translation is very much worth reading (use google translate or babelfish). Four capsules were found that day, three were in bad shape and were sent to a forensics lab. The fourth capsule was opened in the field, and from the pencil markings, they identified the soldier, missing since 1942. The soldiers granddaughter was recently located.

The video is a sample of the work that regularly goes on throughout Russia.

Top-level shots. This parade is real demonstration of Russia's force.

Type your comment here...Es muy interesante poder estar informado de los acontecimiento historicos y actuales del mundo oriental especialmente relaciomado con el pueblo de israel, soy un pastor evangelico que predico el evaneglio de jesucristo desde hace 25 ańos,esperando seguir informado sobre los utlimos acontecimientos para orar por el pueblo de Israel.Gracias

Be proud of Russia!

Amazing how army dilutes an individuality of person in a pattern of uniforms.

Germans still build a good gun but, i rather fighter planes

Pic # 13
POPEYE ?!!!!

victory day for Russia was sad day for dozen of countries that Russia occupied days after WWII. Why no one is mentioning that Germany started war in ally with Russia and at that moment those two countries signed pact dividing Europe into two parts - one for Germans and one for Russians. War ended and it was true victory for Russia because at that moment they had not only defeated Germany but also had those countries that "belonged" to them by pact with Nazi. For next 50 years hundreds of millions of people in Europe were under Russian terror regime which sent millions of people to the labor/death camps in the Siberia. At the end of this regime in 1990 it had killed more people than Nazi Germany did - that is what this victory looks like. It is sad that history is being rewritten and that foreign press is helping them.

its completely stupid...
and amazingly beatiful...

Even after creation in the USA of atomic weapon their leading circles of soldieries continued to count entering of SSSR into war with Japan similarly desirable, as well as before. Therefore at Potsdamskoy conference, already after the receipt of Harry S. Truman report about the successful test of a-bomb, Americans still wished to get ot SSSR confirmations of the obligation in regard to war with Japan, fixed in the decisions of the Crimean conference

Russia is a great first space nation who lead others in science and space technology. Also they helped us win WWII which we should be thankful to them.

It's amazing to read the various 'takes' on history here in these comments. In fact, the USSR never invaded anybody (until egged on by Zbig Brzhiniski to take on Afghanistan), and Iran in its long history has not invaded anyone (again, it was the US who egged on Saddam Hussein to initiate the brutal nasty war against Iran), and neither did Vietnam attack anyone, nor did Iraq or Afghanistan--yet guess who the good ol' USA threw their whole military might against? US Marine Corps hero, Major-General Smedley Butler was right in saying that war was a racket, for the benefit of bankers.
Zemfira in Canada

Russian technology may not be the most elegant but when they do make something it does tend to be reliable, e.g. the AK47.
Russia is surrounded by countries that tends to drive their military policy into one dominated by defensive themes.
I seem to remember when I was doing some design work on the moonshot program in the 1960s that I used the mathematics of Timoshenko, the famous Russian mathematician.

Here the proof that Russia was, is and will ever be a common THIEF!

And you want your neighbors to LOVE you, Russia?
No Russia, we DESPISE you!

"During World War I, as Bucharest was occupied by Germany, the Romanian administration moved to Iași, and with them, the most valuable objects which belonged to the Romanian state. Fearing an eventual German victory, the Romanian government decided to send the Treasure abroad.

Among the ideas considered was to send it for safekeeping to the vaults of the Bank of England or even to send it to the United States, but there was the problem of transporting it there, since Germany and its allies controlled most of Central Europe and sending it via Northern Europe was dangerous, as the Germans could have intercepted it.

The decision had to be taken by the Romanian Prime Minister Ion I. C. Brătianu. Although the banker Mauriciu Blank advised him to send it to London or to a neutral country, such as Denmark, never trusting the Russians, Brătianu feared the German submarines of the North Sea and had chosen another ally of Romania in World War I, Russia, using the argument that "Russia would feel offended if we sent it to England".

[edit] Sending the Treasure
The Romanian government signed a deal with the Russian government which stated that Russia would safe keep the Romanian Treasure in the Kremlin until the end of the war.

At 3:00 AM during the night of December 14-15 1916, a train with 17 carriages, full of gold bars and gold coins (around 97 tonnes), departed the Iași train station eastward. In four other carriages, two hundred gendarmes guarded the train. The gold load of this train has as of 2005[update] a value of $1.25 billion.

Seven months later, in the summer of 1917, as the war situation was getting worse for Romania, another transport was sent to Moscow, containing the most precious objects of the Romanian state, including the archives of the Romanian Academy, many antique valuables, such as 3,500-year-old golden jewels found in Romania, ancient Dacian jewels, the jewels of the voivodes of Wallachia and Moldavia, as well as the jewels of the Romanian royalty, thousands of paintings, as well as precious cult objects owned by Romanian monasteries, such as 14th century icons and old Romanian manuscripts. It also contained various deposits of the Romanian people at the national banks. The value of this train is hard to estimate, especially because most of its contents are art objects, but most likely nowadays it could even surpass the value of the other train.

[edit] The Communist Revolution in Russia
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the new communist government of Russia refused to respect any treaty signed by the previous government. The Romanian government tried to recover the treasure in 1922, but with little success. In 1935, the USSR did return a small part of the archives, and in 1956 a part of the paintings and ancient objects, most notably, the Pietroasele treasure. The most important and valuable part (about 40 of the 42 carriages), however, was never returned.

All the governments of Romania since World War I, regardless of their political colour, have tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a return of the gold and of the culturally valuable objects,including the crimeajewel but at the same time, all Soviet and Russian governments have refused. The Russian side tried to bribe the Romanian government with it in exchange of Bessarabia [1]

[edit] The Treasure since 1917
Very little is known about the Treasure after the October Revolution, but it appears that during World War II all the valuables held by the Soviet state (and presumably of the Romanian state) were taken out from Moscow and sent toward the regions which were 'not endangered'. However, it is clear that they were not kept sealed, as the agreement with the Romanian government said, as the chests of the archives which were returned in 1935 had obviously been rummaged through and many objects and documents were missing.

[edit] Recent negotiations
After the fall of the USSR, the Russian governments' position toward the Romanian Treasure remained the same and various negotiations failed. The Romanian-Russian treaty of 2003 did not mention the Treasure; presidents Ion Iliescu and Vladimir Putin decided to create a commission to analyze this problem, but no advances were ever made.

If anybody deserves to celebrate the defeat of the Nazi Regime, it is Russia.

Short of the Japanese savagery against the Chinese, there were no more that suffered more than the Russians. Poorly equipped at times they kept their lines as good as they could.
Russians finally had the advantage of the cold weather and the T34 Tank that finally sent the Nazis into a retreat of death as most were ill equipped for the cold and their supply lines had long been cut off.

As were our soldiers a part of the "Greatest Generation so too were the Russian Soldiers and even civilians as they became a part of the mayhem without choice.
The Nazis thought of Russians as sub-human and the Russians greatly proved them wrong.
My heartfelt sympathies go to the remaining Russian public from that time as they suffered greatly.
May all the world respect all that fought and died during WWII, even if they were on the "other side" as they were soldiers too, just doing their jobs the best they could.

Lastly may their never be a WWIII as too much suffering has taken place.

Never forget the past lest you are doomed to repeat it.

Really, the ex-USSR and UK supported the heavy fight aginst Nazis- WW II

Maybe you people were robbed, but we were massacred by Russia, and 60 yrs later they still don't want to admit it.

TheEconomist:

FEW things symbolised the Soviet attitude to truth more than the Katyn massacre: having shot 20,000 Polish officers in cold blood, the Kremlin then blamed it on the Nazis. And few things symbolise better modern Russia's lingering clinch with the Soviet past than the failure by relatives of the victims to get justice from the Russian legal system.

Last month a court in Moscow rejected a request to hear a case on two issues: the declassification of documents about Katyn and the judicial rehabilitation of the victims. That was shocking (imagine a German court telling Holocaust survivors that Auschwitz files were a military secret). But the Katyn relatives want to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and for that other legal avenues must be exhausted first.

201 No Russia, we DESPISE you!
Speak for yorself, please.

Japp, they are still an imperialist state and they are mad now because nobody in Eastern Europe wants them arround. If you behave like a pig and a bastard, you cannot expect people to treat you otherwise.

And If YOU behave like a pig and a bastard, you cannot expect people to treat you otherwise, either.

wonderful pictures, Great soldiers, Great Nation.

Photos like these make me proud to be a Russian!!! We are untouchable! we might not have the strongest military in the world but the heart of the russian soldier is the biggest and strongest in the world, and that cant be defeated by any weapon. LONG LIVE RUSSIA AND YOUR SLAVIK NEIGHBORS!!! from Philly with love !!!

MY FATHER WAS A MILITARY TOO.AS A MATTER OF FACT HE WAS A PILOT OF THE BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE (FAB) AND TOOK PART IN WWII PATROLLING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.TO ME HE WAS A HEROE LIKE ALL THESE BRAVE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS !!!!

oh my go !!!
obviously some people are jealous. Guys if your diametrically oppossed to Russia why are you here ?

this isn't neccessarily a pro-war thing. I see it as a way to celebrate the win of a great villian . Hitler.

And yes. Stalin killed HIS OWN PEOPLE. You think today's governemnts are all innocent ? Please guys don't be so bloody naive.

Oh and by the way, most of these Russian boys aren't bad looking. I am surprised no one has picked up on this.

Hey guys! All governments in the world are liars! All history books are propaganda!
I just wanted to say that I'm russian. I live in Russia. And I don't want to kill or enslave somebody. I don't drink Vodka. I don't wear a fur hat and I have never saw a real bear. And all of my friends don't. I'm really sick of stereotypes made by western media.
And it's very sad to see how our governments making us an enemies.
Let's be friends, people. Let's ruin their plans!

It was real fun to read all those splutter Russophobian messages, some were really moronish and stupid (and laugh). A credit to US propaganda, brainwashing is on the fine level (but it also seems that it is a brain-flushing too). Live by your short-minded stereotypes, we don't give a sh*t.

Praise all the WWII (which is called 'Great Patriotic War' in Russia, and for a reason) heroes! We remember!

140: "nor does it remove the hundreds of thousands of rapes in Germany"

This is an odious lie. There were a minor number of such cases but as soon an incident was discovered the accused Soviet soldier was executed immediatedly. So there weren't many volunteers who whould rape someone knowing they'll be shot for that almost for sure.

A shame 2 brainwashed.
Respect 2 Nick, Mike, Stalin and others, who keep the truth.
Praise all the WWII heroes, RIP.

some of these Russiaphobic comments makes me laugh. Russia and Germany did not agree to split Europe between them (seriously, how dumb are people?)
Russia bore the brunt of the war. Most of the major victories were achieved on the Eastern Front and it was Russian victory on the Eastern Front that dealt the decisive blow to Germany. Russia was the one who captured Berlin. It was Russia who destroyed 75 percent of the Nazi Army. Its not easy for Americans to imagine the horror, despair and destruction Russians had to suffer. Afterall, America remained untouched by the physical scars of the war; America didn't loose over 20 million of its population.

We are celebrating Victory Day because Soviet nation win in this very very hard war, and saved freedom* for eastern europe.It is pride of Russia, Ukraine, Belorus, and others post-soviets countries.

Hi. Im saw a lot of sh*tly american films about russian, who drinking vodka by liters.....
In NEVER drinked vodka. It is just for big holiday, and not so many.

Why is it that Russia slaughters millions- literally millions, including their own that Stallin kept throwing at the Nazis- between 1940-1991, but they are still so quick to throw Vietnam in the American's face. The US made a huge mistake in Vietnam, but it is beans compared to the Russians in Poland, Afghanistan, etc... I'm not even American, but I know that much.

for poster # 153

sorry to burst your bubble I am a historian and sorry to say but living in amercia and learning in america is the worst thing a person can do for themselves or their children I was born and raised here I now live in Russia and things are far better over here Plenty of work if you are strong enough to work, good food, many comrades and good medical responses crime is lower than in america the, police are well armed and better trained sorry but your standard "My teacher told me so " attitude won't work....

Hail Soviet power

todd # 124 ... you are an idiot