80 YEARS SINCE THE TRIUMPH OVER FASCISM: Belgrade Celebrates Victory Day, “Immortal Regiment” Marches Through the Capital!

Victory Day over Fascism is being celebrated today in Belgrade. The program will last until 7 PM, and the laying of wreaths in front of the Monument to Soviet War Veterans will begin shortly.

This morning, Prime Minister Đuro Macut laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero.

At 11 AM, the main program began with the laying of wreaths at the Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators.

At 1 PM, citizens will begin their walk to Republic Square, and traffic will be altered.

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Officials Lay Wreaths at the Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory Day over Fascism in World War II, the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brnabić, the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, and the Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandar Bocan Harčenko laid wreaths today at the “Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators” Memorial Complex.

Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the City of Belgrade, gathered citizens, including representatives of students who wish to learn and who have been staying in Pionirski Park since March 6th.

Officials, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps and numerous citizens, laid roses at the “Eternal Flame” monument within the same memorial complex, and then wreaths at the Monument to the Red Army Soldier.

The Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković also laid a wreath. Brnabić, Đurđević Stamenkovski, and Selaković then signed the memorial book.

A large number of citizens attended the Victory Day commemoration ceremony, and after the wreath-laying, they gathered in Ruzveltova Street, in front of the Memorial Complex, from where the “Immortal Regiment” march towards Republic Square will begin.

Victory Day is celebrated in memory of May 9, 1945, when Nazi Germany capitulated.

Participants of the Immortal Regiment March Proceed from the Cemetery of Liberators to Republic Square

Participants of the “Immortal Regiment” march today around 12 PM, after laying wreaths at the Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators, proceeded towards Republic Square.

At the head of the column were the Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković, the Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarović, the Minister of Family Welfare and Demography Jelena Žarić Kovačević, and the Russian Ambassador Aleksandar Bocan-Harčenko.

After the march, a concert program featuring artists from Serbia and guests from Russia is planned at Republic Square.

Citizens and members of Cossack associations in traditional costumes are also part of the procession.

The “Immortal Regiment” is an international civil-patriotic movement for the preservation of the memory of those who gave their lives in the fight against fascism in World War II.

The movement originated in Russia in 2014, and the idea quickly took hold and spread to other cities around the world.

Victory Day Around the World

Part of Europe and the world today celebrates Victory Day and the 80th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in World War II, while the countries of the European Union (EU) also celebrate Europe Day, marking the 75th anniversary of the declaration by which the former French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman called for the establishment of a new order among European countries.

The largest Victory Day celebration was organized today in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin will host the leaders of about twenty countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and from EU officials – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

World War II officially ended on May 9, 1945, with the capitulation of Nazi Germany, and that day is celebrated as Victory Day.

The unconditional surrender of Germany in Berlin was signed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Marshal Georgy Zhukov on behalf of the Soviet Union, and British Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder on behalf of the Western Allies.

About 60 countries, or about 110 million soldiers, participated in the war, and it is estimated that between 50 and 80 million people died, including 38 to 55 million civilians.

The State Commission of the former Yugoslavia once published that 1,706,000 people died, including more than 300,000 fighters.

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May 9th is also celebrated as Europe Day because on that date in 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman issued a declaration calling for the establishment of joint bodies and relations among European countries, primarily in the production and distribution of coal and steel.

The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community was founded, which evolved into the European Economic Community, and in 1991 in Maastricht, the European Union was proclaimed.