On May 9, on the occasion of the 74th Anniversary of the Victory Day in Armenia, representatives of the administrative and professorial staff of YSUIB, students visited the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Representatives of Tavush Region, regional and city authorities, clergymen, soldiers of Ijevan military unit, schoolchildren, students and citizens laid flowers on the monument and paid tribute in memory of those that died during the war.
The RA National Anthem sounded at the memorial and a festive event took place.
Victory and Peace Day is a public holiday in Armenia.
May 9 in Armenia is celebrated as Victory and Peace Day. It is a day to celebrate and remember the victory over the Nazi forces that capitulated on May 8, 1945 during World War II.
Armenia participated in World War II as part of the Soviet Union. More than 500,000 Armenians fought alongside the Soviet Army, and nearly half of them died on the battlefield.
World War II started with the German occupation of Poland in September 1939, only to be ended after six years of a worldwide conflict. Armenians were part of the Soviet Red Army and participated in the Eastern Front of the conflict, in what is known as the Great Patriotic War. As the Allied forces entered Milan, Mussolini was caught, and he was eventually executed on April 28. Later on April 30, Hitler committed suicide as the Allies began to close in on Berlin.
German forces started to surrender all over Italy and Germany, culminating with the surrender of Nazi armies throughout Europe. Finally on May 7, General Alfred Jodl, Chief of Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command, signed the unconditional surrender of the German forces to the Allies. News of the surrender spread to the West on May 8, and celebrations began all over Europe.
In the Soviet Union, the end of the war was considered to be on May 9. As it was already May 9 in Moscow time when the surrender took place, the date has since been celebrated as Victory Day in all Soviet Republics. After the end of the Soviet Union, Armenia kept the same date for the countrywide celebration of Victory and Peace Day, a remembrance of the participation of Armenians in the Great Patriotic War.
Armenians on this day remember many of their ancestors that died during World War II on the Eastern Front as they fought for the Soviet Red Army against the German Nazis. Hundreds of war veterans, wearing their medals, pay tribute to fallen Armenians at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Yerevan’s Victory Park. In the park there is an eternal flame by which flowers are laid in memory of those that died during the war. Official ceremonies also take place at the same spot. Among the participants of the event are Armenia’s top officials and diplomats. The honoring of veterans continues during the day with concerts, which include both professional artists and amateurs.
The photos are available in the gallery.
