On this day 82 years ago, the lives of almost 200 million people were divided into “before and after” – the Great Patriotic War began.

Despite the fact that the date was remembered throughout the Soviet period (the song written in the first week of the war “The 22^d of June, at four o’clock”, 1941. Words by the poet Boris Kovinev, music by Jerzy Petersburski), it acquired the status of a memorable date only in the post-Soviet era. Until perestroika, the authorities tried not to recall officially this Day, not to grieve the painful memories of their compatriots. However, to the 2025 Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, the date has approached with its own history, which began already in the post-Soviet Russia. It is noteworthy that the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow had been called Defenders of the Motherland Day since 1992 by decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation. A few years later, on June 8, 1996, a decree of the President officially declared this date – The Day of Remembrance and Sorrow in the Russian Federation. On this day, memorial ceremonies and various patriotic events are held all over the country, national banners are flied at half-mast and wreaths are laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and to the Eternal Flame site in Moscow and other Russian cities.

On this day, we bow our heads front of all those who died in the deadly battle with the enemy, the generation of Soviet people who defeated the enemy and gave us the future. After the victory of the Soviet people in World War II, which became the Great Patriotic War for our people, Victory Day is the most desired and at the same time the saddest holiday. As the song of the same name says, "this is a holiday with tears in the eyes."

In honour of this event, 80 years ago, on June 24, 1945, the first Victory Parade was held on Red Square in Moscow. General Konstantin Rokossovsky commanded the parade, and Georgy Zhukov, the legendary Victory Marshal, reviewed the parade. More than forty thousand servicemen marched along the cobblestones of Red Square, and captured military equipment was demonstrated. Throwing of captured German banners and Heraldic flags onto special platforms at the foot of the Mausoleum became the central event of the parade.

The 1945^th Victory Parade in Moscow was of great historical significance, marking the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany and the end of the Great Patriotic War. The parade became a symbol of heroism, patriotism, and triumph of the Soviet people, as well as an important milestone in the country's history.

Musical selection "Melodies of the War Years" is posted in the museum Sound Library.
Online exhibition of sculptures dated the second half of the 1940s – the 1960s, dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War, is available on the museum website.