Victory Day Megathread

[JoeySteel]

The radio address of Iosif Stalin on the 9th of May 1945

Comrades! Compatriots!

The great day of victory over Germany has come. Fascist Germany, brought to its knees by the Red Army and the troops of our allies, recognized itself defeated and declared unconditional surrender.

On May 7, a preliminary protocol of surrender was signed in the city of Reims. On May 8, representatives of the German High Command, in the presence of representatives of the Supreme Command of the Allied Forces and the Supreme Command of the Soviet Troops, signed in Berlin the final act of surrender, the execution of which began at 24 hours on May 8.

Knowing the wolfish habit of German bosses who consider contracts and agreements to be just a piece of paper, we have no reason to take their word for it. However, this morning, the German troops, in pursuance of the act of surrender, began to lay down their weapons en masse and surrender to our troops. This is no longer an empty piece of paper. This is the actual surrender of the German armed forces. However, one group of German troops in the area of Czechoslovakia is still evading surrender. But I hope that the Red Army will be able to bring it to its senses. ...

— Printed in “Pravda” on 10th of May 1945

[Charlotte]

[LeninsBow]

photo_2024-05-09_15-09-52.jpg (38.92 KiB) Viewed 341 times

[LeninsBow]

"Victory", 1948

Artist / Pyotr Aleksandrovich Krivonogov
(1910–1967)