For many people, May 9 is a very important day. In the United States, it is important because it is Mother's Day. However, for many others, May 9 is significant for a different reason. May 9 marks Victory Day: the day that Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (Second Great War to Russians). For those of us born and raised in America, this may come as a surprise. The Germans surrendered to the Allied nations on May 7, not May 9. May 7 is what we commonly refer to as VE Day, or Victory in Europe. The reason the Germans did not surrender to the Soviet Union at the same time was because when the Germans surrendered on May 7, Joseph Stalin was frustrated with the lack of a Soviet envoy at the treaty-signing. Believing that the Soviet Union deserved more attention for bearing the brunt of Germany's attacks during World War II, Stalin insisted on having a Soviet-run ceremony for Germany's surrender a day and a half later. Thus, the former member states of the Soviet Union celebrate Victory Day on May 9.
Some related facts:
* The Soviet Union mobilized 20 million soldiers during the course of the war. In comparison, the United States and Germany each mobilized approximately 11 million soldiers, and Japan mobilized less than 8 million.
* Over 14 million of the Soviet Union's soldiers lost their lives during the conflict. Germany had the second highest military death toll at under 3 million.
* Although the data is inconclusive, rough estimates put Soviet civilian casualties from 7 to 14 million people. Only China can claim a comparable number, ranging from 7 to 16 million civilian lives lost during the war.
* Scholars from all over the world commonly consider the Soviet counteroffensive at the Battle of Stalingrad in November 1942 (corresponding to the Allied offensive in North Africa) to be the major turning point of World War II. Both the Soviets and the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Romania, and Hungary) lost approximately 1.1 million soldiers in that battle alone.
Sources:
1. World History Atlas, edited by Jeremy Black.
2. Encyclopedia Britannica, Battle of Stalingrad.
3. My Calculus teacher, born and raised in Soviet Russia.
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"May 9 marks Victory Day: the day that Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (Second Great War to Russians). For those of us born and raised in America, this may come as a surprise."
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about Victory Day. It's good the Soviet Union has its own distinction.
On a sad note, how many Americans do you think would be surprised to learn we were allies with the Soviet Union in World War II. I believe it's more than half.
I think Americans know a reasonable amount of WW II history. It's recent enough, and I believe usually covered in school. And no one can forget the scorched earth policy that the USSR employed: the images it raises are just too dramatic. That makes the USSR's overall role in the war more memorable.
ReplyDeleteBut perhaps I'm overly optimistic, considering the lack of basic literacy in the country.
I wish I had an encyclopedia Brittanica! I like that you cite your sources. I have this grand scheme for trying to keep our children from knowing the internet exists for as long as possible so that they will learn to use books. I'm nervous that we'll end up with an entire generation that thinks reading a one page "Wiki" entry on a topic means they know it. My scheme includes buying a paper encyclopedia set. (Although the encyclopedia will have an entry on the internet... Hmm...)
-- Devin
I don't doubt people know the Soviet Union was involved in World War II. I just think people assume, ya know, "Soviet Union, Stalin, they must have been part of the bad guys."
ReplyDeleteI think a generation of playing video games like Call of Duty 2 provides the most World War education kids get these days. Having played that game, though, I know that the Russians fought the Germans... I also know they had awesome sharpshooters and very little ammunition. :)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, video games. The great educator. I suppose this generation is good at military history and tactics after all.
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