Victory Day Parade in Russia

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:03 am

Many may have already seen the news reports. This marks the first time that NATO troops have been invited to participate in the Russian's big Victory Day military parade in Moscow.

For those who are interested, there are some nice pics on the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8670692.stm

Brits (in redcoats and bearskins), French, Americans, even Poles marching past the Kremlin walls. Rather remarkable, really.

And for those who crave more photos of the Russian military kit, here are some of the Victory Day parades outside of Moscow.

First, in Kharbakov, with some old WW2 tanks (T-34-85, JS-III, and JSU-152 leading the parade), and some great pics of the camo on current Russian kit:
http://svinchukov.livejournal.com/90274.html

Then in Murmansk, with a parade of Russian naval craft:
http://mu-rena.livejournal.com/349592.html

And finally, from Volgograd (ex-Stalingrad). Now as we go round and round arguing about the figures we want GHQ to make next in the next pack, I vote for some of THESE figures! Never saw a Pilotka (Russian army side-cap) look so good.

http://community.livejournal.com/volgograd/570529.html

Apachex · Post by **Apachex** » Tue May 11, 2010 11:52 pm

I would have sent a Cav unit, just for the Stetsons.....

That said, looking over the pictures I am still surprised by how much 70's and 80's era equipment that was on display. One of the photos shos a section of 2S3s leading a group of 2s19s. Did the Moscow parade have all the fancy stuff?

Any new pieces of armor rolled out? I've heard the 2s25 Sprut has been cancelled, was it still there?

jb · Post by jb » Wed May 12, 2010 5:22 am

Youtube of the 2010 parade
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bxPAdmlZCHI

The following is of the vehicles
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JgFjG5Ith1Y&feature=related

fredjg · Post by **fredjg** » Wed May 12, 2010 7:07 am

I was more impressed with the T-34s and SU-100s, a dozen and a half in total - and running.

Apachex · Post by **Apachex** » Thu May 13, 2010 1:52 am

The T-34s were a welcome treat.

Is the camoflage pattern on the vehicles the new Russian standard? Has anybody founf a good match using Ral Partha or Poly-S for the Green, Tan and Black?

WHM · Post by **WHM** » Thu May 13, 2010 3:33 am

Frankly I don't think there is anything wrong with the U.S. Army beret. if anything it fits in with current military "fashion" around the world.

If there any uniforms that need work its those Russian navy officers hats!! They look very over sized.

As for the Brits, if the decision had been mine I would have sent highlanders, but that's just me.

Panzerleader71 · Post by **Panzerleader71** » Thu May 13, 2010 5:06 am

Personally, I have never liked the beret as military head gear. I think the forage cap looks much sharper.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Thu May 13, 2010 6:30 am

beret.... drop it....

I appreciate that you linked the photos, thank you.

TAMMY · Post by **TAMMY** » Thu May 13, 2010 6:01 pm

As for the Brits, if the decision had been mine I would have sent highlanders, but that's just me.

[/quote]

The Brits on parade were Irish Guards. If they had brought their own band you would have seen kilt albeit of more brilliant colours than the highlanders[/quote]

BattlerBritain · Post by **BattlerBritain** » Thu May 13, 2010 6:33 pm

I thought it was the Welsh Guards on Parade.

Whatever, a bit of red and topped off with Bearskins was just the ticket for this occassion I think.

Nice to be invited

TAMMY · Post by **TAMMY** » Thu May 13, 2010 8:15 pm

You are right: Welsh Guards (they have five buttons groups not four as I counted).

The old style uniform is very elegant, but I think the best one was the cavalry officer in white and green. A bit of Napoleonic atmosphere, except for the cap.

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Wed May 19, 2010 12:17 am

If anyone is interested in some pictures of the first "Victory Day Parade", here is an end-of-war collection from one of the leading Soviet WW2 wartime photo correspondants. About 3/4ths of the way down you'll find the Red Square May 1945 Victory Parade:

http://botinok.co.il/node/58913

It is an amazing collection of photos for those who are interested in WW2 history. You'll see pictures of Stalin, Truman, Churchill, de Gualle, Eisenhower, Montgomery, and Zhukov. Also T-34s, T-34-85s, JS-2s, SU-76s and -100s, ISU-152s, Shermans, Valentines, halftracks, etc etc. in Vienna and Berlin in 1945. Also some sea-side images -- naval craft and sailors, maybe Sevastapol in 1944, maybe the Balkan coast. All of the text is in Russian, and I don't read Russian, so I can't say much more.

But ...
CAUTION: The death and destruction of war are shown. Dead bodies and human body parts are pictured.

It is all in black-and-white, but some of the pictures are gruesome.

TAMMY · Post by **TAMMY** » Wed May 19, 2010 5:30 pm

Really interesting and sometimes surprising.

I was surprised by the photographs pf the homages to the tombs of Strauss and Beethoven quite far from the common image of the Soviet soldiers in WWII.

Moreover in the posts at the end there are some interesting photographs and two short films on the Arab Legion in German service on the eastern front.