Victory Day

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People gathered in Whitehall to hear Winston Churchill's victory speech and celebrate Victory in Europe, 8 May 1945 Ve Day Celebrations in London, England, UK, 8 May 1945 D24587.jpg
People gathered in Whitehall to hear Winston Churchill's victory speech and celebrate Victory in Europe, 8 May 1945

Victory Day is a commonly used name for public holidays in various countries, where it commemorates a nation's triumph over a hostile force in a war or the liberation of a country from hostile occupation. In many cases, multiple countries may observe the same holiday, with the most prominent united celebrations occurring in states that comprised the Allies of World War II, celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Contents

List

¹ Countries celebrating the same Victory Day of the Soviet Union
² Countries celebrating the same Victory Day over Pakistan
³ Countries celebrating the same Victory in Europe Day of the Allies of World War II

StateHolidayDateObservedRelationshipRef.
Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan Mujahideen Victory Day 28 April1992–present Soviet–Afghan War [1]
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Victory Day of Algeria  [ ar ]19 March1962–present Algerian War [2]
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Victory Day¹9 May1995–present World War II [3]
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Victory Day 8 November2020–present 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War [4]
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Vijay Dibas²16 December1971–present Bangladesh Liberation War [5]
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Victory Day¹9 May1945–presentWorld War II [6]
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia–Herzegovina Victory Day¹9 MayWorld War II
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Victory over Japan Day 3 September1946–presentWorld War II [7] [8]
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day 5 August2003–present Croatian War of Independence [9]
Flag of France.svg  France Victory in Europe Day³8 May1945–presentWorld War II
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Võidupüha 23 June1934–1939; 1992–present Estonian War of Independence [10]
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Victory Day¹9 May1945–presentWorld War II
Flag of India.svg  India Vijay Diwas²16 December1972–present Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 [11]
Kargil Vijay Diwas 26 July2000–present Indo-Pakistani War of 1999 [12]
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Victory in Europe Day (Israeli)³9 May2018–presentWorld War II [13]
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Victory Day10 December2017–presentVictory over Daesh ISIS
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Victory Day¹9 May1945–presentWorld War II [14]
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan Victory Day¹9 May1945–presentWorld War II
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Victory Day 8 September Great Siege of Malta, French blockade, World War II [15]
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Victory Day¹9 May1945–presentWorld War II [16]
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Lusaka Accord Day 7 September1975–present Mozambican War of Independence [17]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Liberation Day 5 May1990–presentWorld War II
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War 27 July1973–present Korean War [18]
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Victory Day¹9 May1945–2014World War II [19]
Victory in Europe Day³8 May2015–presentWorld War II [19]
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Victory Day¹9 May1995–presentWorld War II[ citation needed ]
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Victory Day¹9 May1995–presentWorld War II[ citation needed ]
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Victory Day 18 May2010–2014 Sri Lankan Civil War [20]
Remembrance Day 18 May2015–presentSri Lankan Civil War [20]
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Victory Day 30 August1926–present Turkish War of Independence [21]
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Victory Day¹9 May1991–2015World War II [22]
Victory Day over Nazism in World War II 9 May2016–2023World War II [22]
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 8 May2023–presentWorld War II [22]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Victory in Europe Day³8 May1945–presentWorld War II[ citation needed ]
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Reunification Day 30 April1976–present Vietnam War [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remembrance Day</span> Day honouring military casualties of war

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterans Day</span> Federal holiday in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory in Europe Day</span> Public holiday commemorating the surrender of Nazi Germany (8 May 1945)

Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the official end of World War II in Europe in the Eastern Front, with the last known shots fired on 11 May. Russia and some former Soviet countries celebrate on 9 May, as Germany's unconditional surrender entered into force at 23:01 on 8 May Central European Time; this corresponded with 01:01 on 9 May in Moscow Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory Day (9 May)</span> Public holidays in Russia and ex-USSR

Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the 15 republics of the Soviet Union following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945. The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. Although the official inauguration occurred in 1945, the holiday became a non-labor day only in 1965, and only in certain Soviet republics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory over Japan Day</span> Effective end of World War II

Victory over Japan Day is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – 15 August 1945, in Japan, and because of time zone differences, 14 August 1945 – as well as to 2 September 1945, when the surrender document was signed, officially ending World War II.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces Day</span> National holidays honoring military forces

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory Day (Bangladesh)</span> National holiday in Bangladesh

Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh celebrated on 16 December to commemorate the defeat of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and the Independence of Bangladesh. It commemorates the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender, wherein the commander of the Pakistani Forces, General AAK Niazi, surrendered to the Mukti Bahini and their Indian allies, ending the nine-month Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 Bangladesh genocide and marking the official secession of East Pakistan to become the new state of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defender of the Fatherland Day</span> Holiday observed in several former Soviet republics

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a holiday observed in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is celebrated on 23 February, except in Kazakhstan, where it is celebrated on 7 May. Ukraine abolished the holiday starting 1992 and, after the Revolution of Dignity, has instated the somewhat similar Defender of Ukraine Day on 1 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mujahideen Victory Day</span> Political Afghan holiday

Mujahideen Victory Day is a political holiday observed in all parts of Afghanistan, falling on the 28 April each year. It commemorates the day when Mujahideen rebel forces overthrew the Communist government in 1992. It is celebrated mostly by former Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Some Afghans are against celebrating the day because it marks the start of civil war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kargil Vijay Diwas</span> Indian memorial day

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every 26 July in India, to observe India's victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War for ousting Pakistani Forces from their occupied positions on the mountain tops of Northern Kargil District in Ladakh in 1999. Initially, the Pakistani army denied their involvement in the war, claiming that it was caused by Kashmiri militants. However documents left behind by casualties, testimony of POWs and later statements by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf showed the involvement of Pakistani paramilitary forces, led by General Ashraf Rashid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National War Memorial (India)</span> Indian national monument dedicated to its armed forces

The National War Memorial is a war memorial in New Delhi, Delhi, India, located at India Gate Circle. It has been built to honour and remember soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who fought in armed conflicts of independent India. The names of armed forces personnel killed during the armed conflicts with Pakistan and China as well as the 1961 War in Goa, Operation Pawan, and other operations such as Operation Rakshak are inscribed on the memorial walls in golden letters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 China Victory Day Parade</span>

The 2015 China Victory Day parade was a military parade held along Chang'an Avenue, Beijing, on 3 September 2015 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day of World War II. The commemoration was the first high-profile military parade held to celebrate an occasion other than the National Day of the People's Republic of China. 12,000 troops of the People's Liberation Army participated in the parade, in addition to over 1,000 troops from 17 different countries, and about 850,000 "Citizen Guards" were mobilised to guard the city. Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping inspected the troops, Premier Li Keqiang was the master of ceremonies and General Song Puxuan was the chief commander of the parade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory Day Parades</span>

Victory Day parades are common military parades that are held on 9 May in some post-Soviet nations, primarily Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and formerly Ukraine. They are usually held to honor the traditional Victory Day holiday. In 2015, the Ukrainian government renamed the holiday as "Victory Day over Nazism in World War II" as part of decommunization laws and in 2023 moved the holiday to 8 May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory in Europe Day (Israel)</span> Israeli national holiday

Victory in Europe Day is an Israeli national day of remembrance celebrated annually on Victory Day, to commemorate the day when the Nazis signed the German Instrument of Surrender to the Allied Expeditionary Force and the Red Army, ending World War II in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Day of Remembrance and Sorrow</span>

The Day of Remembrance and Sorrow is a memorable date celebrated annually on 22 June in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. It honors the anniversary of Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. On 13 June. the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia declared that 22 June should be marked as the Remembrance Day for Defenders of the Fatherland. It was established by decree of President of Russia Boris Yeltsin on 8 June 1996.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence was an event, in which the 75th anniversary of the independence of India was celebrated in India and abroad. It was the 76th Independence Day of India.

References

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  4. "Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Administrasiyasının məlumatı". azertag.az (in Azerbaijani). 3 December 2020.
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  12. Bose, Joydeep (26 July 2021). "Kargil Vijay Diwas 2021: India to honour fallen heroes, 559 lamps lit in Ladakh". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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  15. "Victory Day 2022, 2023 and 2024". Public Holidays Global Pty Ltd. 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022.
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  19. 1 2 "Poland celebrates National Victory Day". Radio Poland. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Sri Lanka shift on civil war anniversary". BBC. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  21. "Turkey marks Victory Day as Erdoğan vows resistance against 'increasing threats'". Ankara: Hurriyet Daily News. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
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