Russian Consulate in Cape Town

🗓 On November 7, 1941, the historic military parade took place on the Red Square in Moscow marking the 24th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. The parade was organised and held, when the Nazi forces were already approaching the Soviet capital — at the time an unthinkable endeavour. Not only was it a defiance of Hitler's war machine and inhumane regime, but a testament to the unbending will of the Soviet people, the parade showed the Red Army soldiers and officers’ resilience and determination. The march involved some 28'500 servicemen, as well as 140 artillery pieces, 160 tanks, and 232 vehicles. From the Red Square, Soviet soldiers and officers headed directly to the front, ready to defend their Motherland from the Nazis no matter the hardships and seemingly improbable odds. The military parade became a symbol of the Soviet people’s fortitude and courage, inspired them in their fight against German aggression. It bolstered the USSR’s international prestige and strengthened the Allied coalition. ⚔️ A month later, the “invincible” Wehrmacht suffered its first major defeat, and Hitler’s ambitious blitzkrieg plan against the Soviet Union was thwarted. In 2004, a federal law was passed designating November 7 as a Day of Military Glory in Russia in honour of the Red Square military parade. Ever since, festive concerts and exhibitions commemorating this event have been held annually across the country. #Victory79

🗓 On October 14, 1943, the only successful mass uprising in the Nazi death camp took place in Sobibor. Red Army Lieutenant Alexander Pechersky, a prisoner himself, led the inmates to their successful escape. 🕯 Sobibor was one of the death camps created exclusively for the extermination of people the Nazis considered inferior. At Sobibor, 250,000 people were mercilessly gassed or shot . Prisoners were tortured, starved and subjected to medical experiments. The victims were predominantly Polish Jews, though many were brought from Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands. At the time of the uprising, there were approximately 550 prisoners in the camp. They considered the arrival of the Soviet prisoners of war, including Alexander Pechersky, as a source of inspiration. One of the survivors, Kalmen Wewryk, later wrote in his memoirs: They had combat experience and knew everything there was to know about rifles, bullets, etc. They did not hesitate to engage in close combat. Pechersky literally exuded authority and confidence. Although many perished in the attempt, 300 prisoners managed to escape. Unfortunately, Polish peasants turned most of them in to the Nazis, whereupon the Ukrainian collaborationists executed them by firing squad. The Sobibor case formed part of the charges against Nazi criminals at the Nuremberg Trials, and the accounts of eyewitnesses and participants in the uprising have become the basis of numerous books and several feature films. #Victory79#WeRemember