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Subject: Victory Day
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Valery Garbuzov

Doctor of History, RIAC member

Among the memorable dates observed in the United States are those associated with World War II: May 8 – Victory in Europe Day; June 6 – D-Day in memory of the Normandy landings in France; September 2 – Victory over Japan Day; December 7 – National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Among the memorable dates observed in the United States are those associated with World War II: May 8 – Victory in Europe Day; June 6 – D-Day in memory of the Normandy landings in France; September 2 – Victory over Japan Day; December 7 – National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

We see that there are two Victory Days in this list. The attitude of Americans towards the history of the Second World War is quite specific. This is due to the fact that there were no military actions on the territory of the United States itself. In contrast to Europe and the Soviet Union, the country was neither occupied, nor ravaged, nor destroyed. Sixteen million Americans fought on the various fronts of the Second World War outside the North and South American continents. Therefore, the Americans do not have a tradition of holding large celebrations on May 8 – Victory Day over Nazi Germany – as are held in Europe and in the past in the Soviet Union, as well as now in contemporary Russia.

The other Victory Day, September 2, when Japan signed the act of surrender that put an end to the Second World War, is much more important for Americans. Despite the fact that between 1939-1945, Nazi Germany posed the main threat to the world, the main military enemy for the US during these years was not Germany, but Japan. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941 led to the declaration of war on Japan by the US Senate and the country's entry into World War II.

The other Victory Day, September 2, when Japan signed the act of surrender that put an end to the Second World War, is much more important for Americans.

Therefore, the official Victory Day (September 2) was once a federal holiday in the United States from 1948 to 1975, and continues to be celebrated in a number of states even today.

It should be noted that most Americans are not aware of the scope of the losses suffered by the Soviet Union in the war and have shown interest only in the issues related to the history of their own country. However, of course, this does not mean that American society and the state as a whole are indifferent to the events that took place 70 years ago.

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In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the World War II Memorial Act into law, establishing a monument in Washington in memory of the 405,000 American deaths that the US suffered. In May 2004 during the presidency of George W. Bush, a majestic monument was unveiled, designed by American architect Friedrich St. Florian to sit on the National Mall of the US capital between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The National World War II Memorial consists of two triumphal arches (erected in honor of the victories of the American fleet in the Pacific and the Atlantic) and 56 pillars (the number of states and territories), each 5 m tall; the pillars, crowned with laurel wreaths, surround a Rainbow pool with two fountains. This Memorial has become a symbol of the unity of the country during the Second World War.

The Freedom Wall is the center of the memorable composition, studded with four thousand gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war.

It should be noted that most Americans are not aware of the scope of the losses suffered by the Soviet Union in the war and have shown interest only in the issues related to the history of their own country.

This memorial constructed with money ($181 million) raised from ordinary citizens (and this is saying a lot) and money provided by the U.S. Federal Government ($16 million), is today one of the most visited memorial sites in the US capital, shaping the historical consciousness of future generations.

The memory of hard times in the history of the world is maintained in the United States today too. Meetings of veterans, conferences and other commemorative events are held on the eve of the Victory Day anniversary in different cities and towns of the country. To honor veterans on the 70th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day, a large formation of WWII aircraft will fly over the National Mall in Washington.

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