World War II: 75th anniversary of the 'Great Victory'

May 08, 2020

This greatest conflict is better known as the Great Patriotic War (June 22, 1941 – May 9, 1945) in the Russian Federation and some other states.

By H.E. Alexander Polyakov

This year the international community celebrates the end of the biggest and deadliest war in its history - World War II. At that time, the anti-Hitler coalition better known as the United Nations (the USSR, the US, the UK and their allies) defeated the so-called Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, militarist Japan as well as fascist Italy). Uganda, as part of the British Empire in those days, also sacrificed its "sons" on the altar for the common victory. Moreover, many famous Ugandans participated in various theatres of war like late President (1985 1986) Tito Lutwa Okello who heroically fought in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and took part in several battles of the East African Campaign after he had joined the King`s African Rifles in 1940.

This greatest conflict is better known as the Great Patriotic War (June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945) in the Russian Federation and some other states, which were established after the breakup of the USSR, due to the fact that the Soviet army participated in the most important and pitched battles costing more than 27 millions of lives of servicemen and civilians. Therefore, every year we commemorate this sacred victory on May 9, which has become a Russian national holiday, both sad and solemn, and is commonly recognized as a Day of the Great Victory.

On the very day, several large events are held all across the cities of Russia and formers states of the USSR including the annual Victory Day Parade as well as the Immortal Regiment Parade when ordinary Russian people march the central streets of the Russian cities with portraits of relatives who fought in World War II to commemorate them. By the way, this year the Embassy together with the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Uganda, the Association of the Soviet and Russian alumni "Soyuz-Online" as well as the Uganda Ex-Servicemen Association plans to hold the same event at in Uganda after the COVID 19 will be contained and our life will be back to normal.

I understand that the topic of war does not echo in the souls of the majority of Ugandans because very few witnesses, who can give a truthful account of those bygone events, are still alive. However, it is very important to remember and bear in mind that "terrible slaughter" so that it will not happen again. On this account, H.E. President Yoweri Museveni sets an example even for the Russian people when he always amazes us with his deep knowledge of the history of the Great Patriotic War and World War II.

In my opinion, we can take one main lesson from those tragic but significant events: if the humankind wants to survive and further develop, it should learn to overcome even seeming irreconcilable contradictions and unite efforts for the sake of our common wellbeing. Only then, the current fight against the threatening invisible enemy - the coronavirus (COVID-19), which is considered by some world leaders as the war - will end in the victory of life over death!

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uganda H.E. Alexander Polyakov

 

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