Moscow Celebrates Anniversary of 1941 Siege Parade

A military parade on Red Square in Moscow was held on November 7, 2013, to mark the 72nd anniversary of a parade that took place in the besieged capital.

Over 6,000 people participated in celebrations to mark anniversary of the 1941 parade of Soviet troops on Red Square.

The parade was held in 1941 on the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution to boost morale among the Soviet troops as they fought to keep the invading Nazi forces at bay.

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had planned to march his Wermacht troops onto the Red Square on that day. That is why the parade is believed to have had such potent symbolic impact on the outcome of the war.
In the photo: The military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of the parade on Red Square on November 7, 1941.

Immediately after the 1941 parade on the Red Square, the troops went to the front, which was at that time located only a few kilometers from Moscow.

Parade participants wearing Red Army uniforms in the style worn by troops fighting in World War II.

Parade participants dressed in WWII uniforms marching past red stars and anti-tank obstacle.

Parade participants riding a tank as part of a ceremony to mark the 72nd anniversary of the 1941 parade on Red Square.

A parade participant wearing a World War II-era Soviet army uniform standing on the Red Square.