How the parade in honor of the USSR’s victory over Japan was held (PHOTO)
“A sea of flowers, thousands of slogans in Russian, Chinese and Korean, glorifying the greatness and valor of the Red Army soldiers and their commander, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union I. V. Stalin. [The city of] Harbin had never seen or known such a huge crowd of people, such a celebration,” is how a ‘TASS’ news correspondent described the parade of Soviet troops dedicated to the defeat of Japan.
The parade took place on September 16 in Harbin in northeastern China. For unknown reasons, Stalin decided not to hold it on Soviet territory.
It was commanded by Artillery General Konstantin Kazakov and received by General Afanasy Beloborodov. Both of them had taken part in the military operations against Japan’s Kwantung Army in Manchuria.
Initially, the parade was to be reviewed by Marshal Alexander Vasilevsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East, but he was urgently summoned to Moscow.
Soldiers from two rifle divisions marched ceremoniously through the city streets, followed by motorized units and artillery. “The appearance of the legendary Katyusha Guards mortars on the square, rustling along the pavement in two parallel streams, caused a storm of emotions among those gathered,” the newspapers wrote.
“A T-34 tank under the command of the famous tank unit commander [FIRST NAME] Onishchik rushes at full speed. It was his armored vehicles that were the first to pave the way through the impassable Manchurian taiga, overtake the Japanese columns and crush them.”
Soviet officials, representatives of the government of the Republic of China and officers of the North-Eastern Anti-Japanese United Army observed the passage of troops and equipment. This partisan task force had been fighting against the invaders in Manchuria for many years, receiving comprehensive assistance from the USSR.
Overall, the parade lasted two hours. After it, an impromptu demonstration of city residents took place along the streets of Harbin.