Victory Parade on June 22, 1945 became a magnificent epilogue of the Great Patriotic War. Unfolding on Red Square, this powerful celebration showed all the might and bravery of the Soviet army and state. The combined regiments one by one were solemnly marching along the
As the parade was unfolding, the combined military band featuring 1400 musicians and led by Major General Semyon Chernetskiy stepped in the middle of the square and ‘Be Glorious, Russian People’ struck up.
Army General Sergey Shtemenko once noted “It was the biggest military parade in the history of the Soviet armed forces. Along its 800 years of history Red Square has never welcomed such a great event”.
The Great Patriotic War has deeply influenced the evolvement of military music both in the Soviet Union and in Russia. It found reflection in the work of military bands and composers. Music had never left the Army while military musicians made a great contribution in destroying the Nazi occupants and bringing the victory closer.