The Heat discusses Victory Day

The Heat

May 9th 1945: Victory Day in Moscow. Russian soldiers receive a heroes’ welcome, after defeating Nazi Germany to end the Second World War in Europe. A ceremonial parade follows in Red Square with thousands of soldiers and military hardware. And on this 70th Anniversary, Russian President Vladimir Putin is promising an even bigger celebration.

On Saturday, dozens of Russian military aircraft will fill the skies and some 16-thousand troops will march through Red Square in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The victory of the “Great Patriotic War,” also known as World War II, came with a heavy price. More than 20-million, with some estimates as high as 27 million Soviet soldiers and civilians died in the war. Leaders from 25 countries including China and India will be in Moscow Saturday for the Victory Day Parade.

CCTV’s Stephanie Freid provided this report from Moscow.

The Heat began its discussion with these experts:

  • Nikolai Zlobin is a Russian scholar and the President of the Center on Global Interests, a research organization here in Washington, D.C
  • From Kiev, Jochen Hellbeck. He’s a Professor of History at Rutgers University and the author of “Stalingrad: The City that Defeated the Third Reich.”
  • The Heat continued its discussion on the 70th Anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The panel was joined by Mary Dejevsky a columnist with The Independent of London.