![]() ![]() The Russian leader has historically led the annual military parade on Red Square with displays of military hardware including tanks, missiles, and other weapons systems, before a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall, to honor the memory of those who perished in the battles. Victory Day is the most significant day of Putin’s calendar, as he has long used it to rally public support, demonstrate the country’s military prowess and rail against the historical injustices he perceives Western nations have heaped on his nation. Thousands of people lined the streets of Moscow’s Red Square as part of Russia’s annual parade, an exhibition of patriotism marking the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. They looked to Europe for new citizens, including many who had been displaced by the war and were living in camps, and a great wave of post-war migration began.Russian President Vladimir Putin led a pared-down Victory Day parade in Moscow on Tuesday as he repeated his false assertion that the West had launched a “true war” against Russia, despite the Kremlin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, Australian governments had favoured migration from Britain, but now they could not be so selective. Australians were encouraged to start families and immigration quotas were increased. The government believed that Australia’s population (around 7 million at the start of the war) was too small to be able to defend the country in the event of another war. Families had to share houses, and returning servicemen often had to move in with relatives. Bricks were almost impossible to obtain because of the wartime labour shortage. Housing construction had almost ceased during the five war years. Before the war, the 1930s had been a period of economic depression and few houses were built. There was a critical shortage of housing. The war had also made many wives into widows, and the government had to help them financially. Thousands of men would be returning to Australia, needing new jobs and re-training. Now they could return to making the things people wanted and needed in peacetime. Business and industry had been forced to concentrate on what was needed for the war effort. The government had already begun to plan for the rebuilding of the country and the economy. Australian sailors joined in helping them parade a ceremonial dragon. Melbourne’s Chinese community called it ‘VC Day’ for ‘Victory in China’ and set off fireworks. Crowds gathered in the streets, and strangers danced together. Authorities were concerned that celebrations not get out of hand, and pubs were closed on the holiday, as they had been on VE Day. ![]() In Australia, Thursday 16 August was celebrated as ‘Victory in the Pacific’ or ‘VP Day’. The Emperor of Japan announced his country's surrender on 15 August. The use of these weapons brought the end of the war in the Pacific. America dropped two newly developed atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, with colossal destruction and loss of life. Japanese soldiers and civilians were preparing for a last-ditch defence of their mainland. What Australians called 'VP Day' (victory in the Pacific) was called 'VJ Day' by the Americans (victory over Japan). For example, meat rationing continued in Australia until 1948. This limited the amount of something that any one person could obtain. During the war, shortages of many supplies such as food and petrol had been controlled by rationing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |