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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms sit in the back of a truck as the St. Basil's Cathedral is reflected in the windshield prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform sit in the back of a GAZ AA during the Nov. 7 parade, with St. Basil Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms prepare to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms sit in the back of a Soviet made ZIS-5 truck as the the Spasskaya Tower is reflected in the windshield prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Spectators with Russian national and Red flags watch as Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers march along Red Square during the Victory parade carrying the Victory in the WWII Flag during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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People walk around a WWII style legendary Soviet tank T-34 after the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian girl-cadets march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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A volunteer dressed in a Red Army World War II uniform sits atop of a tachanka a horse-drawn machine gun, during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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A fuel trail from a jet is seen during a sunrise over Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia marks anniversary of 1941 military parade

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 2:14 PM ET May. 09, 2019

MOSCOW (AP) — Thousands of troops in World War II uniform marched across Moscow's Red Square on Wednesday in a re-enactment of a historic wartime parade.

On Nov. 7, 1941, Red Army soldiers marched directly to the front line during the Battle of Moscow to repel the invading Nazi forces closing in on the Soviet capital.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the 1941 parade was "a symbol of courage and faith," paving way for "the first difficult step toward victory over the Nazis."

The Nazis closed in on Moscow in early October 1941 after quickly seizing huge chunks of Soviet territory and inflicting huge losses to the Red Army after invading the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. In some sectors at the front, Nazi troops came as close as 30 kilometers (20 miles) to the Russian capital.

But the Nazi offensive lost its momentum in mid-October as it faced adverse weather and logistics challenges, allowing the Soviet command to bring in reinforcements and strengthen the city's defenses.

As the fate of Moscow was still hanging in the balance, Soviet leader Josef Stalin ordered the Nov. 7 parade to boost the troops' morale. The parade has acquired a major symbolic significance, becoming a show of Soviet determination and resolve.

The Battle of Moscow marked the first time since the start of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union when the Red Army managed to stop the advancing Nazi forces and drive them back. It was the first major Nazi defeat since the start of World War II.

Wednesday's re-enactment featured about 5,000 troops in period uniforms, vintage T-34 tanks and other WW II weapons.

During Soviet times, annual military parades were held on Nov. 7 to commemorate the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. The holiday was abolished in 2005, but many older Russians still celebrate it.

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