La Marcha de los Inmortales

Las primeras noticias hablaban de cuatro millones. Parece que fueron doce. Doce millones de hijos, nietos y bisnietos cargando con los retratos y medallas de padres, abuelos y bisabuelos (los Inmortales, los que pelearon, y mayormente murieron, en la II Guerra Mundial). Doce millones de  personas participando en la “Marcha de los Inmortales” por las calles de 1.100 (mil cien) ciudades rusas. Posiblemente, una de las mayores movilizaciones que registre la historia humana reciente. ¿Occidente? Bien, gracias. 

Así lo contaba ayer Alexei Druzhinin para Sputnik:


Título: 12 Million Took Part in 'Immortal Regiment' Marches Across Russia

Subtítulo: Massive phenomena in Russia, little known in the west

Texto: The march of the Immortal Regiment is a public event held on Victory Day. It is a march of people carrying portraits of their relatives who fought during the Great Patriotic War. The march commemorates the victory over Nazism and is held in Russia and many countries abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin headed the Immortal Regiment march in Red Square in Moscow. He walked shoulder to shoulder with many thousands of other Russians. The president carried a picture of his father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, who defended his Motherland from the Nazis. 

Above: Vladimir Putin, center, holding a portrait of his father participates in the march of the Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization in Red Square.

In an interview to a Russian magazine published on April 30, the Russian president told the history of his family during the war. His father was conscripted to the army in Sevastopol as a sailor in a submarine unit. When the war broke out Putin’s father worked at a military factory and could not be sent to war. However, he filed an application for military service, and he was sent to an NKVD special unit. He was injured during one of special operations.

Above: Participants in the march of the Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization in Red Square.

The Immortal Regiment public march is held on Victory Day in Russia and many other countries. According to organizers, this year nearly 12 million people across Russia took part in the campaign.

Above: A participant in the march of the Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization in Red Square.

Journalists of the international information agency Rossiya Segodnya (above) also participated in the Immortal Regiment march in Moscow.

Russians of all ages – from children to elderly persons – marched under the banners of the Immortal Regiment.

Above: The Immortal Regiment march in Moscow on Victory Day.

This year, the event was held in more than 15 countries to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazism during the Great Patriotic War.

Above: Participants of the Immortal Regiment march in Novosibirsk.

In Russia alone, the Immortal Regiment event was held in more than 1,100 cities and locations. 

Above: Participants in the Immortal Regiment march during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War.

In Simferopol, thousands of residents took part in a commemorative parade, including the Immortal Regiment, a prosecutor battalion led by Crimean Prosecutor General Natalia Poklonskaya, veterans of the Afghan War, Crimean militia fighters and a Cossack cadet corps.

Above: Crimean Procurator Natalya Poklonskaya (second left in the first row) takes part in the Immortal Regiment rally in Simferopol to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War.

In Rostov-on-Don thousands of residents took to the streets to commemorate the memory of those who defended the country during the Great Patriotic War.

Above: Participants in the Immortal Regiment march in Rostov-on-Don.

In Moscow, journalists of the international information agency Rossiya Segodnya (above) paid tribute to the memory of those who fought for their country during the war.

In 2013, the event was held in 120 Russian cities. In 2014, the Immortal Regiment marched through 500 Russian cities and in seven foreign countries.

Above: March of Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization in Red Square.

The number of participants in the Immortal Regiment march in Moscow was over 500,000 people, according to the police.

Above: Participants during the march of the Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization.

The march was held in the city of Tomsk for the first time in 2012. It involved over 6,000 people who carried 2,000 pictures of those who fought in the Great Patriotic War.

Above: A veteran of the Great Patriotic War during the march of the Immortal Regiment Moscow regional patriotic public organization in Red Square.

On May 9, Russia commemorated the victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. It lasted for nearly four years and became the largest and bloodiest military conflict in human history.