09.05.2013.
Marking the Day of Victory over fascism
By laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Hero on Avala and in front of the cemetery to the Liberators of Belgrade, Serbia, in the presence of officials, representatives of embassies of allied soldiers, citizens, students, 9 May - the Day of Victory over fascism in World War II was marked in Serbia today.Paying homage to the victors in World War II, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on Avala. On that occasion, he wrote the following words in the memorial book: "If you were able to win the unscrupulous army of Hitler's Germany, then we can enable a better life for those for whose freedom you have given life. Anyone in Serbia who makes decision about the country and people should do their work his eyes fixed on Avala monument that is dedicated to you. May you rest in glory and thank you.
The central state ceremony was led by the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Zarko Obradovic. With state and military honors, wreaths in front of the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade were laid by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Army of Serbia, the Republic Board SUBNOR, City of Belgrade, as well as the embassies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, France, the United States and Great Britain to Serbia.
1,395 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army were laid to rest here together with 818 soldiers of the Red Army, and the Minister Obradovic after laying a wreath and entered in a book of remembrance, said that Victory Day is an opportunity to remember that Serbia was then part of Yugoslavia as part of fight against the greatest evil of the 20th century - fascism.
In Berlin shortly after midnight between the 8th May and the first minutes of 9th May in 1945 an unconditional surrender of the Nazi Germany was signed. On behalf of the German Act signed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, on behalf of Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov, on behalf of the Western allies, the British Air Force General Arthur Teder. This formally ended the World War II in Europe, but the remains of the German troops were resisting attacks including Yugoslavia (until May 15).In WWII war, which lasted less than six years, 61 countries and about 110 million soldiers participated with the death toll of . 55 and 60 million people, and approximately 35 million were injured.
Accurate data about victims, especially in the former Yugoslavia, have never been identified. State commission of the former Yugoslavia issued a fact that a total of 1.706 million people, including more than 300,000 veterans had been killed.
That date - 9 of May is Europe Day, as modern Europe is founded on the principles of struggle against Nazism and Fascism, on the principles of peace, understanding, tolerance and cooperation.
