09.05.2014.

Marking the Day of Victory over Fascism

On the occasion of 9th May – the Victory Day over fascism in the Second World War, Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia, accompanied by Bratislav Gasic, Minister of Defence and General Ljubisa Dikovic, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on the Avala mountain.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic wrote in the memorial book: "Our gratitude for the freedom of Serbia and victory over fascism that you shed your blood for is eternal. We are leading Serbia of today in such a way that its freedom should never require blood of its children again. Thank you!"

The delegation of the Serbian Armed Forces, led by Colonel Cedomir Milojevic, laid a wreath on the monument to Russian war veterans.

Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Issues, laid a wreath at the Monument to the Liberators of Belgrade and Monument to the Red Army soldier. With the military and state honours, wreaths were also laid by delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, led by Major General Mitar Kovac, as well as representatives of the Republic Committee of SUBNOR (Union of Associations of Veterans of People's Liberation War), City of Belgrade, Embassies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Azerbaijan.

In Berlin, on 9 May 1945. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the instrument of unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, which formally ended the Second World War.

The war that lasted a little less than six years involved 61 countries and about 110 million soldiers. Between 55 and 60 million people were killed, and approximately 35 million were injured.