Georgia is celebrating the 72nd anniversary of Victory Day when Nazi Germany surrendered to the allied forces to mark the end of the Second World War.
A surrender document was signed in Berlin, Germany in the late evening on May 8, 1945, which was early morning on May 9 in Eastern European time, which is why Victory Day is celebrated today in Georgia. Other countries in Western Europe mark the occasion annually on May 8.
In Tbilisi each year on this date WWII veterans, state officials and the general public gather at Vake Park to commemorate the day and lay wreaths at the memorial of the Unknown Soldiers who served in Georgia’s Armed Forces (GAF).
Latest Census data revealed 922 WWII veterans are still alive in Georgia. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Today was no different. From mid-morning people from all walks of life gathered at Vake Park to remember those who died and survived while serving their country.
Up to 700,000 Georgians served in WWII and nearly 400,000 died, according to the numbers released by the State Service of Veterans Affairs of Georgia.
Of these 700,000 people, 224,000 received different awards while 164 were given the title of hero.
Up to 700,000 Georgians served in WWII and nearly 400,000 died. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The latest Census data revealed that 922 WWII veterans are still alive in Georgia. Georgian authorities congratulated the veterans on today’s special occasion.
President Giorgi Margvelashvili gifted 140 lari medicine vouchers to all WWII veterans of Georgia.
Lasting from 1939 to 1945, WWII claimed the lives of 60 million people worldwide. Of these, 20 million were civilians. Seventy-two states or 80 percent of the planet population participated in it and military activities took place on the territory of 40 states.
May 9 is a public holiday in Georgia.