Days of remembrance and reconciliation dedicated to those killed in World War II (08/05)

On November 24, 2004, the UN General Assembly, by its resolution № A/RES/59/26, proclaimed May 8 and 9 as Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation.

Recognizing that Member States can have their own Days of Victory, Liberation and Celebration, the UN invited all Member States, United Nations organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals to annually commemorate one or both of these days accordingly as a tribute to all victims of the Second World War.

The Assembly emphasized that this historic event created the conditions for a United Nations agency designed to save future generations from the scourge of war and called on UN member states to join forces in the fight against new challenges and do everything possible to resolve all disputes through peaceful means and in such a way as not to jeopardize international peace and security.

Excerpt from the speech of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN A.I. Denisova:

«We are proud that the peoples of our countries made a decisive contribution to achieving victory and saving humanity from Nazi enslavement. We pay tribute to the enormous role that all states of the anti-Hitler coalition played in the defeat of fascism. Many tens of millions of people gave their lives in the name of achieving Victory.

Today we bow our heads to the memory of those who died on the battlefields and in death camps, in cities and villages. We all owe an unpaid debt to the fallen in a just struggle for human freedom and dignity. Paying deep tribute to World War II veterans».

This war became the largest military conflict in human history and lasted six years — from September 1, 1939 until September 2, 1945. It covered the territories of 40 countries on three continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as all four ocean theaters (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic). 61 states were drawn into it, and the total number of human resources plunged into the war exceeded 1.7 billion people. It brought untold destruction and huge losses to all the states participating in it.

These days, in countries affected by the horrors and pain of the Second World War, various commemorative events — ceremonial meetings, meetings with veterans and their honoring, reviews of historical military equipment, reconstruction of some battles and, of course, laying flowers and wreaths at the Eternal Flame and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...



• Infographics – poster «8 and 9 May — Days of remembrance and reconciliation dedicated to those killed in World War II»

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