In the history of every country there have been wars for independence and great victories. Honoring heroes, educating people through the examples of their exploits, and commemorating the fallen are elements of the cultural tradition of any nation.
Global contradictions in Europe in the first half of the 20th century and the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany led to the Second World War. By 1941, all European countries except Britain, Greece, Switzerland, and the USSR (the neutrality of Sweden and Portugal is debatable) had become allies of Nazi Germany.
Cyprus was the first of the British protectorates whose citizens took part in combat operations as part of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. On 8 September 1939, the first 500 Cypriots aged 18 to 30 were mobilized.
Later, the Cypriot contingent grew to nearly 14,500 people, and in total more than 30,000 Cypriots served in the Cyprus Regiment — 7.5% of the country’s population! The Cyprus Volunteer Corps was also formed; it built military installations. More than 700 Cypriot women joined the British Army as nurses and WAAF personnel. Thousands of Cypriots donated money and valuables for military needs. Future President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides also fought in the British Royal Air Force.
In 1940, Italian bombers repeatedly attacked the port of Morphou and the military airfield in Nicosia. As a result, several dozen civilians were killed. Cyprus’s losses in the Second World War amounted to about 600 people; 1,620 Cypriots were taken prisoner.
On 2 May 1945, Berlin fell under the blows of the Soviet troops. On 8 May at 22:43 Central European Time (9 May at 00:43 Moscow Time), Soviet and British marshals accepted the unconditional surrender. The long, bloody war in Europe was over.
On this day we celebrate Victory Day — a holiday “with tears in our eyes,” important to every descendant of the warriors of the Anti-Hitler Coalition.
FROM 6 TO 9 MAY, MEMORIAL EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE IN CYPRUS:
🔸 6 May, Nicosia, opposite the building of the Embassy of Russia
— 15:30: Concert by the Nizhny Novgorod Governor’s Orchestra
— 16:00 – Immortal Regiment procession
🔸 7 May, Larnaca, Park near the Church of Our Lady of Faneromeni
— 17:00: Gathering at the Memorial to the Fallen Heroes of the Second World War
— 17:30: Solemn ceremony with the participation of the Nizhny Novgorod Governor’s Orchestra
🔸 9 May,
Nicosia
• 15:00 — Gathering at the Ministry of Interior parking lot (opposite the PASYDY building, Dimosthenis Severis Street)
• 15:30 — Laying of flowers at the Monument to the Fallen Volunteers of the Second World War
• 15:45 — Departure of the motorcade to Limassol to participate in the All-Cyprus Motorcade
Paphos:
• 14:30 — Gathering of vehicles at the Paphos Municipality parking lot
• 15:00 — Laying of flowers at the Memorial of Memory (28 October Column)
• 15:30 — Departure of the motorcade to Limassol to participate in the All-Cyprus Motorcade
Larnaca and Famagusta:
• 14:30 — Gathering at the Church of Saint Lazarus
• 15:00 — Prayer service at the Church of Saint Lazarus
• 15:15 — Gathering of the motorcade at the parking lot near the Church of Our Lady of Faneromeni
• 15:30 — Departure of the motorcade to Limassol to participate in the All-Cyprus Motorcade
Limassol:
• 17:00 – 21:45 (with a break from 19:00–19:30 for the “Immortal Regiment” procession)
• 17:00 — Gathering of the motorcade from all cities (municipal parking lot Agios Tychonas)
• 17:30 — Start of the joint All-Cyprus Motorcade column
• 18:15 – 18:30 — Arrival of the column at the Molos promenade parking lot (near Café Nero)
• 18:30 — Gathering of participants for the “Immortal Regiment” procession
• 19:00 — Start of the “Immortal Regiment” procession along the Molos promenade
• 19:30 – 22:00 — Festive concert, fair, field kitchen, fireworks
This is our choice — to remember.
This is our path — together.
