Victory Day Parade

• 18 Jun 2020

Why in News

India has decided to send a contingent of 75 personnel from its three armed forces to participate in Russia's 75^th World War II Victory Day Parade on 24 June, 2020.

Key Points

• The Russian parade is held every year on Victory Day (May 9), which marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945.
  
  • This year it was delayed because of the Covid-19.
• The victory day parade honours the heroism and sacrifices made by the Russian and other friendly people.
• India’s participation in the parade will be a mark of tribute and solidarity with the people of Russia.
• Earlier in January 2020, Russia had invited India to take part in the victory day parade.

India-Russia Defence Cooperation

• Defence remains the most significant aspect of India's relations with Russia with both sides looking to encourage joint manufacturing of equipment under India's Make-in-India programme and through transfer of technology.
• After the Vladivostok summit in 2019, both the countries had recognized the requirement of an institutional arrangement for reciprocal provision of logistic support and services for the armed forces.
  
  • They had also agreed to prepare a framework for cooperation on it.
• During the 5^th India Russia military industry conference held during the Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), companies from both the countries signed various Memorandum of Understanding( MoUs) to develop a range of defence equipment.
• In 2019, despite the threat of U.S. sanctions, India went ahead with the decision to purchase the S-400 missile defence system, worth over $5 billion.
• Both the countries continue to encourage military to military cooperation through military political dialogue and joint military exercises.
  
  • In 2019, India and Russia carried out a second joint tri-service exercise INDRA.
  • In 2019, India also took part in Exercise TSENTR 2019 of the Russian Armed Force.
• Despite Russia's deep military and political ties with China, and its own relations with the U.S., India continues to look at Russia as a key partner.

World War II

• World War II, started in Europe in 1939 and assumed the character of a world war. It was fought between Allied and Axis powers.
• The Allied powers were represented by Great Britain, USA, France etc. While the Axis powers were led by Germany, Italy and Japan.
• The war came to an end in September 1945.
• Cause of War:
  
  • Treaty of Versailles of 1920.
  • Aggressive Policy of expansion by the fascist powers (Germany and Italy).
  • Appeasement policy by Western powers towards fascist powers to fight against Communist Soviet Union.
  • Rise of Japan as imperialist power.
    
    • Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
• Consequences of the War:
  
  • Killing of Jews in concentration camps.
  • Atomic attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
  • Division of the world into two power blocs – the Communist Bloc headed by Soviet Union and the Western Bloc headed by the USA.
  • Beginning of the Cold War which continued till the disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991.
  • Foundation of United Nation Organisations in 1945.

Source: PIB