MOSCOW (AP) -- The Victory Day parade, the annual Red Square military parade which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany and is Russia's most important secular holiday. The enormous suffering of World War II, and the Red Army's determination to beat back the Nazi invasion, are cherished elements in Russia's national identity.
The Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people in the war, including 8.5 million soldiers.
Among the thousands of spectators along the square were World War II veterans bent with age, their suitcoats festooned with rows of medals.
"Your courage and ability to love and defend your homeland will never recede into the past and will remain the hallmark of morals, patriotism and sense of civic duty in the eyes of the younger generation," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
This year's parade included some 14,000 impassive servicemen precision-marching through the 5.5-acre (2.3-hectare) square and a 1.5-kilometer-long (nearly mile-long) convoy of mobile missile-launchers, tanks and other military vehicles.
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Russian soldiers march on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russian World War II veterans Yevgeny Ermolayev, left, Victor Novopashin, right, toast in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Mikhail Metzel
Russian WWII veteran Fyodor Bortsov 86, sits with flowers, he was presented with, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people in the war, including 8.5 million soldiers. Russia commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany on May 9. AP / Mikhail Metzel
People meet the "Victory train", a vintage locomotive with members of a historical military club wearing Soviet era army uniform aboard, during the Victory Day celebration at Varshavsky railway station in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system transporters roll down the Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian Topol-M strategic ballistic missiles carriers roll down the Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Self-propelled howitzers roll on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told the annual massive military parade in Red Square that the country will stand up for its positions. St. Bazil's Cathedral is at the background. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russian tanks parade on Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian soldiers march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian paratroopers march on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russian soldiers march on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russian soldiers march on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russian soldiers march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian soldiers respond with a shout during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian soldiers march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with a WWII veteran on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexei Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with a WWII veteran on the Red Square, during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexei Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, second left, speaks with officers and WWII veterans on the Red Square, after the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Alexei Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, addresses the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, with the St. Basil Cathedral in the background. AP / Alexander Zemlianichenko
World War II veterans ride a car during celebration of the Victory Day in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Russia is celebrating the anniversary of victory over Germany in WWII. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
A member of a historical military club wearing Soviet army uniform and his children ride a vintage motorcycle during celebration of the Victory Day in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Russia is celebrating the anniversary of victory over Germany in WWII. AP / Dmitry Lovetsky
WWII veteran Vasily Tyunis, 93, is assisted by a soldier of the honor guard, during the parade celebrating a Victory Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Belarus celebrates the allied victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. AP / Sergei Grits
Belarusian children greet veterans during the parade celebrating Victory Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Belarus celebrates the allied victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. AP / Sergei Grits
A World War Two veteran holds a portrait of Josef Stalin during a Victory Day celebration in Tbilisi, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Georgia celebrates the 67th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. AP / Shakh Aivazov
Men in Russian uniforms help German born Red Army veteran Wilhelm Hoffman, center, at a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Markus Schreiber
Diplomats and soldiers of former Soviet republics attend a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany at the Central Soviet War Memorial in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Markus Schreiber
Red Army veterans living in Germany attend a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Markus Schreiber
Ukrainian soldiers dressed in Soviet-era uniforms ride in vintage military vehicles during celebrations of the Victory Day at the World War II memorial in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Ukrainians continue to celebrate the World War II anniversary and Victory Day on May 9 as a national holiday marking the defeat of Nazi German forces in the second World War. AP / Sergei Chuzavkov
Ukrainian soldiers dressed in WWII uniform during a parade at the World War II memorial on the Victory Day in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Efrem Lukatsky
Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate their skills during celebrations of the Victory Day at the World War II memorial in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Sergei Chuzavkov
A boy, dressed in a Soviet-army uniform forage-cap, places flowers at the monument of the Unknown Soldier at a memorial to World War II veterans in a memorial park in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Efrem Lukatsky
Visitors examine war documents looking for information about their relatives in a World War II museum on the Victory Day Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Efrem Lukatsky
A woman lays a flower tribute at the Remembrance Wall at a War museum in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. AP / Efrem Lukatsky
A guard stands at attention at the Victory Memorial in Chisinau, Moldova Wednesday May 9, 2012. May 9 is celebrated in former Soviet Republics as victory day over Nazi Germany in World War II. AP / John McConnico
An honor guard marches at the Victory Memorial in Chisinau, Moldova Wednesday May 9, 2012. May 9 is celebrated in former Soviet Republics as victory day over Nazi Germany in World War II. AP / John McConnico
A member of the honor guard stands at attention during the laying of a commemorative wreath at the Victory Memorial in Chisinau, Moldova Wednesday May 9, 2012. May 9 is celebrated in former Soviet Republics as victory day over Nazi Germany in World War II. AP / John McConnico
A girl pauses during a moment of silence at the Victory Memorial in Chisinau, Moldova Wednesday May 9, 2012. May 9 is celebrated in former Soviet Republics as victory day over Nazi Germany in World War II. AP / John McConnico
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