Victory Day And Victory Parades.

[Simon]

Allow me to comment on a few technicalities. Capt. (later Gen.) Varennikov was appointed by Zhukov to be the commander of Victory Banner Honor Guard who delivered the banner to Moscow and carried it through the Red Square at the Victory Parade. As for captured Nazi banners, they were collected and stored at the museum following the parade. Only gloves and the wooden stand were burned.

Several facts about June 24, 1945 parade might be interesting to other forum members. While passing the Mausoleum, parade participants turned their heads greeting members of Politburo. When marching past representatives of the Allies, Soviet soldiers kept looking forward. Some sources indicate that Egorov and Kantaria were supposed to carry the Victory banner. With them being too skinny and one of them limping, this honor was instead given to Varennikov.

Gen. Varennikov was awarded Kutuzov I. I am dying of curiosity but can't find info on how he earned this order.

Cheers,

Simon