Politicians, soldiers and other people commemorated the anniversary of the end of the war at Vítkov
Updates: 08.05.2022 11:09
Released: 08.05.2022, 11:07
Prague – Politicians led by President Miloš Zeman, soldiers and other people today commemorated the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at the National Memorial in Vítkov in Prague. War veterans, for example, also came to see the traditional laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The day when Nazi Germany capitulated in 1945 is celebrated by the Czechia together with most European states as a national holiday.
The memorial service took place in the usual way after two years accompanied by anti-coronavirus restrictions. The year before, politicians came to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at regular intervals individually so that they would not meet. Last year, the pieta was without public participation and all participants, including soldiers, wore respirators. Today, reverential events related to the anniversary of the end of the war are held in several places not only in Prague, but also in other Czech cities. At around 2 pm in the Olšany Cemeteries in Prague, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, representatives of the Parliament, the army, Prague and the Czechoslovak Community will honor the legionary memory of the fallen Ukrainian Red Army soldiers and the victims of the Prague Uprising. Ukrainians who left Ukraine due to the invasion of Russia and found temporary shelter in Prague will also take part in the act.
At Vítkov today, the wreaths and Zeman were laid at the memorial by the Speakers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies Miloš Vystrčil and Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Ministry of Defense Jana Černochová together with Chief of General Staff Aleš Opata, Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib and Cardinal Dominik Duka. Representatives of associations and war veterans also honored the memory of the fallen by laying wreaths.
Before the act of reverence, the soldiers brought historical army battalions in the courtyard of the memorial, the national anthem and the Hussite chant Who are the Warriors of God sounded. During the laying of wreaths, five military planes and three army helicopters flew over Prague, creating a tricolor in the national colors in the sky. The audience held a minute’s silence. The soldiers also fired an salvo.
World War II was attended by most countries in the world. With more than 60 million casualties, it has become the largest war ever. The Czechs fought against the German Nazis on the Western and Eastern Fronts.