Forwarded from Russian Embassy in South Africa
🌟 From Cape Town to the Arctic: South Africa's Contribution to the Allied Victory
On the sidelines of the Russian Movie Night Victory Marathon, the Russian Embassy in South Africa opened a photo exhibition dedicated to South Africa's participation in the Second World War – a conflict that was not merely a European war, but a truly global struggle against Nazi and fascist tyranny.
The exhibition was attended by ANC Veterans, South African officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the cultural, business, academic, and media communities.
During those decisive years, South Africa stood alongside the Soviet Union as a proud member of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. That partnership, forged in shared sacrifice, is remembered with the deepest gratitude in Russia to this day.
The Cape Route & Lend-Lease
South Africa's strategic geography proved decisive when the supply route through the Dardanelles was closed. Cape Town became one of the principal ports of call for Anglo-American vessels delivering war materials to the Soviet Union via the Persian Gulf – a vital lifeline at the most critical moment of the war.
The Arctic Convoys
Around 3,000 South African seamen served in the Royal Navy, many of them aboard Allied vessels carrying vital supplies to the Soviet northern ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk to relieve besieged Leningrad. Those long, perilous journeys were made in brutal weather, under constant threat of enemy attack. Their courage deserves to be honoured and remembered.
The Secret Mission to Yalta
In late January 1945, a SAAF DC-3 flew a classified mission from Cairo – through Tobruk and Athens – to recently liberated Crimea. The South African aircrew found themselves present at one of history's most consequential moments: the Yalta Conference, where Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill gathered at the Livadia Palace to shape the post-war world. The flight engineer later recalled, with warm simplicity, being invited for tea and cake by the wife of the Soviet airfield commander – a small, human moment at the centre of history.
Solidarity Beyond the Battlefield
South Africans demonstrated remarkable solidarity through humanitarian aid and civilian support that reached across oceans and strengthened the ties between our peoples even in the darkest years of the war.
🤝 The Russian Embassy extends its sincere gratitude to the DITSONG National Museum of Military History for providing the unique materials that made this exhibition possible. Their dedication to preserving and sharing this history ensures that the stories of those who served will never be forgotten.
#Victory81 #9May #WeRemember #AmbassadorAmbarov
On the sidelines of the Russian Movie Night Victory Marathon, the Russian Embassy in South Africa opened a photo exhibition dedicated to South Africa's participation in the Second World War – a conflict that was not merely a European war, but a truly global struggle against Nazi and fascist tyranny.
The exhibition was attended by ANC Veterans, South African officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the cultural, business, academic, and media communities.
During those decisive years, South Africa stood alongside the Soviet Union as a proud member of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. That partnership, forged in shared sacrifice, is remembered with the deepest gratitude in Russia to this day.
"We will always remember that during World War II South Africa was our ally and an important member of the Anti-Hitler Coalition," Russian Ambassador to South Africa Roman Ambarov emphasized during his welcoming remarks.
The Cape Route & Lend-Lease
South Africa's strategic geography proved decisive when the supply route through the Dardanelles was closed. Cape Town became one of the principal ports of call for Anglo-American vessels delivering war materials to the Soviet Union via the Persian Gulf – a vital lifeline at the most critical moment of the war.
The Arctic Convoys
Around 3,000 South African seamen served in the Royal Navy, many of them aboard Allied vessels carrying vital supplies to the Soviet northern ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk to relieve besieged Leningrad. Those long, perilous journeys were made in brutal weather, under constant threat of enemy attack. Their courage deserves to be honoured and remembered.
The Secret Mission to Yalta
In late January 1945, a SAAF DC-3 flew a classified mission from Cairo – through Tobruk and Athens – to recently liberated Crimea. The South African aircrew found themselves present at one of history's most consequential moments: the Yalta Conference, where Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill gathered at the Livadia Palace to shape the post-war world. The flight engineer later recalled, with warm simplicity, being invited for tea and cake by the wife of the Soviet airfield commander – a small, human moment at the centre of history.
Solidarity Beyond the Battlefield
South Africans demonstrated remarkable solidarity through humanitarian aid and civilian support that reached across oceans and strengthened the ties between our peoples even in the darkest years of the war.
🤝 The Russian Embassy extends its sincere gratitude to the DITSONG National Museum of Military History for providing the unique materials that made this exhibition possible. Their dedication to preserving and sharing this history ensures that the stories of those who served will never be forgotten.
#Victory81 #9May #WeRemember #AmbassadorAmbarov
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
Today marks the 81st Anniversary of the Great Victory over Nazism.
#Victory81 #WeRemember
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Forwarded from Russian Embassy in South Africa
🎙 Address by President of Russia and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at the military parade marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945
📍 Moscow, May 9, 2026
💬 Vladimir Putin:
Congratulations on Victory Day — our sacred, radiant, and most important holiday!
🥇 We hold sacred the legacy and testament of the soldiers of Victory. Devotion to the Motherland unites our entire country and all the people of Russia, while preserving the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War, its true history, and its genuine heroes is a matter of honour for us.
We will always remember the feat of the Soviet people — it was they who made the decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism, saved their country and the world, put an end to total and merciless evil, and restored sovereignty to those states that had capitulated to Hitler’s Germany and become obedient accomplices to its crimes. <…>
❗️June 22, 1941, remains one of the most tragic and sorrowful dates in our history. This year marks 85 years since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
The Nazis treacherously attacked the Soviet Union, planning to seize the country and its vast resources, destroy its culture and historical heritage, and ultimately exterminate, enslave, and commit genocide against the entire multinational Soviet people — against all the peoples, nations, and ethnic groups of the Soviet Union.
To carry out these criminal plans, forces from across Europe were assembled. It seemed that Nazi strategists had calculated everything with meticulous precision — except for one thing: what is known as the Russian character and the strength of spirit of the Soviet people. <…>
🕯 We bow our heads before those who fell in battle. Before those who were tortured in occupation and captivity, who died of hunger in besieged Leningrad and in other surrounded cities and towns. Before all who gave their lives for the Motherland, for Russia. We honour the memory of sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends.
⸻
The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers who are today carrying out the tasks of the special military operation. They stand against an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc.
☝️ Despite this, our heroes continue to advance.
Alongside Russian servicemen stand workers and designers, engineers, scientists, and inventors. Continuing the traditions of their predecessors and drawing on modern combat experience, they are creating advanced and unique weapons systems and expanding their mass production. <…>
I firmly believe that our cause is just! We are united! Victory has always been — and will always be — ours!
Glory to the victorious people! Glory to the veterans! Glory to the Armed Forces of Russia!
Happy Victory Day!
🥇 #Victory81
📍 Moscow, May 9, 2026
💬 Vladimir Putin:
Congratulations on Victory Day — our sacred, radiant, and most important holiday!
We will always remember the feat of the Soviet people — it was they who made the decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism, saved their country and the world, put an end to total and merciless evil, and restored sovereignty to those states that had capitulated to Hitler’s Germany and become obedient accomplices to its crimes. <…>
❗️June 22, 1941, remains one of the most tragic and sorrowful dates in our history. This year marks 85 years since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
The Nazis treacherously attacked the Soviet Union, planning to seize the country and its vast resources, destroy its culture and historical heritage, and ultimately exterminate, enslave, and commit genocide against the entire multinational Soviet people — against all the peoples, nations, and ethnic groups of the Soviet Union.
To carry out these criminal plans, forces from across Europe were assembled. It seemed that Nazi strategists had calculated everything with meticulous precision — except for one thing: what is known as the Russian character and the strength of spirit of the Soviet people. <…>
🕯 We bow our heads before those who fell in battle. Before those who were tortured in occupation and captivity, who died of hunger in besieged Leningrad and in other surrounded cities and towns. Before all who gave their lives for the Motherland, for Russia. We honour the memory of sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends.
⸻
The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers who are today carrying out the tasks of the special military operation. They stand against an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc.
☝️ Despite this, our heroes continue to advance.
Alongside Russian servicemen stand workers and designers, engineers, scientists, and inventors. Continuing the traditions of their predecessors and drawing on modern combat experience, they are creating advanced and unique weapons systems and expanding their mass production. <…>
I firmly believe that our cause is just! We are united! Victory has always been — and will always be — ours!
Glory to the victorious people! Glory to the veterans! Glory to the Armed Forces of Russia!
Happy Victory Day!
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На сцене выступают дети Русского детского центра!
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«Бессмертный полк» прошел в самом центре Кейптауна! ⭐️
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По случаю 81-й годовщины Великой Победы участники прошли с портретами своих родных — ветеранов, фронтовиков, тружеников тыла и всех, чьи судьбы были связаны с Великой Отечественной войной. Для многих это стало личным и трогательным моментом памяти, благодарности и уважения к поколению победителей.
В завершение мероприятия была организована «Стена Памяти» — памятная экспозиция с фотографиями участников Великой Отечественной войны.
«Бессмертный полк» напоминает: пока мы помним имена героев, рассказываем их истории и передаём эту память дальше, их подвиг остаётся живым.
#Победа81 #ДеньПобеды
#МирСпасСоветскийСолдат
#МыПомним
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