This year, which happens to be the 65th anniversary since the overthrow of Fascism and Nazism by the joint forces of Russia and the Allies, the United Nations has on March 2 proclaimed May 8 and 9 as Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation (Res. A/64/L.46) in order to keep alive the memory of the valiant struggle against tyranny and to commemorate the millions of war dead.
The remarkable saga of the heroic resistance put up by the Allies, including Russia, Britain, Malta, the United States etc. will forever remain indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of humanity.
In order to keep alive the solidarity that existed among us in World War II, the Russian Centre for Science and Culture is keen on reviving the memory of the spontaneous outburst of rejoicing that happened in Malta on February 21, 1943.
As the tide of war had turned in favour of the Allied cause, a parade was held at Castille Square in Valletta and at other towns in Malta and Gozo. The intention was to salute the millions of war dead of the West and of Russia. Suffice it to say that on the Russian side alone, the war dead exceeded 27 million between combatants and civilians.
Also implicit in the celebrations was the expression of the great regard that the Maltese people and the British administration had for the Russian war effort.
In January 1943, the Germans started withdrawing from the Caucasus. On February 2, the German commander at Stalingrad, Field Marshal von Paulus, surrendered and the Russians retook Kursk and Rostov.
As soon as the news reached the capitals of the other Allies, their rejoicing must have been unbounded.
These celebrations in Malta were well documented in The Times of Malta, as well as in the Lieutenant Governor's Office File 1245/1943 which deals with the organisation of the parades which involved many detachments from local and British regiments then present in Malta.
As stated above, it is the intention to produce documentary chronicles to immortalise the memory of these eventful days. The Russian Centre is inviting Maltese and British ex-servicemen and ordinary citizens who might still be around and who remember these parades to communicate with the undersigned. Most welcome would be any autobiographies, diaries, journals, accounts, records, reminiscences, recollections, photos etc. that might shed light on these events.
It is also intended to organise a reunion where these people would have the opportunity of exchanging their reminiscences and commemorating the heroes of World War II, thereby sealing the bond of friendship that has existed between our nations ever since.