Army Day on February 23. Defender of the Fatherland Day. History of the holiday. What was Defender of the Fatherland Day called before?

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February 23 is a favorite holiday of men and the day to which loving women begin to prepare almost immediately after New Year's holidays. However, when receiving gifts, few of the stronger sex think about where this important holiday came from and why it is celebrated in cold February.

Red Army Day

The birth of the holiday is usually associated with the Decree on the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. However, historians claim that this document was adopted on January 15, 1918. 20 million rubles were allocated for the creation of the army, which at that time was considered a huge amount.

There was complete confusion at the front - no one could really understand for whom they now needed to fight and whether it was even worth risking their lives. The government of the new Soviet state tried with great effort to form an army, but this process was very tense. The first volunteer recruitment point was opened on February 21 in Petrograd. The leader of the Soviet state made a call to join the new army defending the Socialist Fatherland. The Red Army was able to be assembled, but historians are still arguing about the significance of the first victories.

It was planned to celebrate the anniversary of the Red Army on the day the decree was signed, then they wanted to set the date for the celebration on February 17, but in the end they set the holiday on Sunday, which fell on February 23 that year. For unknown reasons, the military holiday was somehow forgotten for several years. And the solemn resurrection of the holiday occurred in 1922. At the end of January of that year, a resolution was issued by the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on the celebration of the fourth anniversary of the birth of the Red Army, and a year later the holiday was widely celebrated throughout the country under a new name - Red Army Day, approved by the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic.

The meaning of February 23 in the USSR

In 1938, “A Short Course in the History of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)”, written by Joseph Stalin, was published. The stern leader never mentioned Lenin’s Decree. The authorities surrounded this date with myths about the first significant successes, claiming that on February 23, 1918, the Red Army soldiers won decisive victories near Narva and Pskov. In all likelihood, this was how they tried to destroy the facts of the defeats and the signing of the German ultimatum.

Since 1946, the holiday, beloved by the inhabitants of a huge country, began to be called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Traditionally, on this day, all military personnel were honored, to which, after the war, almost every citizen could classify themselves. Gradually, all men began to be congratulated on the holiday, even those who had never served in the army.

History of Defender of the Fatherland Day in modern Russia

In 1995, the State Duma adopted the Law on Days of Military Glory in Russia. With this decree, February 23 acquired a new name - the Day of the Red Army's victory over the Kaiser's troops of Germany in 1918 - Defender of the Fatherland Day. However, this long name, which hardly corresponds to the actual facts, lasted only a few years.

In 2002, the State Duma adopted a resolution to rename February 23 as Defender of the Fatherland Day and declared it a non-working day. This decree erased from the description of the holiday the connection with the victories of the Red Army over the Kaiser’s troops, as a fact that did not correspond to reality.

The modern Day of Defender of the Fatherland is not without military overtones, but now its scope is not limited only to the military. Today this holiday is considered by everyone who has any connection to the defense of the country or their family. This is a holiday of valor, courage, honor and love in the Motherland. On this day, it is customary to congratulate men of all professions and ages, including the youngest, who will one day stand on the defensive lines.

We must not forget that among the fair half there are also many women who, risking their lives, protect their compatriots from various dangers and disasters. On February 23, not only men, but also women are honored.

On this day, traditional congratulations from the country's leadership are heard by members of the Russian Armed Forces, veterans of the Second World War and other military operations. Wreaths and bouquets of flowers are laid at the monuments of heroic warriors. Festive concerts and congratulatory speeches are broadcast on television and radio. In the evening, in hero cities, as well as in settlements where the headquarters of military districts, fleets and combined arms armies are located, the sky is illuminated by festive fireworks.

The history of the holiday dates back to January 28 (January 15, old style) 1918. On this day, against the backdrop of the First World War ongoing in Europe, the Council of People's Commissars (the de facto government of Soviet Russia), led by its chairman Vladimir Lenin, adopted a Decree on the organization of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA).

In the first days of January 1919, the Soviet authorities remembered the approaching anniversary of the Council of People's Commissars decree on the organization of the Red Army. On January 10, the Chairman of the Higher Military Inspectorate of the Red Army, Nikolai Podvoisky, sent to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee a proposal to celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, timing the celebration to the nearest Sunday before or after January 28. However, due to the late submission of the application, no decision was made.

Then the Moscow Soviet took the initiative to celebrate the first anniversary of the Red Army. On January 24, 1919, its presidium, which at that time was headed by Lev Kamenev, decided to coincide these celebrations with Red Gift Day. This day was organized by the relevant commission under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee with the aim of providing assistance to the fighting Red Army soldiers. Red Gift Day was scheduled for February 16, but the commission did not have time to hold it on time. Therefore, Red Gift Day and Red Army Day dedicated to it were decided to be celebrated on the Sunday following February 16, i.e. February 23.

In 1920-1921 Red Army Day was not celebrated.

On January 27, 1922, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee published a resolution on the 4th anniversary of the Red Army, which stated: “In accordance with the resolution of the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets on the Red Army, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee draws the attention of the executive committees to the upcoming anniversary of the creation of the Red Army (February 23).”

In 1923, the resolution of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, adopted on January 18, stated: “On February 23, 1923, the Red Army will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its existence. On this day, five years ago, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 28 was published the same year, which marked the beginning of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army, the stronghold of the proletarian dictatorship." However, this statement was not true, because the mentioned decree was published in central newspapers almost immediately after its adoption.

The 10th anniversary of the Red Army in 1928, like all previous ones, was celebrated as the anniversary of the Council of People's Commissars decree on the organization of the Red Army of January 28 (15 old style) January 1918, but the very date of publication, contrary to the truth, was directly linked to February 23.

In 1938, in the “Short Course on the History of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)” a fundamentally new version of the origin of the date of the holiday was presented, which was not related to the decree of the Council of People’s Commissars. The book stated that in 1918, near Narva and Pskov, “the German occupiers were given a decisive rebuff. Their advance to Petrograd was suspended. The day of repulse to the troops of German imperialism, February 23, became the birthday of the young Red Army.”

Later, in the order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR dated February 23, 1942, the wording was changed: “The young detachments of the Red Army, which entered the war for the first time, completely defeated the German invaders near Pskov and Narva on February 23, 1918. That is why February 23 was declared a day birth of the Red Army."

In 1951, the latest interpretation of the holiday appeared. In history civil war in the USSR" it was stated that in 1919 the first anniversary of the Red Army was celebrated "on the memorable day of the mobilization of workers for the defense of the socialist Fatherland, the mass entry of workers into the Red Army, the widespread formation of the first detachments and units of the new army."

In the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 N32-FZ "On the Days of Military Glory of Russia", February 23 bears the official name "The Day of the Red Army's Victory over the Kaiser's troops of Germany in 1918 - the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland."

In accordance with the amendments made to the Federal Law “On the Days of Military Glory of Russia” by the Federal Law of April 15, 2006, the words “Victory Day of the Red Army over the Kaiser’s troops of Germany (1918)” were excluded from the official description of the holiday, and also stated in the only including the concept of "defender".

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated on February 23 in Russia and some republics of the former USSR. Initially it was called the Day of the Red Army and Navy, then the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. This is, in fact, the birthday of the Red Army, but now it is celebrated simply as a “men’s day” and all men are congratulated, regardless of their relationship with the army.

1 How the holiday came about

On January 15 (28), 1918, the Council of People's Commissars issued a Decree on the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. At the front, enrollment began in the new army of volunteer soldiers, from whom companies and regiments were formed to fight the Germans. In theory, this date should be the army’s birthday. But for some reason it was postponed to February 23.

In the second half of the 1930s in the USSR, the February military events of 1918 began to be interpreted as a victory won those days over the Germans (Kaiser’s troops) near Pskov and Narva. This justification for the holiday was proposed personally by Stalin. In an order dated February 23, 1942, he wrote: “The young detachments of the Red Army, which entered the war for the first time, completely defeated the German invaders near Pskov and Narva on February 23, 1918. That is why February 23, 1918 was declared the birthday of the Red Army.”

However, according to archival data, by the evening of February 23, 1918, the German army was 55 km from Pskov and 170 km from Narva. No battles on this day were recorded in either the German or Soviet archives. Historians generally question the victory of the Red Army over the German troops. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed on March 3, 1918 by representatives of Soviet Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and the Bulgarian Empire, was very burdensome for the country: Russia lost significant territories and was obliged to disband the army, which, in fact, does not mean victory.

In 2002, the State Duma issued a resolution renaming February 23 to Defender of the Fatherland Day and declared it a non-working day. So the “combat component” was removed from this date. And now this day is considered a holiday by everyone who has anything to do with protecting the country or their family.

Much depends on whether there are those in the family who participated in hostilities or served in the army. On this day, military veterans are honored and flowers are laid at military memorial sites.

4 What do they give on Defender of the Fatherland Day?

Despite numerous metamorphoses, Defender of the Fatherland Day has an “army”, masculine origin. So on this day they try to give something that is associated with courage and strength - pipes, ties, belts, razors, cigarette cases, purses, alcohol, brutal mugs, etc. There is also an army theme in gifts, so even if you chose socks as a present, please roll them in the shape of a tank or an airplane.

This holiday had several names: Soviet Army Day, Birthday of the Red Army, Birthday of the Armed Forces and Navy.

Now this holiday is called the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland. But somewhere inside we all simply call it the day of real men. After all, they are all defenders at their core. On February 23, we congratulate fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and loved ones.

Why is February 23 considered Defenders of the Fatherland Day, and not any other date? The history of this holiday is as follows:

Immediately after the victory of the armed uprising in Petrograd, counter-revolutionary actions fell upon the young Soviet republic, and the Soviet government had to actively fight them. At that time, the Armed Forces of Soviet Power were the Red Guard detachments of revolutionary soldiers and sailors.

In order to protect the Soviet state, the Soviet government began organizing regular armed forces. On January 28, 1918, the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) signed the decree “On the organization of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.”

On February 23, 1919, Red Army Day was held in Petrograd under the slogan of defending the socialist Fatherland from the “Kaiser’s troops.” At a meeting of the Petrograd Council of Workers and Red Army Deputies, dedicated to the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, Ya. M. Sverdlov made a welcoming speech, emphasizing that the Red Army was created primarily against a foreign enemy. In 1923, in honor of the Day of the Red Army and Navy, an order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic was first issued.

February 23 was celebrated as the birthday of the Red Army in honor of the victory near Narva and Pskov over German troops. The day of the first victory became the army's birthday. This seemed to indicate her fate for the future. The army began to be called Soviet, and February 23 was celebrated annually in the USSR as a national holiday - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated annually in Russia on February 23 as a national holiday. It originates during the existence of the Soviet Union, when the holiday was celebrated in honor of the Soviet Army and Navy.

History of the holiday

There was no official document establishing February 23 as an official Soviet holiday. For the first time in this vein, February 23 was mentioned in 1918, when mass rallies were held in Moscow and other cities of the country, at which workers were called upon to defend their Fatherland from the advancing German troops. Then began the mass entry of volunteers into the Red Army and its formation.

A year later, Russian citizens celebrated February 23 for the first time as the anniversary of the Red Army. However, in 1920-1921 this holiday was not celebrated.

In subsequent years, the country widely celebrated the fifth and tenth anniversary of the Red Army. Moreover, if January 28 was considered the anniversary of the formation of the Soviet Armed Forces, then February 23 was celebrated - the anniversary of the publication of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars, "which laid the foundation for the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army."

February 23 has been considered the date of birth of the Red Army since 1938, when a fundamentally new version of the origin of the holiday was outlined, not related to the decree of the Council of People's Commissars. This time he was associated with the battles of the Red Army against German troops in 1918 near Narva and Pskov.

In 1951, another interpretation of the holiday appeared. The “History of the Civil War in the USSR” stated that in 1919 the first anniversary of the Red Army was celebrated in connection with the mobilization of workers “to defend the socialist Fatherland, the mass entry of workers into the Red Army, the widespread formation of the first detachments and units of the new army.”

After the collapse of the USSR, February 23 began to be celebrated in honor of the victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser’s troops of Germany in 1918.

11 years later, words about the victory of the Red Army were excluded from the official description of the holiday, and the concept of “defender” was stated in the singular.

In December 2001, the State Duma supported the proposal to make February 23 a non-working holiday.

February 23, due to established traditions, has become a national national holiday dedicated to all generations of defenders of the Fatherland. Throughout their centuries-old history, Russians have selflessly defended the sovereignty and independence, and sometimes the right to exist, of the Russian state in numerous wars.

Army and Navy personnel modern Russia responsibly fulfill their military duty, reliably ensuring the protection of national interests and the military security of the country.

Real Men's Day

On February 23, Russians honor those who served or are currently serving in the ranks of the country's Armed Forces. But the majority of Russian citizens tend to consider February 23 as the Day of real men, defenders in the broadest sense of the word.

February 23 is celebrated with a festive artillery salute in the hero cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Novorossiysk, Tula, Sevastopol, Smolensk and Murmansk, as well as in the cities where the headquarters of military districts, fleets, combined arms armies and the Caspian Flotilla are stationed.

February 23 in South Ossetia

In South Ossetia, February 23 is considered a holiday and a non-working day. In the republic, February 23 is celebrated with a solemn public meeting and the presentation of state awards to the Defender of the Fatherland. February 23 is considered a holiday in connection with the formation of the Ministry of Defense of South Ossetia; this year the department will celebrate its 24th anniversary.

photo from the archives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of RNO-A

However, in the minds of the population, the holiday has taken root, as in Russia, since Soviet times. They honor not only employees of law enforcement agencies, but also all men, since in the almost 20-year history of South Ossetia’s wars for freedom and independence, both people in uniform and formally “civilians” equally courageously participated in them.