A festive event for which enterprising ladies begin to prepare immediately after the New Year week is February 23. For 100 years, this date is marked in red in all Russian calendars. It remains only to find out why it certainly falls on February 23?
Creation of the Red Army
Since the victory of the 1917 revolution, the young state needed a reliable military platform that could withstand the onslaught of not only the internal enemies of the proletariat, but also external interventionists. The greatest danger was Kaiser Germany, rapidly conquering neighboring countries. The young Soviet Union was the main target of the German occupiers.
The new government managed to invest about 20 million rubles in the creation of the armed forces - an astronomical amount in those days. The first Decree on the Army of Workers and Peasants (RKKA) was issued on January 28, 1918 (according to the new style). However, chaos reigned on the front lines. Few people were aware of the appropriateness of risking their own lives in the bloody fields of unequal battles.
The formation of the armed forces was slow and confusing. In an appeal to the population, the leader of the country called for voluntarily to join the army to help defeat the invaders, who conquered one city after another with impunity. On February 21, the first reception center opened in Petrograd. The Brest Peace Treaty, signed at the beginning of March 1918, became the starting point counting the right to life of the Soviet Union.
Calendar twists and turns from February 23
According to one version, in 1919 the head of the military commission of the Red Army N.Podvoisky sent a proposal to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on January 28 to celebrate the anniversary of the Red Army (in honor of the signing of the Decree). Such a request did not raise objections, but they started consideration a little later. At the insistence of the Moscow City Council, they decided to determine the date of February 17, timed to coincide with the Red Gift Day (donations to soldiers for military needs). The postponement on the 23rd day was deemed appropriate, because it was Sunday. So the first anniversary was celebrated.
According to other sources, from 1938 to 1942 February 23 was called a holiday in honor of the first victory of the valiant army near Pskov and Narva over the German invaders. In the future, information about dubious achievements was deleted from the interpretation. The next two years the holiday was in oblivion. It was probably not up to him in connection with the concern of the government and the population for more important matters. But since 1922, the day of the Red Army was revived again. From that moment on, the date of February 23 was forever scarlet in all printed calendars.
February 23 - past and present
Many events during the Great Patriotic War inevitably concerned the date of February 23. The first years of this day, small and large results of the fight against fascist aggressors prepared and went on the "printed" and radio broadcasts. Since 1943, significant events have already occurred on the fronts: the defeat at Stalingrad, the exclusion from the Baltic, Caucasus and Carpathians. Thousands of valiant warriors presented themselves for combat awards that day.
In the post-war phase and until 1995, the legendary day bears the name "Day of the Soviet Army and Navy."In the interpretation, references to the defeat of the Kaiser troops during the First World War either appeared or disappeared. And since 2002, it was renamed "Defender of the Fatherland Day" and appointed a weekend for citizens of the country. After the collapse of the Union, they continue to celebrate the festival of valor in Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.
Traditionally, February 23 congratulate the entire male population of the state, regardless of age. They are the personification of the true protectors of the family, home and native land. Veterans and combatants of different generations are given special honor. Flowers are laid at the monuments and graves of soldiers. And the night sky of all cities is illuminated by a colorful salute.
Today and always in the ranks of the army were and are women who are ready, like men, at the cost of their lives to protect the safety of civilians in times of alarm. Congratulations from grateful compatriots also sound to them.
February 23 has a century of history. Its origins are in the legendary historical stage - the victory of the 1917 revolution and the signing of the Decree on the Birth of the Red Army. And despite the hitch with the dates, this day will be a holiday for all Russians for many years.
