In the spring of 1945, World War II finally came to an end in Europe. The Soviet Red Army, under the command of Zhukov, conquered Berlin and forced Nazi Germany to surrender, and Hitler's suicide marked the end of the Nazis. This victory not only earned the Soviet Union enormous international prestige, but also established the indisputable authority of Stalin's leadership. To celebrate this great victory, Stalin decided to hold a grand victory parade on Red Square in Moscow, demonstrating the military power of the Soviet Union. This parade is not only a celebration of victory, but also the highest honor for Soviet soldiers.
Preparations for the parade were carried out intensively under the personal supervision of Stalin. The preparation time, which was originally planned to take two months, was shortened to one month at Stalin's insistence. The choice of the commander of the parade became a focal point. Although Stalin, as supreme commander-in-chief, was naturally the first choice in people's minds, Russian tradition required that the parade chiefs must ride through Red Square, and Stalin was not good at riding.
During a secret night practice, Stalin struggled to control the chosen white horse, and he tried to steer the horse according to the instructions of his instructor, but unfortunately, lost his balance and fell off the horse. The scene was very awkward for a while, and Stalin's son Vasily and several cronies rushed forward to help, but Stalin refused to help him, saying firmly: "Give me another chance, I must tame this beast." ”
Despite the fact that Stalin returned to horseback, the white horse remained uncontrolled and again threw him to the ground. This fall not only hurt his body, but also hurt his self-esteem. Zhukov, who was watching from the sidelines, stepped forward and whispered to Stalin: "Chief, the significance of the parade is not in the level of horsemanship, but in the glory of our soldiers and the country. ”
After careful consideration, Stalin finally decided that Zhukov, who was more adept at horsemanship, would be the head of the parade. On June 24, 1945, over Moscow in the rainy sky, the Red Square was full of people, and the warm atmosphere was almost inexorable. Zhukov rode his magnificent white horse and galloped from one end of Red Square to the other. His solemn countenance and erect posture stood out in the rain, and the soldiers saluted and shouted "Ula" to show their respect for the hero and their loyalty to the country.
Stalin stood in front of Lenin's tomb, his eyes never taken off Zhukov's body, his expression solemn, and his inner fluctuations were unknown to anyone. Although he did not personally inspect the parade on horseback, he was pleased with the success of this parade, as well as Zhukov's perfect performance. He knew that this victory belonged not only to him alone, but also to the entire Soviet people.
As the parade ended, Stalin and Zhukov walked down from the viewing platform together, and Stalin said to Zhukov: "Today, you are the pride of the Soviet Union. Zhukov responded: "Chief, it was your leadership that allowed us to achieve victory. "This conversation was short, but it profoundly revealed the mutual respect and understanding between the two leaders.
A few years later, a statue was erected on Red Square to commemorate this historic moment in perpetuity. The statue depicts Zhukov riding a white horse, and every time a later parade passes by the statue, they will consciously gaze at it, as if they can draw the strength and inspiration of that exciting moment.
The parade was not only a demonstration of Soviet military might, but also a remembrance of history, reminding us that true strength comes from unity and shared goals. Although Stalin was not able to inspect it on horseback, his decision and trust in Zhukov demonstrated true leadership. The wheels of history roll forward, but those decisive moments, like statues, will always be remembered in people's hearts. Behind the victory and glory are the sacrifices and persistence of countless ordinary people, who are the true heroes of this great victory.