1977 October Revolution Parade

The 1977 October Revolution Parade was a military parade that took place in Red Square in Moscow on 7 November 1977 to commemorate the 60th anniversary (diamond jubilee) of the October Revolution. The annual parade marks the protest of the Bolsheviks against the Tsarist autocracy of the Russian Empire. The Soviet Communist Party General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and Soviet Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin attended the parade, among other foreign leaders from the Warsaw Pact and allied countries who decided to fly in for the celebrations.[1] Marshal Dmitry Ustinov delivered his second holiday address to the Soviet people on this day, right after the parade inspection that had been presided over by him and led by the commander of the Moscow Military District Colonel General Vladimir Govorov. Music was performed by the Combined Military Band of the Moscow Garrison conducted by Colonel Nikolai Mikhailov. As per tradition, 14 other Soviet Cities (including Leningrad) held their parades on this day. A folding stock version of the AK-47 appeared in the contingent of troops from the Soviet Airborne Forces.[2] This parade included the updated anthem of the Soviet Union.[3]

Soviet vehicles in parade

International dignitaries

edit
Country Dignitary Position Photo
  German Democratic Republic[4] Erich Honecker President  
  Mongolian People's Republic[4] Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal President  
  Czechoslovak Socialist Republic[4][5] Gustav Husak President  
  People's Republic of Bulgaria[4] Todor Zhivkov President
  Socialist Republic of Romania[4] Nicolae Ceausescu President  
  Hungarian People's Republic[4] János Kádár President  
  Polish People's Republic[4] Henryk Jabłoński President  
  Democratic Kampuchea[4] Norodom Sihanouk President  

Parade units

edit

Military bands

edit

Ground column

edit

Leading the column was the limousine carrying the parade commander, Col. General Vladimir Govrov, the commanding general of Moscow Military District.

Mobile column

edit

The parade saw the return of military tanks after a two-year hiatus.[6] The highlight was the T-72 tank was first publicly seen at this parade. The parade also featured a full return to the iconic armor columns and missiles in the second half of the military portion of the parade.

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Whitney, Craig R. (8 November 1977). "Soviet Marks Revolution Fete with a Major Parade". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Infantry". 1980.
  3. ^ RedSamurai84 (2016-05-11), Soviet October Revolution Parade, 1977 Part II Парад 7 Ноября, retrieved 2017-01-16
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Спомени от Народната република (2015-11-01), Живков на парада на 7. 11. 1977 в Москва, retrieved 2017-01-16
  5. ^ Hilton, Ronald (1977-01-01). World Affairs Report. California Institute of International Studies.
  6. ^ "ИСТОРИЯ ПОСЛЕВОЕННЫХ ПАРАДОВ – Мосправда-инфо".