| Victory Day | |
|---|---|
 Victory Day Memorial Statue in Israel - Yosef Matisyahu Collection | |
| Official name | Victory Day |
| Observed by | State of Israel |
| Significance | Celebrating the date of Nazi surrender ending World War II in Europe |
| Date | 9 May |
| Frequency | Annual |
Victory Day (Hebrew:חגיגות יום הניצחון בארץ ישראל) is an Israeli national day of remembrance celebrated annually onVictory Day (9 May), to commemorate the day when theNazis signed theGerman Instrument of Surrender to the Allied Expeditionary Force and the Red Army, endingWorld War II in Europe.[1]
Victory Day was created by the IsraeliKnesset on July 26, 2017 as part of the Victory in Europe Day Law. According to the law, Victory in Europe Day shall be held once a year, on May 9, to mark the formal acceptance by theAllies of World War II ofNazi Germany'sunconditional surrender ofits armed forces.
While May 8 is when many of the Allies of World War II celebrateVictory in Europe Day, also known as VE Day, Israel follows most former USSR nations' celebrations asVictory Day (9 May). As a result of immigration of many Red Army veterans, Israel now hosts the largest and most extensive Victory Day celebrations outside the former Soviet Union.[citation needed] Many of the traditions and customs in Israel of Victory in Europe Day are the same as in Russia, with marches ofImmortal Regiments held in cities with large populations of Red Army veterans and their descendants.
The marking of the holiday begins usually at 4am, with an auto rally fromMetula toEilat which is when German forces launched an attack on theSoviet Union on June 22, 1941.[2]
Annually, a wreath is being placed by theJewish National Fund andRed Army veterans at theKibbutzMa'ale HaHamisha where a plaque reading “The citizens of Israel planted this forest in honor of the Red Army.” is displayed. During the same day, a ceremony is held at the Victory in Europe monument inNetanya. The following day, the marches continue inBat Yam andAshdod and end with a Red Army veterans' march on May 14 in Jerusalem.[2]