History on February 23

The history of February 23 starts in 1918. It is believed that just then the Red Guard won victories in the battles near Narva and Pskov over the German troops. It is these victories that become "the birthday of the KR (Red Army)".

However, to date, the question of the origin of this holiday is controversial. After all, in 1918 the army had just begun its formation, everyone could join it. Many historians argue that the history of the occurrence on February 23 is of an accidental nature and almost does not coincide with historical dates.

Already on October 25, 1917, a victory was won in the uprising in Petrograd, after which counter-revolutionary clashes began in the Republic of Soviets, and the Soviet government waged a struggle with them. It should be noted that at that time the Armed Forces were the Red Guard of soldiers and sailors.

Later, in 1918, the government began to establish permanent armed forces in order to protect the state from Germany. On January 15, Lenin signed the decree of the "Red Army", and on January 29 - the decree of the "RKKF", on which the Red Army and the Red Fleet were formed.

On February 18 of this year, German, Austrian and Turkish troops violate the truce with Soviet Russia and invade it, the occupation of Byelorussia, the Baltic states and Ukraine begins. On February 21, Minsk was captured by the German troops. Therefore, on this day, the government of the Soviet Union appeals to the people to call upon it to defend the Fatherland. It is then that the story of February 23 starts a new countdown, since this day already then, in 1919, was considered the day of spacecraft. Ya.M. Sverdlov, speaking at a meeting of the Workers' Council, stressed that the Army was created to protect the Fatherland from foreign enemies. And in 1922 an order was issued by the Military Council of the Republic on the creation of the Day of the Red Army and the Navy.

Somewhat later, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee combined the anniversary of the Red Army (Red Army) with the Day of the Red Gift (one of the agitation events). The people were informed that the DKP was moved to February 23, on this winter's day all the cities of Soviet Russia and at the front will celebrate the anniversary of the spacecraft. This is the story of the celebration on February 23.

It should also be said that it was only in 1923 that the reason for his celebration on that day was first mentioned. So, back in 1918 on this day the decree of the Council of People's Commissars on January 15, 1918 about the beginning of the formation of the workers 'and peasants' army was published.

Only when the USSR collapsed, this holiday was renamed the Defender of the Fatherland Day.

As you can see, the history of February 23 is a controversial moment, as some claim that this holiday begins on the day of the victory of the Soviet Guard over the German troops near Pskov. Others believe that its emergence is the result of armed attacks by foreign troops on the territory of Soviet Russia. In any case, this winter day is considered the day of mobilization of the armed forces for the defense of the Fatherland and resistance to the invaders.

Thus, the story of February 23 is quite an interesting question, which today remains controversial. So, already since 1946 this day was celebrated in the USSR as a national holiday and became one of the significant and beloved. Gradually the traditions of his celebration changed somewhat, and he became not only the day of the military, but also of all the men of the Soviet Union.

Once again, it should be recalled that throughout the history of this holiday, he had several names. So, at first it was called the Day of the Soviet Army, later - the Birthday of the Spacecraft, then - the Birthday of the Armed Forces and the Navy, today it is called "Defender of the Fatherland Day" and is celebrated in virtually every country of the former Soviet Union.

Starting from the time of the First World War, this holiday remains to the present day significant for every citizen.