Presidential Library highlights the origins of the Defender of the Fatherland Day

The holiday, which is celebrated in our country on February 23 is relatively young, a “revolutionary” one, which is associated with the early years of the Soviet power. It was officially established in 1922 and was originally known as the Red Army Day. In 1946 it was renamed the Soviet Army Day, while in 1949 it became known as the Soviet Army and Navy Day. In the early 90s it was called the Russian Army Day for a short while, and by the Federal Law “On Days of Military Glory of Russia” of 1995 it was renamed “The Day of the Red Army’s Victory over Kaiser Troops of Germany in 1918 - the Defenders of the Fatherland Day”. Since 2006 it has been known as the Defender of the Fatherland Day.

Materials of “The Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army” electronic collection of the Presidential Library highlight the events the date of February 23 is associated with.   

Among the early resolutions of the Council of People's Commissars - the Government of Russia after the October Revolution of 1917 – of particular interest is the Decree on Establishment of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army of January 28 (January 15, old style) 1918. The book by S. N. Valk and G. D. Obichkin, which is available on the portal of the Presidential Library, features the text of the document with notes made by the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. I. Lenin.

This document, however, dates from January 1918. The date of establishment of the Defender of the Fatherland Day is associated with another decree - “The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!” (written on February 21, published on February 23, 1918). It spotlights the attack of German army units on the young Soviet state. The Council of People's Commissars decided “to focus the country’s entire efforts and resources on revolutionary defense”. This time marked the first victories of the Red Army over the enemy.   

In “Decrees, Regulations and Orders of the Red Army” (1918) publication there is a text of the “Decree on Compulsory Military Training”.  It reads that at the dawn of the Soviet power, “persons who couldn’t use weapons due to religious beliefs” did not serve in the military. What is more, both men and women served in the Red Army right from the start.

On the portal of the Presidential Library there is a collection of different regulations of armed forces of our country, as well as the book by the Soviet historian D. Ya. Kin (1922) aimed at young soldiers, “Sketches of the Red Army” (1924) – a publication, which in particular reads that a few years after the revolution the Red Army was reduced by several times from 5.3 million to 800 000 servicemen. What is more, further reductions (to 200 000 men) were planned provided that the neighbouring countries would take similar measures. The attempt failed ...

J. Saidman’s book (1926) highlights the revival of the Navy and creation of the full-fledged air force in the country. The “Society of Friends of the Air Force”, which included about 3 million workers and peasants, was set up to reach the latter objective.

“Anniversaries” collection features a publication focused on the first anniversary of the revolutionary army, which, however, came out a year later due to problems with printing houses at that time. “5 Years of the Red Army” publication and “The 25th Anniversary of the Heroic Red Army” – a book, which was published during the Great Patriotic War and was dedicated to it, are also available for study.

But despite its Soviet roots, the Defender of the Fatherland Day is also the day, designed to commemorate numerous Russian victories and celebrated commanders, who brought glory to Russia. Collections dedicated to Alexander Nevsky (1221–1263), generalissimo Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800), general M. D. Skobelev (1843–1882), The Patriotic War of 1812, and the most extensive collection about The Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 are available in the Presidential Library.