Russia is celebrating the 75th anniversary of victory of the then Soviet Union in the great war of 1941-45. The Indian armed forces contingent participated in the Victory Day Parade at Red Square, Moscow on Wednesday. The Tri-Service contingent of the Indian military comprised 75 all ranks and marched along with contingents of Russian armed forces and 17 other countries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was among the special invitees to the event.
The British Indian Armed Forces during World War II were one of the largest Allied Forces contingents which took part in the North and East African Campaign, Western Desert Campaign and the European Theatre against the Axis powers. These campaign witnessed sacrifice by over 87 thousand Indian servicemen beside 34,354 being wounded. The Indian military not only fought on all fronts, but also ensured delivery of goods along the Southern, Trans-Iranian Lend-Lease route, along which weapons, ammunitions, spare parts for equipment and food went to the Soviet Union, Iran and Iraq.
The valour of the Indian soldiers was recognised with the award of over four thousand decorations, which also included award of 18 Victoria and George Cross. In addition the then Soviet Union appreciated the valour of the Indian armed forces and by the decree of 23 May 1944, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR signed by Mikhail Kalinin and Alexander Gorkin awarded the prestigious Orders of the Red Star to Subedar Narayan Rao Nikkam and Havildar Gajendra singh Chand of Royal Indian Army Service Corps.
