Thousands of troops in World War II uniform have marched across Moscow's Red Square in a re-enactment of a historic wartime parade.
On Nov. 7, 1941, Red Army soldiers marched directly to the front line during the Battle of Moscow to repel the invading Nazi forces closing in on the Soviet capital.
Click to Gallery
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform sit in the back of a GAZ AA during the Nov. 7 parade, with St. Basil Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms prepare to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms sit in the back of a Soviet made ZIS-5 truck as the the Spasskaya Tower is reflected in the windshield prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Spectators with Russian national and Red flags watch as Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers march along Red Square during the Victory parade carrying the Victory in the WWII Flag during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
People walk around a WWII style legendary Soviet tank T-34 after the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian girl-cadets march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
A volunteer dressed in a Red Army World War II uniform sits atop of a tachanka a horse-drawn machine gun, during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday the 1941 parade was "a symbol of courage and faith," paving way for "the first difficult step toward victory over the Nazis."
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
The re-enactment featured about 5,000 troops in period uniforms, vintage T-34 tanks and other WW II weapons.
During Soviet times, annual military parades were held on Nov. 7 to commemorate the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. The holiday was abolished in 2005, but many older Russians still celebrate it.
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform sit in the back of a GAZ AA during the Nov. 7 parade, with St. Basil Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms prepare to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniform march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms sit in the back of a Soviet made ZIS-5 truck as the the Spasskaya Tower is reflected in the windshield prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Spectators with Russian national and Red flags watch as Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers march along Red Square during the Victory parade carrying the Victory in the WWII Flag during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
People walk around a WWII style legendary Soviet tank T-34 after the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II winter uniforms stand prior to the start of the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian girl-cadets march during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral and thew Spasskaya Tower in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The event marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
A volunteer dressed in a Red Army World War II uniform sits atop of a tachanka a horse-drawn machine gun, during the Nov. 7 parade in Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. The parade marked the 77th anniversary of a World War II historic parade in Red Square and honored the participants in the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. (AP PhotoAlexander Zemlianichenko)
