It was the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union when Russia showcased its military might in all its glory. On May 9 2008 tanks and missiles rolled across Red Square to mark the 63^rd anniversary of Victory in World War II. Dmitry Medvedev, the new President of Russia, who officially took office on May 7, delivered a speech to the nation during the parade

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday told the annual massive Victory Day commemoration in Red Square that desecrating war monuments harms relations between countries. Putin did not mention any country by name, but the statement in his speech before thousands of veterans, dignitaries and soldiers was an apparent reference to the recent removal of the statue of a Red Army soldier from downtown Tallinn

The standoff between Russia and Estonia over the relocation of the Soviet Soldier memorial continues. As it was expected, the United States did not support Russia in the dispute, but sided with Estonia. UD officials urge the two sides to cooperate and to reduce tension in their relations.

The victory in the world’s most horrible war was not just a military accomplishment. It became possible because of the power of will and the unity of the nation. It was the triumph of true patriotism which cannot be brought in from somewhere else. There can be only one home for such patriotism – the human heart.

December 21 was the 126th birthday of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Historian and publicist Nikolay Dobryukha says the Kremlin archives contain documented evidence proving that Stalin was poisoned
The discovered documents absolutely disprove all affirmations saying that Stalin died of cerebral hemorrhage caused by his poor health. It was not true when some people stated that “Stalin was seriously ill, especially after the dramatic stress he endured during WWII”. These talks appeared as soon as bulletins about Stalin's health were published for the first time on March 4, 1953

When arrested, the woman described in detail where and how she committed every execution
Usually Antonina Makarova was ordered to execute a group of 27 people, the number of partisans which a local prison could house. Death sentences were carried out on the edge of a pit half a kilometer from the prison. She never knew people whom she executed and they had no notion who the executioner was either. Antonina executed the first group of partisans being absolutely drunk and the girl could hardly realize what she was doing. She often kept clothes of those whom she killed if the things were good; she carefully washed them and heaped them in her room

Tank that is on display in one of the provincial museums can be worth tens of millions of dollars
It is hardly a surprise that some specimens of vintage military equipment still scattered across Russia are impossible to evaluate. The tank that used to stir up an argument between the two Russian governors falls under the priceless military artifacts category dating back to WWII. Some sources indicate that the Tiger in question was Adolf Hitler's favorite toy

The book The Unknown Hitler based on recollections of Heinz Linge and  Otto Günsche is published in Russia
The book is based on the statements by two SS officers from that were close to Hitler and who were watching his life closely during many years. Pravda.Ru interviewed Dr. Matthias Uhl, one of the authors of unclassified materials from Stalin's personal archive, which have been kept for 50 years under top-secret stamp. At the moment Dr. Uhl is working in the recently opened German Historical Institute in Moscow (Deutsches Historisches Institut Moscau)

When Simon Wiesenthal was rescued from the Nazi captivity during WWII, he weighed only 45 kilos
Simon Wiesenthal, the man who spent 60 years of his life searching for Nazi criminals and founded the center to capture them and bring them to trial, died in Vienna yesterday at age 96. Over 1,100 Nazi murderers, who managed to survive in WWII, were judged and put into prison owing to Simon Wiesenthal's activities. Mr. Wiesenthal was condemning all displays of Nazism in the up-to-date society until his dying day

Latvian big noses have gone too far in their game of independence where they do anything they like
Fascism has been spreading in Latvia for a long time, causing anger of more or less sensible citizens. Latvian neo-Nazis aim to spread Hitler's legacy. It would be interesting to see whether NATO Secretary General and other high officials, which support democracy, will be able to call down the authorities of a small European country.