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'''Victory Day''' (also shortened as ''V-Day'') is a common name of many different [[public holiday]]s in various countries. In most cases it is to commemorate [[victory|victories]] in important [[battle]]s or [[war]]s in the countries' history. For [[example]], in [[Russia]], it is celebrated on May 9th for the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]] in what Russia calls "The Great Patriotic War" (World War II).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Russia-celebrate-victory-day-and-other-countries-do-not |title=Why does Russia celebrate victory day and other countries do not? |author=Erin Lenore Bouma |publisher=Quora |access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> For the [[United States]] and [[Britain]], the victory in Europe (celebrated as [[Victory in Europe Day]] or V-E Day) was only part of the victory. It is celebrated on May 8th (May 7th in the [[United Kingdom]]). The war in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] did not end for the US and Britain until the Japanese surrender on Sept. 2, 1945. This is celebrated as [[Victory over Japan Day]] or V-J Day. This part of the war is usually not studied by Russians. In [[France]], their Victory Day also celebrated the end of World War II and is celebrated on May 8, 1945, when [[Charles de Gaulle]] announced the end of the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/france/wwii-victory-day |title=WWII Victory Day in France |publisher=Time and Date AS |access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref>

== List of countries with a Victory Day ==
{|class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
! style="width:9em;" | Country/Territory
! style="width:5em;" data-sort-type="isoDate" | Date
! class="unsortable" | Details
|-
| {{flag|Cambodia}} || data-sort-value="2010-01-07" | January 7 || This [[Public holidays in Cambodia|national holiday]] was established to commemorate the end of the [[Khmer Rouge]] regime in 1979.
|-
| {{flag|Angola}} || data-sort-value="2010-03-27" | March 27 || Victory Day in [[Angola]] is on March 27. 
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}} || data-sort-value="2010-04-30" | April 30 || '''[[Reunification Day]]''' - April 30 is an annual [[holidays in Vietnam|holiday in Vietnam]] to commemorate the [[fall of Saigon]] in 1975 at the end of the [[Vietnam War]]. It is commonly known as Victory Day (Ngày Chiến thắng), Reunification Day (Ngày Thống nhất), or Liberation Day (Ngày Giải phóng).
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam }} || data-sort-value="2010-05-07" | May 7 || In Vietnam, May 7, 1954 marks the victory of Vietnam over French forces at the [[battle of Dien Bien Phu]]. This victory ended 80 years of French colonization and began the time of independence for Vietnam.
|-
| {{flag|Europe}} || data-sort-value="2010-05-08" | May 8 || '''[[Victory in Europe Day]]''' - Victory Day marks the end of World War II in Europe, specifically the capitulation of [[Nazism|Nazi]] forces to the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] (the Soviet Union, Canada, France, United Kingdom, United States and other principal Allied nations) on May 8, 1945. The British [[Channel Islands]] were not liberated from [[Occupation of the Channel Islands|German Occupation]] until May 9 ([[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]]), May 10 ([[Sark]]), and May 16 ([[Alderney]]).
|-
| {{flag|Soviet Union}}<br/>{{flag|Russian Federation}}<br/>{{flag|Serbia}}<br/>{{flag|Belarus}}<br/>{{flag|Armenia}}<br/>{{flag|Kazakhstan}}<br/>{{flag|Azerbaijan}}<br/>{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}<br/>{{flag|Tajikistan}}<br/>{{flag|Moldova}}<br/>{{flag|Macedonia}}<br/>{{flag|Mongolia}}<br/>{{flag|Montenegro}}<br/>{{flag|Abkhazia}}<br/>{{flag|South Ossetia}}<br/>{{flag|Nagorno-Karabakh}}<br/>{{flag|Transnistria}} || data-sort-value="2010-05-09" | May 9 || '''[[Victory Day (May 9)]]''' - In Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and other countries of the former Soviet Union, the day of Victory over [[Nazi Germany]] was celebrated on May 9. When the [[German Instrument of Surrender, 1945|German Instrument of Surrender]] actually entered into force in the West (May 8, 1945 at 23:01 [[Central European Time|CET]]) a similar but entirely separate document had not been signed with the Soviet Union, and it was not signed until the following day. Some post-Soviet countries, most notably the [[Russian Federation]], have continued the tradition. Serbians celebrate May 9 as a national holiday as well. In many cities people gather on the main square with the Serbian army to celebrate the anniversary with war veterans.
|-
| {{flag|Ukraine}}|| data-sort-value="2015-05-09" | May 9 || '''[[Victory Day over Nazism in World War II]]'''
|-
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}} || data-sort-value="2010-05-18" | May 18 || '''[[Victory Day (Sri Lanka)|Victory Day]]''' - Victory Day marks the end of [[LTTE]] in Sri Lanka, specifically the [[Capitulation (surrender)|capitulation]] of [[LTTE]] forces to the [[Sri Lanka Army|SL ARMY]] on May 18, 2009.
|-
| {{flag|Estonia}} || data-sort-value="2010-06-23" | June 23 || ''Võidupüha'' or Victory Day is a [[Public holidays in Estonia|public holiday in Estonia]], which has been celebrated on 23 June every year since 1934. The date recalls the victory in the 1919 [[Battle of Cesis (1919)|Battle of Võnnu]] (near [[Cēsis]], [[Latvia]]) of the [[Military of Estonia|Estonian military forces]] (and Latvian North brigade) and their allies over [[Baltic Germans|German forces]] ([[Baltische Landeswehr]]) who sought to re-assert [[Baltic Germans|Baltic-German]] control over the region. The battle was part of the 1918-1920 Estonian [[Estonian Liberation War|War of Independence]], where the main adversary of the newly independent Estonia was [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Communist Russia]]. Today, ''Võidupüha'' also marks the contributions of all [[Estonia]]ns in their fight to regain and retain their independence. The celebration is ceremonially tied to the [[Midsummer]] celebrations on June 24. According to Estonian laws, the state flags are not to be lowered during the night between these two days.
|-
| {{flag|India}} || data-sort-value="2010-06-26" | July 26 || [[Kargil vijay diwas]] (Kargil Victory Day) commemorates the 1999 [[Kargil War]] between India And Pakistan. 
|-
| {{flag|North Korea}} || data-sort-value="2010-07-27" | July 27 || '''[[Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War]]''' - July 27, 1953, [[North Korea]] celebrates the ''Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War'' to commemorate the end of the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/kim-jong-un-visits-war-graves-ahead-north-koreas-day-f6C10742189 |title=Kim Jong Un visits war graves ahead of North Korea's 'Day of Victory' |author=Se Young Lee; Maxim Duncan |date=25 July 2013 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-date=11 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311200354/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/kim-jong-un-visits-war-graves-ahead-north-koreas-day-f6C10742189 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}}<br/>{{flag|Cambodia}}<br/>{{flag|Laos}} || data-sort-value="2010-08-01" | August 1 || [[Vietnam]] (then divided between the [[North Vietnam|north]] and [[South Vietnam|south]]) along with [[Cambodia]] and [[Laos]] claim their independence from the [[French colonial empire]] after the withdraw of the [[French Army]] on August 1, 1954.
|-
| {{flag|Croatia}} || data-sort-value="2010-08-05" | August 5 || '''[[Victory Day (Croatia)]]''' - [[Croatia]] celebrates the ''Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders'' on August 5, commemorating the [[Croatian War of Independence]], specifically the liberation of [[Knin]] on August 5, 1995.
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || data-sort-value="2010-08-09" | August 9 || '''[[Victory Day (United States)|Victory Day]]''' is usually observed in [[Hawaii]] and [[Rhode Island]] on the second Monday of August. It celebrates the conclusion of World War II, see also [[Victory over Japan Day]]. It was a nationally recognized holiday, but it has since been removed because of the nature of the war's ending (i.e. [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|dropping the atomic bomb]] on [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]] on August 9, 1945). Rhode Island retains the holiday in tribute to the disproportionate number of sailors it sent and lost in the Pacific front.
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}} || data-sort-value="2010-08-30" | August 30 || Victory Day (local name: ''Zafer Bayramı'') on August 30 is a [[Holidays in Turkey|national holiday in Turkey]] to commemorate the victory in the [[Battle of Dumlupınar]], one of the final and the most decisive battles in the [[Turkish War of Independence]] in 1922.
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || data-sort-value="2010-09-02" | September 2 || '''[[Victory over Japan Day]]''' (also known as '''Victory in the Pacific Day''', '''V-J Day''', or '''V-P Day''') is a name chosen for the day on which [[Surrender of Japan|Japan surrendered]], effectively ending [[World War II]], and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – to the afternoon of August 15, 1945, in Japan, and, because of time zone differences, to August 14, 1945 (when it was announced in the United States and the rest of the Americas and Eastern Pacific Islands) – as well as to September 2, 1945, when the signing of the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender|surrender document]] occurred, officially ending World War II.
|-
| {{flag|China}}<br>{{flag|Taiwan}} || data-sort-value="2015-09-03" | September 3 || '''[[Victory over Japan Day]]''' (also known as '''Victory in the Pacific Day''', '''V-J Day''', or '''V-P Day''') is a name chosen for the day on which [[Surrender of Japan|Japan surrendered]], effectively ending [[World War II]], and subsequent anniversaries of that event. 
|-
| {{flag|Mozambique}} || data-sort-value="2010-09-07" | September 7 || '''[[Victory Day (Mozambique)|Victory Day]]''' on September 7 is a national holiday in Mozambique to commemorate the signing of the agreement to end the Mozambican War of Independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://datab.us/i/Mozambique |title=Mozambique |publisher=Datab.us |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-date=31 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331065053/http://datab.us/i/Mozambique |url-status=dead }}</ref> The agreement was signed between Portugal and [[Mozambique]] in 1974, with independence granted in 1975. In Portuguese, the official language of Mozambique, the holiday is known as Dia da Vitória.
|-
| {{flag|Malta}} || data-sort-value="2010-09-08" | September 8 || Victory Day on September 8 is a [[Holidays in Malta|national holiday in Malta]] to commemorate the victory of the [[Knights Hospitaller]] over the [[Ottoman Turks]] in the [[Siege of Malta (1565)|Great Siege]] of 1565, as well as the [[Capitulation (surrender)|capitulation]] of Italy in 1943, turning against its former [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] ally during World War II thus ending the [[Siege of Malta (1940)|Second Siege]] of Malta. September 8 is also the [[feast day]] of the birth of [[Mary, the mother of Jesus]], which is popularly celebrated in [[Xagħra]], [[Naxxar]], [[Senglea]], and [[Mellieħa]] on the same day. The traditional ''regatta'' featuring boat races in the Grand Harbour is also held on this day.
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}} || data-sort-value="2010-09-08" | September 8 || '''[[Operation Dwarka]]''' - Pakistan celebrates Victory day for [[Pakistan Navy]] on September 8 on the occasion of the acclaimed success of [[Operation Dwarka]] during [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1965]].
|-
| {{flag|Italy}} || data-sort-value="2010-11-04" | November 4 || Italy celebrates it commemorating victory over [[Austria-Hungary]] in World War I on November 4, 1918. 
|-

| {{flag|Laos}} || data-sort-value="2010-12-02" | December 2 || The [[Pathet Lao]]'s capture of [[Laos]]'s capital [[Vientiane]] which ended the [[Laotian Civil War]] on December 2, 1975.
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| {{flag|Bangladesh}}<br /> {{flag|India}} || data-sort-value="2010-12-16" | December 16 || [[Victory Day (Bangladesh)|Victory Day]] on December 16 is a [[Public holidays in Bangladesh|national holiday in Bangladesh]] to commemorate the [[Instrument of Surrender (1971)|surrender of Pakistani]] forces to allied Indian and [[Mukti Bahini|Bangladeshi]] forces in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971.<ref name=CIAWFB>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/print_2109.html |title=Field Listing – National Holiday |publisher=CIA World Fact Book |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922105638/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/print_2109.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This holiday is known as ''Bijoy Dibosh'' ({{lang-bn|বিজয় দিবস}}) in Bangladesh, and it is also commemorated as [[Vijay Diwas (India)|Vijay Diwas]] in India to mark the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|victory]]. In India, the day is primarily of military significance.
|-
| {{flag|Egypt}} || data-sort-value="06-10-1973" | October 6th || The day of Egypt's victory over Israel, which caused the failure of Bar Lev Line and liberation of Sinai 
|-
|}

== Related pages ==
* November 11: [[Remembrance Day]], [[Veterans Day]], [[Armistice Day]]
* [[Liberation Day]]: List of dates on which countries were liberated from occupiers
* [[National Day]]: A day marking the founding of a nation which can be related to a key victory

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Kq8idlMr8 Victory Day in Egypt, February 11, 2011]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPCXiyo-3L8 Victory Parade, Russia, Moscow, 2015]

[[Category:Holidays]]


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