Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Jewish leaders from around the world will unveil a Red Army WWII Victory Monument in Netanya, Israel, next Monday.
The world-class design ‘Victory Monument’, an unprecedented joint-state venture between Israel and Russia, commemorates the Red Army’s victory over Nazi Germany in WWII and honors the millions of Red Army soldiers who perished in the war, among them 120,000 Jews.
More than half a million Jews fought with the Red Army during WWII.
The Monument will be unveiled on June 25.
The design of the Monument was the first-ever joint initiative between Israel and Russia to commemorate the Red Army, and was conducted by a committee of members comprised from both states.
President Putin’s visit to Israel, the first since 2005, will be specifically dedicated for the inauguration ceremony next Monday.
The idea of the monument was proposed in 2010 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow. Putin complied and promised to come to Israel for the inauguration ceremony.
The Monument was erected due to joint efforts by major Jewish philanthropists, led by Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appezal and the World Forum of Russian Jewry.
Without the Red Army’s defeat of the Nazi’s in Russia in 1945, it’s unclear just how far the Third Reich would have gotten on their quest to take over the world.
“This incredible monument symbolizes the historical and ever-important role the Red Army played during WWII and its part in defeating the Nazis and their horrors. Millions of Russian Jews around the world are united at this moment in solidarity for the brave Red Army soldiers,” said Alexander Levin, President of the World Forum of Russian Jewry, who will be representing Russian-speaking Jews from North America.