Russian Navy Day. From St. Petersburg to Vladivostok: how Russia celebrates Navy Day Celebrating the Navy

List of solemn and memorable days in honor armed forces our state very impressive. However, among them there is one that is familiar even to people very far from the army. It's Navy Day. What date is Navy Day in 2018 In Russian federation who is being congratulated on this memorable day, how old is this holiday.

When is Navy Day in 2018 in Russia

Navy Day, like many different professional and simply memorable holidays, is one of those that does not have one fixed date on the calendar. In accordance with the presidential decree, this holiday is always celebrated in July - on the last weekend of this month. By opening the calendar, we can see what date the last Sunday of July falls on.

How old is Navy Day?

Navy Day, which we will celebrate once again in 2018, is a fairly young holiday - in its current form it arose only 12 years ago - in 2006, the Ros-Register website informs. By presidential decree of May 31, 2006, the last Sunday in July was set as the date for this holiday.

However, modern Navy Day has a predecessor - the Soviet holiday Navy Day.

This holiday arose after the end of the Civil War, in 1939. Consequently, this year Navy Day turns 79 years old - and this is quite a serious period.

History of Navy Day in Russia

Navy Day owes its origins to Nikolai Kuznetsov, an admiral who at one time did a tremendous amount of work to establish the military fleet in the USSR. In 1939, the then legislative body of the state, the Council of People's Commissars, on the initiative of Nikolai Kuznetsov, issued a Resolution that stated the establishment of a new professional holiday for military sailors - Navy Day. The date of the holiday was then set on July 24.

The purpose of establishing this holiday was to mobilize all available forces to strengthen the then new unit of the USSR Armed Forces - the military fleet. Having become the successor to the Navy of the Russian Empire, and having undergone many reforms to somehow get rid of the remnants of the past, the Navy needed additional attention and strengthening of its image in the eyes of the population. To solve these problems, this holiday was established then.

July 24 was Navy Day until 1980 - then the Supreme Council decided to make changes to the list of holidays of the Soviet Army. The new date was made “floating” - since 1980, the holiday began to be celebrated on the last day of July.

Several decades later, the date chosen at that time was confirmed by the President of Russia - by decree of May 31, 2006, the last Sunday in July was recognized as the final option for celebrating Navy Day.

Celebrating Navy Day in Russia

Russia owes its glory as a great maritime power entirely to its military sailors - Navy Day is celebrated in their honor.

The celebration traditionally begins with the raising of the St. Andrew's flag on military ships. The fleet personnel receive numerous congratulations from high-ranking military leaders, right down to the top officials of the country. The most distinguished military sailors are awarded certificates, medals, they are given extraordinary titles and awards, and the personnel are given memorable gifts and thanks.

In honor of Navy Day, parades of military ships are organized, and “open days” are held on many ships.

For ordinary people, such a day is probably the most interesting part of Navy Day. What is logical is that anyone gets the opportunity to observe with their own eyes the structure of a military ship, practically experience the life of a sailor, and get to know the people who protect the maritime borders of Russia.

Of course, on such a holiday, various military sports competitions between courts are also held. Finding/hitting a target, maneuvering/shooting, performing tasks against time, the ability to navigate in non-standard situations - competitions in a game form test the combat readiness of ships for national defense.

When is Navy Day in 2018 in Russia: Event program

As the organizers of the celebration said, it will include several components - land, sea and air. The sea is clear - in the morning there will be a parade, which will also be broadcast on the big screen on Palace Square.

Air - residents can expect an aviation parade and, possibly, a performance by famous domestic aerobatic teams.

The ground component is a big concert on Dvortsovaya. Here, from 14.00, songs of the war years and classical music from musicians and performers from both the city and other countries of the world will be heard.

At 18.00 Oleg Gazmanov will take the stage, and at 20.00 the Turetsky Choir will give a concert.

During the day, festivals and entertainment programs for children and adults are expected in the recreation areas of St. Petersburg. The holiday will end at 23.00 with bright fireworks from the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Crimea, Sevastopol - the most important base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet

According to tradition, the holiday is celebrated on a special scale, since its history is closely connected with the Russian Navy since imperial times. Therefore, people show the greatest interest in Sevastopol.

From the very morning, people lay flowers at the Memorial to the heroic defenders of Sevastopol on Nakhimovskaya Square and attend the ceremonial raising of the St. Andrew's flag. Later, residents and guests of the city flock to the observation decks to watch the parade of ships. The spectacular event includes the following program:

• display of aerobatic teams “Swifts” and “Grad”;
• hijacking a pirate ship;
• launching missiles and firing ships;
• demonstration of the capabilities of marine equipment of various ranks (about 20 episodes);
• and much more.

The final chord is the traditional “fountains on the sea surface”, group jumps of parachutists and the “tug waltz” performed by the support vessels of the Russian Navy. In the evening, on Nakhimov Square there is a concert with the participation of pop stars, a spectacular fireworks display and fireworks over the water surface of Sevastopol Bay.

A brief history of the holiday in numbers

One of the unofficial names of Navy Day is Neptune Day. It was widely celebrated in the Soviet Union, organizing colorful carnivals.

Navy Day. history of the holiday

In Russia, Navy Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of July. The need for a fleet appeared in Russia back in the 17th century. To avoid total cultural and political isolation, the empire needed the development of sea routes. The lack of a fleet hampered the country's development.

The very first warship was built under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, according to the design of the Flemish engineer Van Bukoven. It was the most modern ship at that time, named “Eagle”, in honor of the eagle depicted on the coat of arms of the empire. Its parameters were impressive: 25 meters long, almost 7 meters wide, with a ship draft of 1.5 meters. The ship's armament also made opponents tremble - 22 cannons were placed on its sides. "Eagle" became only the first sign in the powerful Russian fleet.

Peter the Great was also an ardent admirer of the development of shipping and in his decree he wrote: “There will be a navy!” An ardent supporter of integration with Europe, Peter and his associates realized that without a navy, Russia had no future among the leading powers of the Old World. A huge number of shipyards began to appear on Russian territory, where military and civilian vessels of various classifications were created. At this rate, by the beginning of the 18th century, the Russian fleet received 40 sailing and 113 rowing ships. The primary task set by Peter was successfully completed, so it was necessary to move on. Despite the fact that the Azov fleet was constantly replenished with new ships, Peter understood that Russia needed direct access to the Baltic. As a result of the 20-year war with the Swedes, Russia gained access to the Baltic Sea.

Modern Navy

Nowadays, the Russian Navy has the main task of protecting the interests of the country at sea, as well as conducting combat operations in any part of the world, if the interests of Russia also require it. The ships are equipped with powerful weapons, have the ability to hit the enemy at vast distances, destroying military installations on land and at sea, support ground operations from the water, and also protect the main sea trade routes.

The Russian Navy today is represented not only by warships, but also by submarines, naval aviation, as well as the marine corps and border service. In addition, the structure includes ships for special purposes and rear protection. The Russian military fleet is represented in the Baltic and North Seas, the Black and Caspian Seas, as well as in the Pacific region. The Russian Navy is not just a glorious history, countless exploits, but also the real pride of the country. Without the fleet there would not have been numerous historical victories and achievements, and there would have been no reliable protection of sea borders. Now Russia is considered one of the greatest maritime powers, thanks to perseverance, fearlessness and will.

When is Navy Day celebrated in 2020?

There are quite a lot of military holidays and memorial days in the latest list of special dates in Russia, corrected in 2017. Some of them are well-known, some are familiar only to representatives of certain professions, and most of us are not even aware of the existence of some. But among them there are those that literally every resident of the country knows - special, significant holidays of the Armed Forces. Among these dates is Navy Day or simply Navy Day.

Date 2019

Despite the fact that everyone knows about this holiday, the question of what date is Navy Day arises regularly. The fact is that in our country this memorable day does not have a clear, fixed date in the calendar. And every year the holiday is celebrated on a new date.

According to the Presidential Decree, Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in July. That is why every year we have to specifically clarify the date of the holiday.

This special holiday

No matter how unusual it may seem, Navy Day is not a professional holiday. Yes, it is celebrated by everyone who has connected their lives with the existence and functioning of the navy, everyone who is engaged in protecting the country’s maritime borders, who ensures the combat readiness of ships and coastal crews, sailors and border guards, veterans and simply those who have a military member in the family naval units. But at the same time, the holiday bears the name of the Navy, which means it is not a professional day, but a memorable one. It was established as a tribute to the memory of the maritime glory of our country.

A little history

In 2019, Navy Day will be celebrated for the eightieth time - this holiday appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, back in 1939. The then young Soviet state, which had recently appeared on the map, was faced with the urgent task of protecting and defending its own borders. To solve this problem, various military units were created, including the Navy, which initially bore the title of Workers' and Peasants'.

Initially, the country's leadership set itself the goal of a kind of rehabilitation of the Fleet: returning to it the glory of one of the most formidable combat units, general mobilization and strengthening it as a unit of the Armed Forces.

In 1939, the head of the newly formed Fleet was Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov - a man who devoted his entire life to the sea, a man who began his career as a messenger in the port of Arkhangelsk and, through his own labor and talent, rose to the highest naval rank of the country.

Among the first steps taken by Kuznetsov to mobilize the Fleet was the proposal to establish a new holiday - Navy Day. In June 1939, this idea was supported by the Council of People's Commissars - at the next meeting a corresponding Resolution was signed, and a month later - at the end of July 1939 - all servicemen of the USSR Navy celebrated their own holiday.

Initially, the holiday was set on a specific date - July 24. Regardless of the day of the week, the holiday was celebrated in midsummer until the end of the seventies of the 20th century. But in 1980, a new Resolution was issued, or rather, a Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. This document changed the dates of a number of special holidays, mostly professional ones; changes were made from fixed to floating. Among the other holidays and memorial days whose dates were adjusted was Navy Day. Now it was to be celebrated on the last Sunday in July.

Until the collapse of the Union, this date was assigned to the holiday at the legislative level. In 1991, the new state - the Russian Federation - reserved the last Sunday of July for Navy Day. And in 2006, by a separate Presidential Decree, the holiday was given the status of a memorable day.

It would seem like very minor changes: it was a professional holiday, but it became a memorable date. However, do not be mistaken - in fact, this status radically changes the attitude both to the holiday itself and to everyone who celebrates it. Initially, this celebration belonged only to those whose “place of work” column indicated the Russian Navy. Today, in 2019, Navy Day is a holiday for everyone who is not indifferent to the glory of Russia as a maritime power, who is proud of the victories won by our Navy at sea. In a word, for everyone who is sure - the Navy is not just an abbreviation, behind these letters lies the honor and glory of Russian sailors.

Look video about Navy Day in Russia:

Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of July on the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 1, 1980 “On holidays and memorial days.” This is one of the most beloved holidays in the USSR and then in Russia, which has the unofficial name of Neptune Day. The creation of a regular military fleet in Russia was due to the country's urgent need to overcome territorial, political and cultural isolation, which at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries became the main obstacle to the economic and social development of the Russian state.

From the history of the fleet

The creation of a regular military fleet in Russia was due to the country's urgent need to overcome territorial, political and cultural isolation, which at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries became the main obstacle to the economic and social development of the Russian state.

The first Russian warship was created under Alexei Mikhailovich. It was built according to the design of the Dutch shipbuilder Colonel Cornelius Vanbukoven. "Eagle" was a perfect vessel for those times. Its length was 24.5 m, width - 6.5 m, and draft - 1.5 m. The ship was armed with 22 cannons. The crew consisted of 22 sailors and 35 archers. The combat vessel received its name in honor of the state emblem.

Alexei Mikhailovich's son Peter I understood perfectly well that the successful solution of the primary and historically important task - access to the Baltic and Black Seas - depended only on well-organized joint actions of the army and navy. As a result, in an incredibly short period of time (from November 1695 to May 1696) in cities located along the banks of rivers flowing into the Sea of ​​Azov, 36-gun ships “Apostle Peter” and “Apostle Paul”, 4 fire ships, 23 galleys, 1,300 sea boats, rafts and plows.

Thus, the Azov Fleet was formed. On July 19, 1696, the Russian army, with the support of warships, took the Turkish fortress of Azak (Azov). The first major victory in the war for access to the sea was won.

In October 1696, the decision of the Boyar Duma legally determined the creation of the Russian fleet and marked the beginning of its construction. “There will be sea vessels...” - such was the will of not only the young Russian Tsar Peter I, but also his associates, who well understood that without a fleet the state could not take a new step in its development.

At numerous shipyards scattered throughout Russia, ships of the Russian Navy of various classes were built. By the spring of 1700, 40 sailing and 113 rowing ships were launched. The Azov fleet was constantly replenished. Having successfully solved the southern problem, Peter I set himself the task of achieving access to the Baltic Sea coast at any cost. The long Northern War with the Swedes began (1700-1721).

The enemy, well aware that he could undermine the power of the Russian army, decided to deliver his decisive blow to Arkhangelsk, the city where the shipyards where warships were built were located. But the enemy’s plan was well known to Peter I. He ordered the installation of batteries along the coastline, the construction of fortifications, the strengthening of the garrison and the control of foreign ships sailing in the White Sea.

The Novodvinsk fortress was built at the mouth of the Northern Dvina. On June 24, 1701, a Swedish squadron of seven ships under the command of Vice Admiral Sheblad, knowing nothing about the recently constructed Russian fortification, approached the mouth of the Northern Dvina. The battle lasted 13 hours. The surviving Swedes barely managed to go to sea on one galliot. Another major victory of the young Russian fleet was triumphant.

It was then that the famous Peter’s commandments were born: “They don’t count enemies - they beat them,” “The flag is not lowered before the enemy under any circumstances,” “Fight to the last, and at the last moment destroy the ship,” etc. They formed the basis of the fighting traditions of the legendary Russian fleet.

The naval battle, which took place on July 26-27, 1714 near the Gangug Peninsula (now Hanko), occupies a special place among the naval battles of Peter the Great's time. During the battle, Russian soldiers managed to capture 6 enemy galleys and 3 skerries. In May 1719, off the island of Ezel, the squadron of Peter I boarded 3 Swedish ships. The emperor himself called the Ezel victory “a good initiative for the Russian fleet.”

In 1720, near the island of Grenham, a detachment of the Russian rowing fleet, commanded by General M. M. Golitsyn, defeated a Swedish squadron consisting of a battleship, 4 frigates, 3 galleys and 6 small ships. As a result, our fleet gained a foothold in the area of ​​the Åland archipelago and subsequently successfully conducted military operations against the enemy from here.

The Swedes, having suffered major losses in the war, were not even able to defend their own territories from the Russian landing. In 1721 they signed the Peace of Nystadt with Russia. The Northern War is over. As a result, the Russian state became a great maritime power.

During the period of his reign, Peter managed to do a lot for the Russian state, but in the list of his services to the Fatherland there is a title that he himself would appreciate most of all - “father of the Russian fleet.”

Thanks to Peter the Great, Russia became one of the strongest naval powers. It was the “father of the Russian fleet” who came up with the idea of ​​holding festive military parades. It is believed that the first such parade took place in 1699 before the Kerch campaign of ships from Taganrog.

This holiday has a long history: 290 years - in August 1714, the Russian fleet under the command of Peter I won its first victory. Then the tradition arose on the occasion of victories at sea to line up ships and fire all cannons. In the Soviet Union, the “Red Fleet Week” was held since 1923. These days there were crowded rallies and meetings, labor cleanups, and fundraisers for the needs of the fleet. During Soviet times, the Birthday of the Russian Navy was called differently - the Birthday of the USSR Navy. It should be noted that this holiday began to be celebrated in 1939 on the initiative of the outstanding Soviet naval commander, Hero of the Soviet Union, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. On July 30, 2006, it is celebrated for the 67th time.

Military sailors in the Soviet Union enjoyed special honor and respect. And they themselves enthusiastically celebrated their professional holiday - Navy Day. Submariners, marine paratroopers and other warriors whose battlefield is the sea will confirm that their work requires special training, a special state of mind, a special calling. It is no coincidence that for many decades, military service in the navy took as much as three years, while in other branches of the military it was a whole year shorter. The importance of the Navy today has not only not been lost, but has increased even more.

Before the First World War, the main tasks were carried out by surface ships, and they were the main branch of the fleet. During the Second World War, this role for some time passed to naval aviation, and in the post-war period, with the advent of nuclear missile weapons and ships with nuclear power plants, submarines established themselves as the main type of force. The Navy as a heterogeneous strategic association was finally formed by the mid-1930s, when the Navy included naval aviation, coastal defense and air defense units.

The modern system of command and control bodies of the Navy finally took shape on the eve of the Great Patriotic War. On January 15, 1938, by resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, the People's Commissariat of the Navy was created, within which the Main Naval Headquarters was formed. During the Great Patriotic War, the Navy reliably covered the strategic flanks of the Soviet-German front, attacked enemy ships and vessels, and protected Russian sea communications.

In the post-war years, the Russian Navy entered the ocean, became nuclear-powered, missile-carrying, highly mobile, capable of solving any tasks to protect the Russian state.

The Navy had its greatest combat potential in the mid-1980s. After the collapse of the USSR, the Russian Navy faced a number of problems: the most important elements of the fleet's basing in the Black, Baltic and Caspian Seas were lost. The largest shipbuilding enterprises remained outside Russia. The number of ships, as well as the pace of construction of warships, was significantly reduced.

At the present stage, one of the main tasks of the state is to maintain the technical readiness of the existing fleet and build new ships, since the presence of a well-equipped modern Navy in Russia is one of the most important tools for ensuring Russia’s national interests in the World Ocean.

The Navy has a truly heroic biography and glorious maritime and military traditions. He is rightfully a source of pride and love for Russian citizens. Its history is one of persistent military work, great discoveries and achievements, feats accomplished for the glory of the Fatherland. With the active participation of many generations of military sailors, during the harsh years of trials, our country defended its right to independence, sovereignty and prosperity.

Russia is a great maritime power. The right to be considered it has been won by generations of our compatriots, whose courage and dedication, brilliant victories in naval battles have gained unfading glory for the country and its Navy.

And today, in the new difficult political and economic conditions, Russian sailors are vigilantly keeping watch to protect the maritime borders of their Motherland and, as before, are ready for any storm warnings.

Today, the Navy successfully solves problems in the interests of ensuring the security and defense capability of the state. As before, the courage and dedication of military sailors helps them overcome difficulties and fulfill their military duty with honor. A clear confirmation of this is the high level of training of personnel, competent use of the combat capabilities of modern weapons systems, vigilant performance of combat service and combat duty, loyalty to the St. Andrew's flag and the military oath.

After all, the most modern equipment will remain just a piece of metal without people capable of operating it - competent, trained, disciplined and dedicated people - officers, midshipmen, sailors, civilian specialists.

On the last Sunday of July, a holiday of special pride and glory of Russia is celebrated - Navy Day. The initiative was launched in 1939, only during the Soviet period this holiday fell on July 24. Much later, in 1980, the Presidium of the USSR established to celebrate it without a fixed date. By decree of the President of Russia in 2006, Navy Day acquired the status of a memorable date in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Protecting national interests has been the main task for more than three centuries. It would be impossible without the valor, courage of military sailors, responsibility, professionalism of workers and employees of those institutions and enterprises that are directly related to this area. And even in peacetime, there are a variety of important tasks, in addition to defending the country and demonstrating military power: ensuring safe research activities, participating in humanitarian and peacekeeping actions, search and rescue operations.

The role of the Navy in the history of Russia is undeniable, and it received its first fame back in ancient times. The sea voyage of several hundred ships to the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, which our ancestors carried out in 860, is a clear example, and a successful one at that. The Novgorod land, from which the statehood of Rus' began, had outlets to two seas: the Baltic and the White. She mastered the capabilities of the military flotilla, albeit on a small scale, but, nevertheless, preserved in history.

As the state developed and gained access to the sea, the need arose to organize a permanent flotilla. The first attempts, such as the creation by Ivan the Terrible of a privateer, almost pirate fleet, were short-lived. But they became the very prerequisites that formed among the subsequent rulers of the state the understanding that: “There will be sea vessels...”. This phrase of the young Tsar Peter I was the beginning of the formation of a regular Russian fleet and a state decree approved by the Boyar Duma on October 20 (30), 1696, and is now listed as the founding day.

Already by 1700 there were first results at our own shipyards, and almost immediately the opportunity for baptism of fire presented itself, and in 1714 the first serious victory was won. The founders of the art of naval combat are considered to be Peter himself, who trained as a child with his “amusing troops,” as well as F. Apraksin, M. Golitsyn. The development of the fleet took place through difficult trials and selfless feats, when Russia defended its interests and independence.

Peter the Great, partly in memory of his father, established the St. Andrew's flag, which became the main symbol and battle banner until 1918. It was under Tsar Alexei that the first warship "Eagle" was built in 1667. This three-masted galliot received a special flag, a prototype approved by Peter. In 1992, the status of the flag returned, just as the status of the most powerful fleet was gradually returning.

The historical peak of power last occurred in 1985, and the US Navy is considered its main competitor. Now the strength of the fleet is assessed not by the number of ships, but by naval aviation, submarines, and innovative technologies, therefore the Ministry of Defense gives priority to the rearmament of the Russian Navy.

Events dedicated to the celebration of Navy Day are as impressive and majestic as itself, and take place throughout Russia. In St. Petersburg, where the headquarters is located, in any city where there are naval bases and water areas, military formations are especially grandiose, because special training takes place on the important date. These are Vladivostok (Pacific Fleet), Astrakhan (Caspian), Sevastopol (Black Sea), Kaliningrad (Baltic), Severomorsk (Northern) and other cities. You can see a parade of ships, a yacht show, boat races, aviation performances, and parachutists.

The holiday begins with a special ceremonial part - raising the flag. Popular music on a maritime theme or classic bravura marches performed by orchestras will not leave anyone indifferent. Concerts are organized; theatrical performances and military sports competitions; master classes on current topics, for example, knitting sea knots. The launch of balloons into the sky in recognizable colors, the colors of the Russian flag, and fireworks are mandatory attributes of the holiday glorifying the Russian Navy and the people who serve the Motherland.