As the world marks the 70th anniversary of end of World War II, Russia is set to hold one of the largest military parades ever seen. The war between Soviet Union and Hitler’s Germany was one of the conflict’s largest theatres. The Russian version of Hitler’s defeat emphasizes the enormous, unrivalled sacrifices made by the Soviet people to end World War II, so the country has long staged a colossal military parade on May 9 to recognize Victory Day as the most important event in Russian history. The government of President Vladimir V. Putin has pledged to make the 70th anniversary celebration on Saturday the biggest ever. Yet where Russia had also used the day to acknowledge the toppling of Hitler as the high point of its cooperation with the West, this year’s version seems to emphasize their differences.
For Africa, World War II began not in 1939, but in 1935 When Italian troops, backed by thousands of Eritrean colonial forces, invaded Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie was forced to flee to the UK, but others, known as Patriots, fought on.
