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This week, Russian history brings a fact that changed the course of World War II. We will learn more about an operation that marked the lives of Europeans forever, and more especially, that of Russians. We will also talk about the Order the Red Star and also about the meaning of that red star. Finally, we will read about the calendar changes Russia went through, and we will learn more about the biggest plane in the world.
In Berlin in 1940, Adolf Hitler signed the directive No. 21 and sent it to all his generals. Behind this code name hides "Operation Barbarossa", the German blitzkrieg against the bulk of the Russian army. The intention was clear: to end the Russians, invade the country and conquer Moscow. In principle, this plan was meant to be completed before another ambitious operation that Hitler had designed to get hold of Europe: the invasion of England. Operation Barbarossa lasted two years and was a total failure for the German Army. The harsh winter, with temperatures as low as -50ºC, plus the losses in Leningrad and the Battle of Moscow, caused the German spirit to suffer for the rest of the war. When Germany decided to withdraw and flee, their casualties did not reach 200.000 soldiers while the Russians lost more than three million.
Operation Barbarossa
We continue with war-related events. This week in 1991 the last Order of the Red Star was awarded. This order was awarded to members of the Red Army in recognition for exceptional services in the defense of the Soviet Union, both in wartime and in times of peace. During World War II, about three million of these medals were granted. Six of them were awarded to six Americans who fought in the Red Army.
The Red Star order
Speaking of the Red Army, this week in 1917, shortly after starting the October Revolution, the Red Star is introduced in the army uniforms. It was the first distinctive symbol used by what was going to become a regular army. This five-pointed star with a deep red colour symbolized both the five fingers of the proletarians and the five continents. In addition, its color symbolized blood, which gives vitality.
Russian soldiers with the Red Star
We now finish this week with two historical events that occurred in the third week of December:
While the year 1699 was ending in Western Europe, in Russia a new one had already begun: in fact in Russia it was the year 7209. This was so because while countries like Spain, France and England used the Gregorian calendar, Russia used the Byzantine calendar which, among other things, marked September 1 as the first day of the year. Tsar Peter I wanted his country to be closer to the European courts, and therefore decreed a calendar change: thus, Russia adopted the Julian calendar and New Year's Day would be on January 1. Between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, there was a difference of 13 days. It was not until the year 1918 that got to have exactly the same date as the rest of Europe.
In 1988 the Antonov 225 aircraft took off for the first time. It was designed to carry the Soviet shuttle Buran (that never became operational). There is only one working unit of this exceptional plane that holds more than 240 records, including size, weight and the heaviest load ever carried by an aircraft: 189.980 kg
Antonov 225 with Buran shuttle
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