Happy Memorial and Sorrow Day on June 22: touching postcards

The day of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War is one of the most important dates that influenced the course of world history. In 2025, Russia and other countries will celebrate the 84th anniversary of this event. Izvestia has prepared postcards and pictures with inscriptions for the memorable date, which can be posted on social networks or sent to loved ones.

Touching postcards on the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow

Memorial and Mourning Day was established by presidential decree in June 1996 and is celebrated annually on June 22. It was on this day in the summer of 1941 that the most brutal and bloody war in the history of mankind began, which claimed the lives of about 27 million people. Among the dead are both military personnel and victims of concentration camps, blockade workers, as well as hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The losses of our country were enormous — approximately 40% of all human losses during the war years were caused by the Soviet Union. Moreover, over 1,700 cities were destroyed or severely damaged.

Despite the fact that the authorities had received information about a possible surprise German attack as early as early June, most residents were taken aback by the news of the outbreak of hostilities. The news of the invasion of Nazi troops was announced on Sunday, June 22, around noon, when people were planning to spend the day off. It said that at 4 a.m., the Wehrmacht and its allies launched a large-scale offensive along the entire western border of the USSR without declaring war.

Kiev, Riga, Vilnius, Minsk, Grodno, Brest, Zhytomyr, Sevastopol and many other cities were bombed. After the official announcement of the outbreak of hostilities, a decree was issued on the general mobilization of all military personnel. Soon, there were queues of conscripts and volunteers at the military registration and enlistment offices — many of them already had combat experience in previous wars of the early 20th century.

Many new recruits died in the first days of the battles. In less than a month, the Red Army lost about 850 thousand people killed and wounded. However, the heroism of the fallen defenders of the Motherland became an example for those who continued to fight and fought to complete victory over the enemy.

The path to victory lasted 1,418 days and nights. In this bloody war, the Soviet people not only defended their homeland, but also played a key role in the liberation of the European nations.

On the Day of Remembrance and Mourning, the whole country mourns those who died defending their homeland. On a memorable date, national flags are lowered everywhere, flags with mourning ribbons are hung on residential buildings, and all entertainment events and broadcasts are canceled. Candles are lit at memorials and monuments to soldiers as part of the All-Russian Candle of Memory campaign.

Similar events are held on June 22 in other countries of the former Soviet Union. In particular, in Kazakhstan and Belarus, the commemorative date there is called the "Day of National Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War."

Residents of foreign countries, whose ancestors fought with Soviet soldiers during the Second World War, also join the commemorative events. Citizens from all over the world post on social networks, talk about their relatives, veterans, send postcards to each other, preserving the memory of the dead.

Pictures with inscriptions on the Day of Remembrance and Mourning in 2024

Postcards often depict the Eternal Flame, St. George's ribbons and red carnations, which symbolize the blood and sacrifices given in the name of peace on earth. In previous years, these flowers were given by wives to their husbands who went to the front.

Other subjects include candles of remembrance, photographs of soldiers and cities on fire. The images are often accompanied by inscriptions thanking veterans and emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of the heroic deeds of the peoples who united in the struggle against fascism.

Earlier, Izvestia shared pictures and postcards on Russia Day.