GAZ-69 Airborne Troops, Red Square Parade, 9 May 1965

GAZ-69 off-road vehicles are used by many branches of the armed forces, but the model shown represents a vehicle intended for the airborne troops, or VDV. Like many other military vehicles, GAZ-69s took part in the celebrations on 9 May 1965 marking the twentieth anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War. The parade was held on Red Square in Moscow. For the first time since 1947, 9 May was again made a public holiday, reversing the relevant decree issued by Stalin.

Troops of the Moscow garrison participated, and the Victory Banner was carried in the parade for the first time. The task was entrusted to Colonel K. Samsonov, a Hero of the Soviet Union. The number of troops was no smaller than at the 1945 parade, while the number of military vehicles and pieces of equipment was even greater.