Airborne Forces Day or Paratrooper’s Day is celebrated at the beginning of the last month of summer, namely 2 August. And the whole country knows about it, because the “blue berets” celebrate their day noisily, on a grand scale.
Moreover, remembering this date is not so difficult, because it is fixed in the state calendar of holidays and does not change every year. So in 2022, the “winged landing force” will accept congratulations on August 2.
Meanwhile, Paratrooper’s Day is not an official holiday. Even despite the importance of his goal 一 to increase the authority of both the Airborne Forces and the armed forces of the Federation as a whole.
history of the holiday
August 2, 1930 is considered to be the day of the creation of the “winged assault force”. It was then that during the exercises near Voronezh, the first 12 paratroopers parachuted from the TB-3 bomber. After these maneuvers, the experts realized the need to form this type of military force.
As a result, a year later, the first landing units were formed in the Soviet Union, which began to actively infiltrate the Red Army. And in 1932, the landing battalions became part of the Air Force (Air Force).
In general, the “blue berets” belonged to the Air Force for quite a long time – almost 15 years -. And in 1946, they began to report directly to the Minister of Defense, but they never became an independent branch of the military: since then, the Airborne Forces have been part of the ground forces for another 45 years.
Only in 1991 did the “winged landing force” gain independence. And it was then that our country began to actively celebrate the Day of the Airborne Forces. Meanwhile, the paratroopers celebrated the day of the creation of their troops before, but not so massively and cheerfully.
But officially the Day of the Airborne Forces in Our Country did not exist until May 31, 2006. That is, until the head of our state signed a decree, according to which the Airborne Forces Day received official status in the Federation.
Speaking about the history of the “winged landing” one cannot fail to mention the “Uncle Vasya”. After all, the paratroopers themselves often decipher the abbreviation of the Airborne Forces as “Uncle Vasya’s Troops.” We are talking about the Hero of the USSR Vasily Margelov, who headed the Airborne Forces for more than 20 years.
It was Margelov who made the paratroopers what they are today. Moreover, thanks to him, the paratroopers got vests and blue berets, and it was he who taught his wards to parachute immediately in combat vehicles.
Holiday traditions
Many people know about the tradition of the “winged assault force” to put on their blue berets with vests on August 2 and meet with comrades in city parks. For example, in Moscow, the traditional gathering place for paratroopers is Gorky Park.
Also, many people know that on Airborne Forces Day it is customary to swim in fountains and eat watermelons. It’s clear where the tradition of eating watermelons came from: it’s just that these berries ripen just in time for August. The “watermelon habit” appeared among the paratroopers in the late 1980s after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. But where the love for bathing in fountains came from is unknown. There are many versions. According to the “blue berets” themselves, in this way they want to be closer to the sky, the reflection of which they see in the water of the fountains.
In addition, on August 2, paratroopers drive around their cities in cars with symbols and flags of the Airborne Forces.
However, this is not all the traditions of the Day of the “winged assault”. Also on this day, it is customary to reward the best paratroopers: they are awarded medals and give valuable gifts. And especially distinguished ones receive extraordinary titles and new positions. Moreover, “blue berets” receive congratulations on their holiday not only from their family members, but also from the Minister of Defense and even the President.
Moreover, on the Day of the Airborne Forces, the main heroes of the occasion usually arrange demonstration performances and demonstrate the weapons and equipment that they are armed with.
Also on August 2, festive concerts, master classes in hand-to-hand combat and parades are organized. On this day, the paratroopers remember their dead comrades: not a single August 2 is complete without a flower-laying ceremony at the memorials to paratrooper soldiers.