When I studied English in the USSR, we always referred to our country as Motherland. Probably, because the Nazis referred to theirs as Fatherland, and the post WWII generations of Soviets avoided that analogy like the plague. Had they still been living, they would decry the Defender of Fatherland as the name for this national day of honor. Although, since the predominant majority of them only spoke Russian, it would not have mattered, because in the Russian language, both fatherland and motherland are same word. Sort of, an ahead of its time, gender neutrality.
Since every ethnicity of the 15-republic strong USSR has lost defenders, this day, in one way or another, has been observed by all of these republics/subsequent countries, since its official establishment as Red Army Day in 1922, after the bloody civil war between Reds and Whites ended.
The irony of the date choice has been lost on most people, but I find sinister Soviet humor, in establishing the national holiday on the date of February Revolution of 1917. That was the one that deposed the Tsar. Lenin’s revolution did not happen till later that year.
When I was a little girl, we gave the boys small presents, like pins and model airplanes. It was known as the Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the 60s and 70s. (Girls had their turn on March 8, another Soviet biggie, International Women’s Day, i.e. one of the earliest worldwide socialist holidays.) Quite oddly, and also ironically, March 8 is the new calendar style date for February 23 in Russia. Who said the study of history is boring?! It is so much fun! You just need to know your facts.
Since Russia became Russia again, it is Defender of Fatherland Day. And since Russia chopped off Crimea, Ukraine moved its Defenders’ day to another date.
It is the unspoken high cost of revising history that disturbs me these days, as I grieve over the casualty reports from both sides, fully understanding that after this territorial and political war will end, and all the dust will settle in the wake of outcomes we are not yet able to forecast, history will retain only the versions that are emerging now, as result of revisionism.
I wonder what my grandfather, who had fought in WWI, Soviet Civil War and WWII, would have thought about all this. After all, it was he who said, the world is divided only into good and bad, good and evil, those who’d hide you and those who’d give you away…
Especially after last year’s war began the day after, on February 24…underscoring the might of Russian Armed Forces but, 365 days later, after indescribable atrocities and unimaginable grief, most non-Russians and, I dare assume, many silent Russians, are not too proud of their “defenders”.
There is no doubt in my mind that there will be the usual Pump & Circumstance display of patriotism by the Russian government and the brainwashed or fearful population.
I am saddened that the boys I grew up with, and gave 23 of February gifts to, have become the old men caught in the whirlwind of this war, one side hating the other vehemently, as successfully propagandized by their respective politicians.
I will honor the memory of all good men – from the USSR and all of its former republics. That is the meaning of this day to me now-defend the memory of the defenders…and this day is forever more solemn to me because if this.