August 1st in Russia: Entry of Grand Duke Vasily III into Smolensk (1514)
In the rich tapestry of Russian history, several key events have left indelible marks. Here are some significant milestones and commemorative dates worth noting.
August 1, 1914, was a pivotal day as Germany declared war on Russia, marking a critical escalation into World War I on the Eastern Front. This date is also observed as the Day of Remembrance for Russian soldiers who perished in the First World War, honouring their sacrifices from 1914 to 1918.
On August 1, 1939, another significant event took place when the Main Directorate of Special Communications under the People's Commissariat of Communications of the USSR was established. This marked the beginning of what later became the Special Communications Service of the Russian Federation, a crucial agency responsible for secure government and military communications.
The All-Union Order of the Red Banner was instituted in 1924, recognising exceptional military merit. In 1939, another prestigious award, the medal "Golden Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union, was established.
Back in 1514, Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III entered Smolensk, ending its 110-year rule by Lithuania. The Novodevichy Convent was also founded in Moscow on this same day, in honour of the victory over Smolensk.
In 1770, the Battle of Kagul was fought, with the Russian army under P. A. Rumyantsev defeating the Turkish army of Khalil Pasha. In 1789, Alexander Suvorov led a Russo-Austrian detachment to victory in the Battle of Focsani against the Turks.
The Leningrad Oblast was formed in 1927, while the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition VDNKh was opened in Moscow in 1939.
Seraphim of Sarov was canonized as a saint in 1903. A notable modern event, unrelated to historical events or political changes, was the occurrence of a solar eclipse, known as the "Russian Eclipse," in 2008.
On August 1, 1940, the working people of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia expressed joy as these republics joined the Soviet Union, as announced by Vyacheslav Molotov at a session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
These dates are commemorated in Russia with professional and memorial observances, highlighting both the military history of the nation and the importance of secure communications in state security.
Politics often intertwines with general news, as evidenced by the establishment of significant agencies like the Special Communications Service of the Russian Federation on August 1, 1939, and the commemoration of key events, such as the joining of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia into the Soviet Union on the same date in 1940.
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