At the time, the military parade in Red Square – featuring almost 35,000 troops, up to 1,900 pieces of military equipment, and a 1,400-man orchestra – was a well-deserved pageant. The Soviet leadership spared no cost in staging its military displays, which, in the absence of an external military threat, became an important vehicle for rallying national unity.
即使一点不为斯大林辩护，人们也必须承认苏联对二战盟军胜利的巨大贡献——包括2，600万民众为此献出生命。当时的红场阅兵——约有步兵35，000人、军事装备1，900件、乐队1，400人——可谓一场当之无愧的盛宴。苏联领导层不遗余力地展示军力，那次阅兵在没有外来军事威胁的情况下，成为凝聚民族团结的重要手段。