7 November 1941 parade in Red Square, 1949 painting by Konstantin Yuon via Wikipedia.

Seventy-five years ago today, the Battle of Moscow was underway, with Nazi troops at the gates of the Soviet capital.

To boost morale and stiffen the Red Army’s resolve, Stalin ordered the traditional Revolution Day parade to take place as it traditionally did in Red Square. But this time, after the troops paraded past the Kremlin, the continued marching directly to the front.

The event is heroically depicted in the 1949 painting by Konstantin Yuon shown above.  Film of the event can be seen here:

As the soldiers paraded to the front, Stalin charged them:

Comrades, men of the Red Army and Red Navy, commanders and political instructors, men and women guerillas, the whole world is looking to you as the force capable of destroying the plundering hordes of German invaders. The enslaved peoples of Europe who have fallen under the yoke of the German invaders look to you as their liberators. A great liberating mission has fallen to your lot. Be worthy of this mission! The war you are waging is a war of liberation, a just war. Let the manly images of our great ancestors inspire you in this war! May the victorious banner of the great Lenin be your lodestar!

For the complete destruction of the German invaders!

Death to the German invaders!

Long live our glorious Motherland, her liberty and her independence!

Under the banner of Lenin, forward to victory!