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Rare Archive Photos of May Day Demonstrations in USSR

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May Day, or International Workers’ Day, is a public holiday marked on May 1 every year in many countries around the world. Today, Russia celebrates it as Spring and Labor Day.
The International Day of Workers' Solidarity was one of the most important holidays in the former USSR. Traditionally, official rallies, organized street demonstrations, and marches were held in every city of the Soviet Union on that day. Moscow’s iconic Red Square would become a venue for parades to demonstrate the power of the Soviet Union.
Sputnik dipped into the archives for some rare photographs showing how May Day was celebrated in the USSR.
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabank

May Day demonstration in Petrograd. May 1, 1917.

May Day demonstration in Petrograd. May 1, 1917. - Sputnik International
1/18

May Day demonstration in Petrograd. May 1, 1917.

© Sputnik / Georgy Petrusov / Go to the mediabank

Legendary Soviet “Maxim Gorky” aircraft during a May Day parade on Moscow's Red Square, flanked on both sides by Tupolev I-4 fighter aircraft.

Legendary Soviet “Maxim Gorky” aircraft during a May Day parade on Moscow's Red Square, flanked on both sides by Tupolev I-4 fighter aircraft. - Sputnik International
2/18

Legendary Soviet “Maxim Gorky” aircraft during a May Day parade on Moscow's Red Square, flanked on both sides by Tupolev I-4 fighter aircraft.

© Sputnik / Victor Dobronitsky / Go to the mediabank

May Day street rallies in the Russian capital on May 1, 1932.

May Day street rallies in the Russian capital on May 1, 1932. - Sputnik International
3/18

May Day street rallies in the Russian capital on May 1, 1932.

© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin / Go to the mediabank

A workers' demonstration at Moscow's Red Square in 1939.

A workers' demonstration at Moscow's Red Square in 1939. - Sputnik International
4/18

A workers' demonstration at Moscow's Red Square in 1939.

© Sputnik / Valeriy Shustov / Go to the mediabank

Soviet people attend a May Day demonstration in Moscow.

Soviet people attend a May Day demonstration in Moscow. - Sputnik International
5/18

Soviet people attend a May Day demonstration in Moscow.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Vyatkin / Go to the mediabank

Amateur talent groups perform on Red Square on International Day of Workers' Solidarity.

Amateur talent groups perform on Red Square on International Day of Workers' Solidarity. - Sputnik International
6/18

Amateur talent groups perform on Red Square on International Day of Workers' Solidarity.

© Sputnik / N. Maksimov / Go to the mediabank

People participate in a May Day march on Gorky Street (now Tverskaya Street) in Moscow.

People participate in a May Day march on Gorky Street (now Tverskaya Street) in Moscow. - Sputnik International
7/18

People participate in a May Day march on Gorky Street (now Tverskaya Street) in Moscow.

© Sputnik / Vasiliy Fedorchenko / Go to the mediabank

Moscow marks May 1. A festive workers' demonstration on Red Square.

Moscow marks May 1. A festive workers' demonstration on Red Square. - Sputnik International
8/18

Moscow marks May 1. A festive workers' demonstration on Red Square.

© Sputnik / Shjerbakov / Go to the mediabank

Orchestra musicians march on Red Square as part of celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity in Moscow. May 1, 1969.

Orchestra musicians march on Red Square as part of celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity in Moscow. May 1, 1969. - Sputnik International
9/18

Orchestra musicians march on Red Square as part of celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity in Moscow. May 1, 1969.

© Sputnik / Yuriy Somov / Go to the mediabank

A column of banner-bearers marching across Red Square on May Day.

A column of banner-bearers marching across Red Square on May Day. - Sputnik International
10/18

A column of banner-bearers marching across Red Square on May Day.

© Sputnik / Mark Gankin / Go to the mediabank

Pilot-cosmonauts, Heroes of the Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin (on the right) and Pavel Popovich on the guest podium during a May Day parade on Red Square in Moscow.

Pilot-cosmonauts, Heroes of the Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin (on the right) and Pavel Popovich on the guest podium during a May Day parade on Red Square in Moscow. - Sputnik International
11/18

Pilot-cosmonauts, Heroes of the Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin (on the right) and Pavel Popovich on the guest podium during a May Day parade on Red Square in Moscow.

© Sputnik / Anatoliy Garanin / Go to the mediabank

A festive demonstration on Red Square in Moscow dedicated to International Workers' Day. Standing on the podium of the Lenin Mausoleum are (from left to right) Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Nikolai Podgorny, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexey Kosygin.

A festive demonstration on Red Square in Moscow dedicated to International Workers' Day. Standing on the podium of the Lenin Mausoleum are (from left to right) Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Nikolai Podgorny, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexey Kosygin. - Sputnik International
12/18

A festive demonstration on Red Square in Moscow dedicated to International Workers' Day. Standing on the podium of the Lenin Mausoleum are (from left to right) Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Nikolai Podgorny, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexey Kosygin.

© Sputnik / Anatoly Morozov / Go to the mediabank

Muscovites during celebrations of May Day in the Soviet capital.

Muscovites during celebrations of May Day in the Soviet capital. - Sputnik International
13/18

Muscovites during celebrations of May Day in the Soviet capital.

© Sputnik / V. Shiyanovskiy / Go to the mediabank

Red Square in Moscow plays host to a demonstration to mark the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1.

Red Square in Moscow plays host to a demonstration to mark the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1. - Sputnik International
14/18

Red Square in Moscow plays host to a demonstration to mark the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1.

© Sputnik / Lev Polikashin / Go to the mediabank

Young pioneers from Moscow's schools perform during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on Red Square.

Young pioneers from Moscow's schools perform during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on Red Square. - Sputnik International
15/18

Young pioneers from Moscow's schools perform during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on Red Square.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Vyatkin / Go to the mediabank

Festive demonstration with banners and flags on Red Square during a celebration of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1, 1986.

Festive demonstration with banners and flags on Red Square during a celebration of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1, 1986. - Sputnik International
16/18

Festive demonstration with banners and flags on Red Square during a celebration of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1, 1986.

© Sputnik / Eduard Pesov / Go to the mediabank

A parade on Red Square during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1.

A parade on Red Square during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1. - Sputnik International
17/18

A parade on Red Square during celebrations of the International Day of Workers’ Solidarity on May 1.

© Sputnik / Yuryi Abramochkin / Go to the mediabank

A May Day demonstration and rally of supporters of the “Labor Russia” movement on Red Square.

A May Day demonstration and rally of supporters of the “Labor Russia” movement on Red Square. - Sputnik International
18/18

A May Day demonstration and rally of supporters of the “Labor Russia” movement on Red Square.

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