Cuba marks 65th anniversary of Soviet victory against Nazi Germany

Cuba held a high-level ceremony at Havana on Sunday to mark the 65th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

High-ranking officers of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), senior members of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the government, diplomats and religious leaders attended the event.

Led by members of the Politburo of the PCC Central Committee, Army Corps Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias and Minister of Basic Industry Yadira Garcia Vera, the political and military ceremony was held before the Mausoleum of the Unknown Soviet Internationalist Soldier.

During the ceremony, Cintra laid wreaths in homage to the 67 soldiers from the Soviet Union killed in the line of duty on the island, whose remains rest in the monument.

Garcia expressed the Cuban authorities' gratitude for the Soviet support to the Cuban Revolution since 1959.

"The Soviet Army contributed to the preparation of our FAR and during some difficult moments of our national history, they were willing to share our luck," he said.

Cuba declared war against the fascist Axis on Dec. 7, 1941. Though the country's offer to send troops to fight in Europe was turned down by the U.S. government, many Cubans joined the U.S. Navy as volunteers and fought in campaigns of the Pacific War, while Cuban students in the Soviet Union joined the Red Army.

Source:Xinhua