71st Anniversary of victory over fascism in World War II.

On May 9, 2016 a solemn ceremony has been held in Bakuto mark the 71st anniversary of victory over fascism in World War II.

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevand his wife Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.

Chairman of the Republican Council of Veterans, Major General in reserve Dadash Rzayev welcomed the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva met with war veterans and congratulated them on Victory Day.

A guard of honor passed in front of the Commander-in-Chief under the accompaniment of a military march.

The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and other officials.

700,000 people from Azerbaijan partici pated in the war. Divisions from Azerbaijan moved from the Caucasus to Berlin. About 130 of our compatriots deserved the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, 30 deserved the order of Honour, 170, 000 Azerbaijani soldiers and officer had been awarded with various orders and medals of the USSR. Hazi Aslanov-twice Hero of the Soviet Union and many other Heroes of the Soviet Union from Azerbaijan brought honour to the history of our people.

Azerbaijan’s oil was one of the decisive factors in the Great Patriotic war. Oil production in Azerbaijan reached its peak in 1941 that made 23.5 million tons. That figure comprised 71.4% of all the oil produced in the USSR.