2015 Astana Victory Day Parade
The 2015 Astana Victory Day Parade was held on Kazakh Nation Square in Astana on May 7, 2015 in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day which celebrates the founding of the Kazakh Armed Forces.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> The parade commander was the Chief of Kazakhstan’s Land Forces, Lieutenant General Murat Maikeyev, who then reported to Minister of Defence Imangali Tasmagambetov who presided over the parade.<ref name=":0" /> The Defense Minister then reported to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev who then inspected the parade.<ref name=":0" /> The Anthem of the Kazakhstan was played by the Central Band of the Armed Forces. More than 5,000 servicemen, around 200 units of military machinery and 70 military jets took part in the parade.<ref name=":0" /> On the Square were members of the Kazbrig, a special unit trained and equipped in accordance with the standards of the United Nations peacekeeping forces.<ref name=":0" />
Several historical units on the march were dressed in World War II-era Red Army uniforms with insignias that were staffed by personnel from Kazakhstan. They held weaponry from the era as well. Among the parade’s historical features was a ceremonial display of the Victory Banner, which is an exact copy of the red flag that was first erected at the entrance to the Reichstag in Berlin, which was erected by a Kazakh Lieutenant.<ref name=":0" /> The copy was delivered to Astana from the Museum of Great Patriotic War in Moscow.
