People gathered at the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park, Berlin to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the day Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union, marking the end of the Second World War. Among the hundreds of people paying their respects on Victory Day were former Soviet service members, children dressed in Soviet-era uniforms, and an ultranationalist Russian motorcycle gang that has been linked to president Vladimir Putin.
People dressed-up in Soviet-era uniforms pose for photos at the Soviet War Memorial at Treptower Park in BerlinDavid Gannon/ AFP
Two girls dressed in Soviet-style uniforms stand on a monument on Victory Day in Treptower Park, BerlinCarsten Koall/ Getty Images
The controversial motorcycle club, Night Wolves – known for its vocal support for Russian President Vladimir Putin – arrived in Berlin after completing a 3,728 mile journey from Moscow. The motorcade retraced the Soviet Red Army's march towards Berlin 70 years ago at the end of the conflict. They visited a number of countries along the way, including Slovakia, Belarus, Czech Republic and Austria, but were denied entry to Poland.
In an interview with Sky News during their road trip, gang leader Alexander Zaldostanov, also known by nickname The Surgeon, said: "We would like to remind Europeans that it was Russia that saved them from the fascist hell. It was first and foremost us – 30 million Soviets paid the price for this victory. We want people to remember this sacrifice."
In the past, it has been widely stated that Putin is an official fan of the Night Wolves gang, regularly endorsing and riding with the gang on his own three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle. It had also been alleged that the gang's operations have, in part, been supported and funded by the Russian government.
Members of the Night Wolves motorcycle club arrive to lay a wreath at the Soviet World War II memorial in Treptow park to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Red Army over Nazi Germany in BerlinSean Gallup/Getty ImagesMembers of the Russian motorcycle group called Night Wolves ride near the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in Berlin, GermanyHannibal Hanschke/ReutersA member of the Russian motorcycle group called Night Wolves stands near the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersA member of the Russian motorcycle group called Night Wolves stands in front of a memorial of the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersVarious signs and patches are seen on the chest of a member of the Russian motorcycle group called Night Wolves near the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersA woman wearing a shirt with the face of Vladimir Putin printed on it during Victory Day in Treptow Park, BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesMembers of the motorcycle group called Night Wolves coming from Russia, Macedonia and Bulgaria pose for a picture on top of a Red Army tank at the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in BerlinHannibal Hanschke/ReutersPeople, including some who belong to the pro-Vladimir Putin Night Wolves biker club from Moscow, arrive to pay tribute to Soviet soldiers killed during World War II at the Soviet war memorial on Victory Day in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesMembers of the motorcycle group called the Night Wolves take part in celebrations to mark Victory Day at the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park in BerlinFabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Built to commemorate the 80,000 Soviet soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Berlin, the memorial at Treptower Park is one of three Soviet monuments in Berlin. The other memorials are located in Schönholzer Heide in Pankow and Tiergarten Park, a large public park to the west of the city centre. Both of these also saw commemorations for Victory Day.
People gather to commemorate Victory Day at the Soviet war cemetery and memorial in Treptower Park in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesA veteran wears a large collection of medals on his jacket as other people gather to commemorate on Victory Day in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesA boy dressed in a replica of the Red Army soldier uniform stands with the members of the Russian motorcycle group called Night Wolves ride near the German-Russian museum Berlin-Karlshorst in Berlin,Hannibal Hanschke/ReutersPeople gather to commemorate Victory Day at the Soviet war cemetery and memorial in Treptower Park in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesPeople hold pictures of soldiers who fought in WWII during celebrations to mark Victory Day at the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park in BerlinFabrizio Bensch/ReutersA man with Soviet-era medals poses for photos at the Soviet War Memorial at Treptower Park in BerlinDavid Gannon/AFPBella Resnikova, 94, a former Soviet servicewoman, takes part in celebrations to mark Victory Day mat the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park in BerlinFabrizio Bensch/ReutersA man walks holding a Russian flag in the trees on Victory Day in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty ImagesEight-year-old Chiara, dressed in a Soviet-era uniform, on Victory Day in BerlinCarsten Koall/Getty Images
