One of the first things that the new government did after the 1917 revolution was to move the government back to Moscow.  Red Square once again became the focal point for events of significance.

The "father" of the 2nd revolution was Mr. Vladimir Illyich Lenin  Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars. Under Lenin once again Red Square became the focal point of the new Russian government.  Vladimir Lenin  Biography

             Lenin giving speech in Red Square

Upon the early death of Lenin several burial places were constructed.  The final one is the mausoleum that is part of Red Square. 

It is estimated that over 1 million people visited Lenin after his death in 1920.  By 1929 a permanent mausoleum had been built.  In the Soviet Union Lenin rose to a higher level then Jesus Christ.  Hero worship of Lenin became the order of the day.

May 2004.  The Lenin Mausoleum is open to the public.  Strict security is used to enforce the order of "no photographs allowed."  We walk into the mausoleum.  Two military men are standing at attention.  The light is very subdued.  We walk around a corner and there is the remains of the founder of the Soviet Union.  [At least we are led to believe that this is the 'real' Lenin. There are those who say that this is a wax version of Lenin.]  In May we see a line waiting to gain entry--- but nothing like the line of people shown above.

The Lenin tomb was built so that people could stand above and beside the the body of Lenin.   The "people watchers" of the NATO countries also looked to see who was "there" and "wasn't there" as well as who was standing closest to the person who seemed to be in charge.  In this photo we see Joseph Stalin and General Zhukov.

The most important of the important people to the Soviet Union were buried in the walls of the Kremlin.   In this photo we can see the head statute of the Soviet leaders.  They are looking from the wall of the Kremlin to Red Square.  [Two Americans are buried in the Kremlin walls.]

This area of Red Square is also "off limits" to those who would take photographs.  Military personnel are present to insure that people move along and do not take photos.

The Lenin Mausoleum  is located on the right side of the following photo.  For a period of time after the death of Joseph Stalin the mausoleum contained both men. 

At one time the leaders of the 2nd most powerful nation in the world stood to review the troops and new machines of war.  Being on a podium of Lenin's tomb gave the the people a feeling of connection to the time of Lenin.

During the  time of the former Soviet Union and during the Cold War,  people anxiously awaited May Day to see what new missiles or other ordinance the Soviet would make public.

The Lenin Mausoleum is open to the public.  Strict security is used to enforce the order of "no photographs allowed."  We walk into the mausoleum.  Two military men are standing at attention.  The light is very subdued.  We walk around a corner and there is the remains of the founder of the Soviet Union.  [At least we are led to believe that this is the 'real' Lenin. There are those who say that this is a wax version of Lenin.]

Red Square During the 1950's

Walking across Red Square is a humbling experience when one thinks about the thousands of people who walked before the Lenin Mausoleum.  Today it is quiet in the square.  We don't see the massive rockets, the army of tanks or the columns of military personnel that tries to invoke fear in the hearts of people from around the world.

During the 1960's the Soviet military [and other people] were startled when a small one engine airplane few from Germany and landed in Red Square.  This would probably startle anyone--- especially those who were responsible for the security of the Soviet Union.

To Page #2 of Victory Day and Red Square

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