Soviet troops fire their weapons in a celebratory salute atop the Reichstag, May 1945 — a symbol of final victory in Berlin.
Photo Details
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date: May 1945
Photographer: Ivan Shagin
Victory Salute on the Reichstag
Atop the shattered dome of the Reichstag, Red Army soldiers from the battalion commanded by Hero of the Soviet Union S. Neustroev fire into the air in a spontaneous victory salute following the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Weapons of War and Victory
With Berlin in ruins below, these soldiers unleash rounds from captured German pistols — Walther P38, Parabellum P08, and Mauser K96 — as well as Soviet submachine guns including the PPSh-41, PPD-40, and PPS-43. The moment captures not just celebration, but the collision of two military worlds at the end of the war.
Symbol of the End of the Eastern Front
This powerful image, captured by Ivan Shagin, embodies the joy, relief, and triumph of soldiers who bore the brutal weight of the Eastern Front and emerged victorious after years of devastating combat.
Sources
Ivan Shagin, war photography archives
Recommended reading
- Fall of Berlin celebration
- WWII victory photos Soviet troops
- Reichstag flag raising Red Army