In pictures

[xman]

The lavish spectacle of Russia's annual Victory Day parade made history this year - on the 65th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in World War II.

Troops from Britain - pictured here - as well as France, the US and Poland participated for the first time in the march through Red Square.

The presence of foreign troops in Red Square - once the heart of the Soviet Union - was hugely symbolic, said correspondents.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the parade that the lessons from WWII demonstrated the need "to show solidarity" in the face of modern-day threats.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among heads of state who attended the parade. Here, they participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

But French President Nicolas Sarkozy - whose troops are pictured on parade - and Italian President Silvio Berlusconi were unable to attend because of the European financial crisis.

This was Russia's biggest military parade since the Soviet Union collapsed. More than 10,000 Russian troops took part, along with dozens of tanks, armoured vehicles and missile launchers as well as a fly-past by 127 aircraft.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.