2007年VOA标准英语-Russia Remembers World War II Sacrifices

By Emma Simpson
Moscow
09 May 2007

Russia is staging its annual Victory Day commemorations, marking the defeat of Nazi¹ Germany in World War II. The focus of the events has once again been on Red Square where thousands of soldiers, dignitaries and veterans, took part in a huge parade. Emma Simpson reports for VOA from Moscow.

Russian troops march during a parade to mark Victory Day in Moscow's Red Square, 09 May 2007

It is a tradition that has changed little since Soviet² days. Goose stepping soldiers marched solemnly across Red Square to the sounds of a Russian army band, with fighter jets roaring overhead.

This is one of Russia's most important national holidays, a day when the country remembers its great victory over the Nazis³. The loss of human life was staggering - about 27 million Soviet citizens died.

The role of the Red Army is still viewed as sacred among most Russians and this year those marking Victory Day are concerned Russia's small Baltic neighbor Estonia has dishonored the army's sacrifice.

An Estonian government decision to move a Soviet war memorial from the center of the city to a military cemetery⁴ in the capital, Tallinn, resulted in outrage⁵ and violent demonstrations⁶ earlier this month in Moscow.

Russia says the relocation of the statue was an insult to those who sacrificed their lives liberating⁷ Estonians from the Nazis. But for Estonians, the statue was a symbol of Soviet occupation following the end of the war.

The dispute has led to a sharp increase in tensions between the two countries.

Speaking from the podium in front of Lenin's Tomb, President Putin made a thinly veiled attack on the Estonian decision.

"Those who are trying today to disparage⁸ those who died in the Great Patriotic⁹ War, those who defile¹⁰ monuments to war heroes, they insult their own people and sow disagreements and new distrust between countries," he said.

President Putin described Victory Day as a holiday of huge moral importance. Like the heroic feats¹¹ of their fathers and grandfathers, Russians today, he said, would also selflessly defend the interests of their motherland.

1 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

5 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 liberating   

解放，释放( liberate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Revolution means liberating the productive forces. 革命就是为了解放生产力。
• They had already taken on their shoulders the burden of reforming society and liberating mankind. 甚至在这些集会聚谈中，他们就已经夸大地把改革社会、解放人群的责任放在自己的肩头了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

8 disparage   

v.贬抑，轻蔑

参考例句：

• Your behaviour will disparage the whole family.你的行为将使全家丢脸。
• Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.不要贬低你自己或降低你的力量或能力。

9 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

10 defile   

v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道

参考例句：

• Don't defile the land of our ancestors!再不要污染我们先祖们的大地！
• We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith.我们尊重伊斯兰教的信仰，并与玷污伊斯兰教的信仰的行为作斗争。

11 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。