The parade in Brest-on-the-Bug – Lenin street, Brest-on-the-Bug

Fact of the Polish figure „Ribbentrop-Molotov pact”

Part of the „The myth of national disaster” topic

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The parade in Brest-on-the-Bug on September 22, 1939, stands as a stark emblem of the final defeat of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. This joint military parade of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army, observed by commanders Heinz Guderian and Semyon Krivoshein, symbolized the sinister collaboration between the two totalitarian regimes under the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. As the two forces showcased their might in Brest, a city recently seized by the Wehrmacht and handed over to the Soviets, the spectacle underscored the grim realities of the pact that had partitioned Central and Eastern Europe. This event not only marked the cooperation of two totalitarian regimes but also highlighted the depth of Poland’s geopolitical plight, vividly illustrating the consequences of international agreements made at the expense of smaller nations. The parade in Brest remains a poignant reminder of betrayal, serving as a visual confirmation of Poland’s worst fears—total abandonment and subjugation under foreign powers.