Immortal Regiment march in Madrid sparks social media divide
On 9 May 2026, an Immortal Regiment march in Madrid reopens the wounds of historical memory, honouring 27 million Soviet dead and triggering a polarised debate.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
An Immortal Regiment march in Madrid reignites the war over historical memory
On 9 May 2026, Madrid hosted a march organised by the so-called Immortal Regiment, a tribute to the 27 million Soviets who died fighting fascism. The event, which ties in with the Russian tradition of commemorating the Second World War, provoked a virulent reaction on social media, where it was branded communist propaganda and compared to a subsidised package holiday for Spanish pensioners.
The historical reference is twofold: the original Immortal Regiment was the elite Persian guard of the 6th century BC, and the name was revived by Russia in 2012 for a civilian march. In the thread, some pointed to continuity through to the present-day 65th Paratrooper Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, suggesting a link between past and geopolitical present.
Opinions were split between those who see a legitimate act of remembrance and those who consider it a political provocation. The debate grew extremely bitter, with insults and references to the Blue Division. The march, poorly attended according to reports, served as a catalyst for old ideological rifts.
A minor event with a huge digital echo
Despite the small number of participants – barely a group, according to accounts – the event generated dozens of reactions on forums and social media. The controversy centred on the legitimacy of honouring the Soviet war dead in the middle of the war in Ukraine, where the symbolism of the Immortal Regiment has been hijacked by Kremlin propaganda.
The event was also promoted on Twitter, although the accounts behind it were quickly flagged as "ignored" by certain sectors. The result: a controversy wildly out of proportion to a march that drew barely a handful of people.
Related discussions in the forum
On 9 May 2026, Madrid hosted a march organised by the so-called Immortal Regiment, a tribute to the 27 million Soviets who died fighting fascism. The event, which ties in with the Russian tradition of commemorating the Second World War, provoked a virulent reaction on social media, where it was branded communist propaganda and compared to a subsidised package holiday for Spanish pensioners.
The historical reference is twofold: the original Immortal Regiment was the elite Persian guard of the 6th century BC, and the name was revived by Russia in 2012 for a civilian march. In the thread, some pointed to continuity through to the present-day 65th Paratrooper Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, suggesting a link between past and geopolitical present.
Opinions were split between those who see a legitimate act of remembrance and those who consider it a political provocation. The debate grew extremely bitter, with insults and references to the Blue Division. The march, poorly attended according to reports, served as a catalyst for old ideological rifts.
A minor event with a huge digital echo
Despite the small number of participants – barely a group, according to accounts – the event generated dozens of reactions on forums and social media. The controversy centred on the legitimacy of honouring the Soviet war dead in the middle of the war in Ukraine, where the symbolism of the Immortal Regiment has been hijacked by Kremlin propaganda.
The event was also promoted on Twitter, although the accounts behind it were quickly flagged as "ignored" by certain sectors. The result: a controversy wildly out of proportion to a march that drew barely a handful of people.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (31 replies).
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