“The suffering of women was simply replaced in a German company by mail,” said Klekner. It was “time to give space to these women in our memory to recognize their suffering, as well as the incredible power with which these women fought for survival and resolutely contributed to reconstruction.” Klekner crossed the parallels with today’s Russian war in Ukraine. There, too, girls and women will sacrifice sexualized violence “used as military weapons.”
With the aim of the planned win parades in May 9 in Moscow, Klokner said that Russian President Vladimir Putin justifies his aggression against Ukraine with the struggle against fascism since that time. “What an abuse of history!”
On May 8, 1945, the Second World War, which began with Nazi Germany, ended with the surrender of Germany to the Union United States, France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. Therefore, in his speech, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeyer thanked the Americans, British and French and added that the Germans also knew about the contribution of the Red Army, that the Nazi camps were destroyed by “Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusian and all who fought in it.”
Teachings on May 8
That is why, as he emphasized in his speech, the war against Ukraine was “not a continuation of the fight against fascism.” The war of Putin’s aggression has nothing to do with the struggle against the national socialist tyranny in the Second World War.
“This historical lie is nothing more than imperial error, severe injustice and the most difficult crime!” Steinmeier also used his speech to emphasize the support of Germany in Ukraine again. “Let’s leave Ukraine back and defenseless, this would mean the disclosure of the teaching on May 8!”
The federal president noted that the state community, as a result of the war for extermination and genocide, has created an international order based on international law. This is not only Putin’s interrogation today, which “placed our European security rules in the wreckage” with the war against Ukraine. But also through the United States.
Popular temptations
Passion for authoritarian and populist temptation also gave a place in Europe, doubts about democracy will be loud. And in Germany, extremist forces strengthened that it mocked the institutions of democracy and their representatives. If you want good things for this country, you protect coexistence, cohesion and peaceful compensation for interests, Steinmeier said. The celebration lesson was formulated by musical interludes.
The string orchestra played the play by Dmitry Shostakovich since 1960, which he gave the dedication “in memory of the victims of fascism and war.” After Steinmeier’s speech, all the members of the Bundestag showed unity: together they sang a German anthem.
In addition to the memorial lesson in the Bundestag, the end of the war was marked by numerous events. The day began with the ecumenical service in the memorial church of Kaiser Wilhelm, in which Steinmeier also took part. After that there was a wreath lying on the new guard. (With agencies)
