Commemorating Peace on Remembrance Day in Kiel
In a nod to peace, individuals from the northern region honored the victims of conflicts and tyranny during Remembrance Day. Initiated as a National Day of Mourning, this significant occasion serves to underscore that securing peace is an unending task, asserted Jette Waldinger-Thiering, the Vice President of the state parliament, during a ceremony in Kiel. "We must consistently strive to reclaim peace, generation after generation," she said.
The present environment, with the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and Palestinian extremist attacks, has brought the brutal realities of warface-to-face in European consciousness. Waldinger-Thiering addressed the surge of anti-Semitic hate speech in contemporary times, particularly the fear experienced by many Jews due to the open bearing of such aggressive slogans. "It's alarming development that as democrats, we cannot turn a blind eye to," she warned.
The lessons from our shared past should be learned, applied to our present, and unwaveringly followed to steer clear of the historical missteps in European history. Waldinger-Thiering urged the collective to continue constructing upon the foundation laid in 1945 – exemplified by peace, freedom, and democracy in Germany and Europe.
Culture Minister Karin Prien, affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), reiterated the need for sustained attention to these themes in her speech. "The frequently cited 'never again' must not remain an empty promise," she emphasized. This Remembrance Day asks us to not just mourn the departed but to shoulder the responsibility of our past and future. "We want to commemorate the fallen and convey this message to the youth - that democracy is not a given, but it is susceptible and needs continuous defense," she stated.
Remembrance Day serves as an annual tribute to the fallen victims of conflicts, which has been celebrated since 1919 around two Sundays prior to the first Advent. The German War Graves Commission, established that year, introduced the day as an opportunity to share sympathies with the families of those who perished in the First World War. Today, Germany reminisces and pays tribute to all victims of war and tyranny.
International conflicts like the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and the attacks by Palestinian extremists have influenced peace appeals on Remembrance Day in Germany by illuminating persistent threats to peace and the need for continuous vigilance and commitment to peace. Germany leans heavily in support of Ukraine and advocates for its sovereignty, ensuring a peaceful negotiation. Amidst this, the UN stresses the imperative of curbing hatred, intolerance, and discrimination, especially in the context of conflicts in Gaza.
