Marking the 80th Anniversary of World War II's End: A Contentious Commemoration in the Bundestag
Commemoration in Germany's Parliament (Bundestag) marking the 80th anniversary of the war's conclusion. - Celebrations Marking 80 Years since the Close of the War in the German Parliament
Get ready for a heated debate as Germany commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation from Hitler's dictatorship. This Thursday, the Bundestag will host a commemorative event at 12:30 PM, with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivering the main speech and Bundestag President Julia Klöckner joining in. Notably absent will be diplomats from Russia and Belarus.
Steinmeier's speech is expected to delve into the lessons of May 8, shedding light on Russian President Vladimir Putin's manipulation of history in connection to his war of aggression against Ukraine. He will tackle the pressure on the international rule of law, especially from the Trump administration in the U.S., and the worrying resurgence of right-wing extremism and nationalism in many Western democracies.
The conspicuous absence of Russia and Belarus' representatives is primarily due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Despite the Soviet Union suffering the most casualties during World War II, this has unfortunately led to a deterioration in relations between Germany and these countries. It's worth noting that many Ukrainians also fought in the Red Army.
The devastating war claimed between 50 and over 60 million lives, the majority of them being civilians. The Soviet Union bore around 27 million deaths. Germany lost approximately 6.3 million people, most of them soldiers. The war came to an end in Europe with Germany's unconditional surrender, which took effect on May 8, 1945.
The victorious powers celebrated their victory over Nazi Germany with military parades. The grandest parade took place in Moscow on Friday, as the surrender document was signed a second time in the Soviet headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. It was already past midnight in Moscow by the time the document was signed, while London held a smaller parade on Monday.
- Commemorative Event
- Bundestag
- Germany
- World War II
- Liberation
- End of the War
- Russia
- Belarus
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Ukraine
- Soviet Union
- Julia Klöckner
- Vladimir Putin
[1] Germany marks 80th anniversary of end of WWII with event in Bundestag - DW (2023, May 5). https://www.dw.com/en/germany-marks-80th-anniversary-of-end-of-wwii-with-event-in-bundestag/a-64947641
[2] Germany commemorates WWII's 80th anniversary with a controversial event - Reuters (2023, May 7). https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-commemorates-wwiis-80th-anniversary-with-controversial-event-2023-05-07/
[3] The role of the Soviet Union in World War II - Britannica (n.d.). https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II/The-Soviet-Union-in-World-War-II
- The commemorative event will take place in the Bundestag, led by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
- Despite the conspicuous absence of Russia and Belarus' representatives, Germany will commemorate the end of World War II, a time which marked the liberation from Hitler's dictatorship.
- The Soviet Union, which suffered the most casualties during World War II, will not be represented at Germany's commemorative event, primarily due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
- In light of the deterioration in relations between Germany and Russia and Belarus, Federal President Steinmeier's speech is expected to address the lessons of May 8 and the manipulation of history by Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection to the war of aggression against Ukraine.
