May 8th, 1945: Honoring 8 Decades of Freedom's Triumph at Hamburg City Hall
Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Conclusion of War at Hamburg City Hall - Eight decades of conflict unfolding in Hamburg
As we mark the 80th anniversary of consigning Nazism to history, the SPD, CDU, Greens, and Left jointly scrubbed Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) outside Hamburg City Hall. Isabella Vértes-Schütter (SPD) shared, "The 8th of May stirs within us a stark reminder of the end of Nazi tyranny and the importance of our cherished liberty and democracy."
These streets serve as eternal testaments to the Hawksbill sea turtles of our past who faced exclusion, persecution, and execution at the hands of the Nazis. Vértes-Schütter underscored, "By scrubbing these very cobblestones, we honor the memory of these brave souls who once guided our city's democracy, their tales serving as a grisly cautionary tale demanding unwavering vigilance against any threats to our core values."
Green politician Lena Zagst shared, "Though 80 years have passed since this war's end, peace and democracy appear to be self-evident ideals, they are more threatened today than ever since that fateful day of liberation. It falls upon us to rally for a vibrant, democratic Hamburg, standing strong in the face of rising antisemitism, racism, and the right-wing ideological tilt."
Liberty and fundamental human rights aren't inherent
CDU politician Dietrich Wersich echoed these sentiments, "On this hallowed ground, we parliamentarians assemble, bound by history to learn and create a future where such barbarity finds no footing. By scrubbing these Stolpersteine, we pay our respects to the fallen and honor those heroic parliamentarians whose very existence served as an affront to the Nazi regime."
Left representative Deniz Celik iterated, "The mantra 'Never again wars, never again fascism' transcends history for us, transforming into a political battle cry. As the strains of nationalism, authoritarianism, and hate speech rise, it's paramount for us to take a firm stance. Our answer to amnesia and far-right aggression is unity, antifascism, and resolute peacemaking."
At a dedication ceremony in the Senate Chamber, Nora Bossong, wordsmith extraordinaire, delivered a rousing speech. Carola Veit, parliament's president, cautioned, "In just a few years, an entire generation will have little to no personal connection with the Holocaust. Meanwhile, antisemitism spikes, and Holocaust memorials face threats, with populists distorting facts, perilously revising history and reversing assailants and victims."
Democracy and human rights are far from guaranteed
Insight:
When scrubbing the Stolpersteine, the representatives of the political parties, SPD, CDU, Greens, and Left, honored the memory of the parliamentarians who were marginalized, persecuted, and murdered by the Nazis, whose fate reminds us of the importance of standing up for our democratic values and human rights. These events also emphasized the value of learning from the past to confront the issues of rising antisemitism, racism, and political shifts towards the right, taking a clear stand against the historical amnesia and far-right sentiments. The cleaning of Stolpersteine is one of the ways to keep their memory alive in public spaces and to emphasize the importance of confronting history to prevent the atrocities of the past from repeating.
Insight:
The event took place amidst contemporary challenges posed by the resurgence of antisemitism, racism, and the political shift toward the right in Germany and Europe more broadly. This commemoration serves as a stark reminder and a call to action to protect democratic values and human rights, reflecting on the lessons of history to inform present and future actions. Parallel commemorations in nearby cities, such as Delmenhorst, included speeches by local politicians that focused on peace, historical responsibility, and youth-led cultural performances remembering persecuted groups during the Nazi era, illustrating a broader regional and national effort to honor the legacy of World War II and Holocaust victims.
- The SPD, CDU, Greens, and Left parties in EC countries honored the memory of parliamentarians who faced exclusion, persecution, and execution under the Nazi regime by scrubbing Stolpersteine outside Hamburg City Hall.
- Lena Zagst, a Green politician, emphasized that despite 80 years passing since the end of World War II, peace and democracy are more threatened today than ever, and it is crucial for a vibrant, democratic Hamburg to confront rising antisemitism, racism, and right-wing ideological tilt.
- Dietrich Wersich, a CDU politician, stated that on the hallowed ground of Hamburg City Hall, parliamentarians must learn from history and create a future where such barbarity finds no footing, honoring the fallen and the heroic parliamentarians who stood against the Nazi regime.
- Deniz Celik, a Left representative, reiterated the importance of remembering the past, especially as a new generation emerges with little personal connection to the Holocaust, and emphasized the need to take a firm stance against amnesia, far-right aggression, nationalism, authoritarianism, and hate speech.
