Honoring Liberation Day: 80 Years Later in Hamburg Town Hall
Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Hamburg Town Hall's Post-War Era - Eight decades of perpetual conflict in the city of Hamburg, Germany
On the 80th anniversary of liberation from the oppressive grip of Nazism, political figures from SPD, CDU, Greens, and Left gathered at Hamburg Town Hall to clean and honor the stumbling stones that mark the tragic history of their city. Isabella Vértes-Schütter (SPD) stated, "The 8th of May serves as a stark reminder of the end of Nazi terror and the invaluable treasure of our freedom and democracy."
By cleaning these stones, the group commemorated the memory of the parliamentarians from Hamburg who suffered persecution and were murdered during the Nazism regime, while also serving as a warning to modern society about the importance of vigilance and the protection of democratic values. Green politician Lena Zagst emphasized, "In this day and age, 80 years after the war, peace and democracy may seem self-evident, but they are under threat and have not been since that fateful day of liberation. It is our duty to stand tall for an open, democratic Hamburg amid the rising tide of antisemitism, racism, and the far-right shift."
CDU politician Dietrich Wersich warned the gathering that "democracy and human rights are not a guaranteed privilege". He went on to say, "The events today demonstrate our commitment to learning from the past and shaping a future where such atrocities will never repeat. By cleaning the stumbling stones at Hamburg Town Hall, we pay tribute to the victims and honor those parliamentarians who were once targeted."
Left parliamentarian Deniz Celik reiterated that "the slogan 'Never again war, never again fascism' is more than just a historical phrase for us; it's a political mandate, especially given the rise of the far-right, authoritarian thinking, and nationalist hate speech. Our response to historical apathy and right-wing bigotry is solidarity, antifascism, and the active preservation of peace."
Nora Bossong delivered the keynote speech during a ceremony in the plenary hall, while Carola Veit, the president of the parliament, cautioned that by 2025, "fewer and fewer young people will understand the Holocaust". Meanwhile, antisemitism is increasing, and concentration camp memorials are under threat, with right-wing populists twisting historical facts and promoting a dangerous perpetrator-victim reversal.
- Nazism
- Hamburg
- SPD
- CDU
- Stumbling stones
- Europe
- Democracy
- War's End
- Right-wing extremism
- World War II
- Memory
- Alliance 90/The Greens
In post-war Germany, the commemoration of the end of World War II has gradually transformed to reflect Hamburg's historic confrontation with its Nazi past and its unwavering battle against right-wing extremism. As society grapples with the resurgence of extremist ideologies, these commemorations serve as a crucial reminder of history, reinforcing our commitment to democracy and peace.
- Remarks were made by political figures from SPD, CDU, Greens, and Left at the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, emphasizing the preciousness of democracy and the importance of learning from Nazi Germany's past.
- The group of politicians in Hamburg also cleaned the stumbling stones that mark tragic history, serving as a warning against the rising tide of antisemitism, racism, and the far-right shift.
- Despite the passing of time, it was stated that peace and democracy are under threat, and it is the duty of contemporary society to stand tall for an open, democratic Hamburg.
- By 2025, fewer and fewer young people will understand the Holocaust, while antisemitism is increasing, and concentration camp memorials are under threat, with right-wing populists distorting historical facts and promoting a dangerous perpetrator-victim reversal.
