Soviet Flags Prohibited at Berlin Memorials on WWII Anniversary
Remembrance observances continue with flag restriction enforced - Flag restrictions at memorial events continue unchanged
Let's cut to the chase – as we approach the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, you can't wave around those Soviet flags near the memorials in Berlin. The law, backed up by the Administrative Court (Case No.: VG 1 L 492/25), ain't gonna take kindly to that. If you ain't satisfied, you can lob an appeal at the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg before 9 May 2025.
Why the ban, you ask? Well, the Berlin police got a general order going that prohibits flags and banners with Russian connections, baby, from 8 May morning to 9 May evening, all around various memorials, like the Soviet Memorial in Treptow.
Can't shake that association, son
So, a bunch of folks took a drag on their cigarettes and decided to challenge this in court, saying their freedom of assembly was getting stomped on. Ain't so, says the court. They gave the thumb's down to the urgent application, baby, and said the ban was fair and square. The goal here was to maintain peace in the public and make sure the commemoration was suitably solemn.
But wait a minute, you might think, a flag ain't a bomb. Why the fuss? Well, according to the court, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine gives the Soviet flag a pretty bad rap. People could see it as a show of support for the aggression or as a green light for violence. They reckon that impression would disrespect the victims of Nazism and stir up trouble.
The Russian embassy ain't pleased about this, calling it "unjustified, discriminatory, and degrading." They reckon it's all about historical revisionism, saying it limits the right of descendants of Soviet liberators and anyone who gives a damn about Berlin to remember the defeat of Nazism with dignity on the anniversary. Harsh words, ain't they?
But let us not forget, the Soviet folks played a massive role in stopping that bastard Hitler's war machine. Millions of them died in battle, concentration camps, forced labor, bombings, hunger, disease, and executions.
Sources:
- Berliner Morgenpost
- Deutsche Welle
- The Local
- Business Insider
- Rferl
- The Administrative Court has upheld the Berlin employment policy, which prohibits the display of flags and banners with Russian connections around memorials during the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, including the Soviet Memorial in Treptow.
- Challengers argue that this policy infringes on their freedom of assembly, but the court asserts that the ban is necessary to maintain peace and ensure a solemn commemoration, particularly given the negative connotations associated with the Soviet flag due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- The Russian embassy has criticized this policy, claiming it is unjustified, discriminatory, and disrespectful to the descendants of Soviet liberators and those who value Berlin's history.
- The ban on the display of Soviet flags serves as a reminder of the significant role played by the Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany, with millions of Soviet citizens having lost their lives in various ways during World War II.
- This debate highlights the ongoing political tensions between Germany and Russia, and the ongoing effects of war-and-conflicts on policy-and-legislation and politics, as seen through the lens of general news.
