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Remembering All Victims on Remembrance Day: A Call for Inclusive Honoring, Not Exclusive Medicine
In 2010, Mayor Hans Schaidinger expressed a call to remember all victims without exception during the Remembrance Day celebration at Regensburg. However, the following year, his tone shifted, regressing towards a memorial praising soldiers and minimizing the atrocities committed by the Wehrmacht.
On November 11, 2011, Schaidinger stood before the war memorial "Under the Lime Trees," surrounded by firefighters, traditionalists, fraternity students, politicians, a choir, and armed soldiers. The event was illuminated by sunlight and torches, with non-uniformed citizens patiently listening to the military ceremony, church songs, and Schaidinger's speech.
A Step Back into the 1950s
Schaidinger placed himself within the tradition of the 1950s this year. He paid homage to the soldiers, emphasizing that they sacrificed their lives for the homeland, quoting an article from the Mittelbayerische Zeitung in 1952. He focused his speech solely on the military, even incorporating quotes from 60 years ago.
A Distorted Memory of Victims
When discussing the victims of National Socialism, Schaidinger warned that many forget the soldiers who went to war against their conscience. "These people were also victims of National Socialism! We must not forget that," he stressed.
Ironically, Schaidinger failed to mention the countless crimes of the Wehrmacht and ignored the stories of soldiers who acted against conformity, deserted, or refused to fight, only to face execution. In Schaidinger's narrative, these individuals remained unrecognized.
The Controversy of Counting the Dead
After soldiers, Schaidinger brought forth the expellees from various regions. He outlined the numbers of those who lost their homes and their lives during the expulsion, stating that approximately 15 million people lost their homes, and more than two million died in flight and expulsion.
However, these numbers are not universally accepted. Historians lament the political instrumentalization of expulsion numbers, particularly the 15 million, by the Federation of Expellees. The numbers provided by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Family and the Federal Statistical Office do not correspond to Schaidinger's estimates.
Sowing Discontent and Inclusion
Raising questions about the purpose of "counting the dead," Schaidinger's speech provoked skepticism. His selective approach to remembering certain victim groups stirred controversy, especially since he failed to recognize the diversity of victims during the war.
As Schaidinger urged the citizens to pass down the tradition of remembrance to their children and grandchildren, his words on Remembrance Day felt like a mockery of the ongoing debate on remembrance culture in Regensburg.
Insights:
- Ongoing Historical Debate: Discussions on historical remembrance, particularly in the context of the Sudeten Germans and efforts towards reconciliation, have gained traction.
- Academic Engagement: Southeast European Student Symposiums and academic activities at the University of Regensburg demonstrate a continuous interest in historical and cultural topics.
- Cultural Festivals: Various festivals and projects across Europe explore the complexities of historical narratives and their ethical implications.
These trends suggest a broader conversation regarding historical politics and remembrance, although they don't specifically address the counting and categorization of war victims in Regensburg during Remembrance Day.
Politicians, like Schaidinger, in their speeches should ensure a non-partisan and inclusive approach to policy-and-legislation, especially during general-news events like Remembrance Day, to avoid sowing discontent and fostering oversimplified historical narratives. The lack of acknowledgment and inclusion of diverse victim groups, absent in Schaidinger's address, highlights the importance of engaging in open discussions about policy-and-legislation, history, and politics, fostering a more holistic understanding of the past.
