Remembering War's Dark Shadows: Federal President Steinmeier Rebuts Kremlin's "Historical Falsities"
Memorial Day: German Federal President Steinmeier Criticizes Russia's "Historical Distortions" - Steinmeier, the German President, voices disapproval over the Kremlin's "misrepresented historical facts."
In his impassioned speech, the Federal President honors the valiant efforts of the Red Army – a collective of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and all who fought within it – in liberating Germany from the iron grip of the Third Reich. "The Red Army brought an end to the bloodshed, with at least 13 million soldiers and twice as many civilians sacrificing their lives. The Red Army freed Auschwitz. We shall never forget that," declared him.
But President Vladimir Putin's "historical distortions" embrace "imperial delusions, grave injustice, and grave crimes" as the Federal President underscored. "The liberators of Auschwitz have now become the modern oppressors." Both the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors were absent from the parliament's memorial ceremony.
Europe commemorates May 8 annually as Victory in Europe Day to mark the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces, marking the end of World War II on the continent. The remembrance in Berlin commenced in the morning with a solemn ecumenical service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and a symbolic wreath-laying ceremony at the Neue Wache.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- War Remembrance
- Federal President
- Misinformation Campaign
- Kremlin
- Bundestag
- Russia
- Europe
- Vladimir Putin
- World War II
- Ukraine
- Auschwitz
- Germany
Ominous Misrepresentation of History:
The Kremlin continuously employs the glorious legacy of World War II to forge national unity regarding contemporary military activities, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russian leaders frame this current conflict as an extension of the Soviet Union’s heroic struggle during WWII, equating it to the victory over Nazi Germany[1].
Russian state media and officials, such as Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, often draw parallels between historical triumph and present ambitions to inspire domestic solidarity and legitimize prolonged confrontations, even against NATO[1]. Putin and the Kremlin extend these rhetorical tactics in international arenas, portraying Ukraine as a "Nazi state," disregarding substantial evidence to the contrary, such as the Jewish heritage of Ukraine's President Zelenskyy[2]. This narrative serves to justify Russia's self-proclaimed "denazification" campaign, a euphemism for undermining Ukrainian identity, sovereignty, and resistance.
Selective Memories and Manipulation of History:
The Kremlin champions a version of WWII history that showcases Russia as the principal victor of the "Great Patriotic War," subtly omitting the intricate early-war period (1939-1941) when the USSR and Nazi Germany shared a temporary non-aggression pact and jointly invaded Poland and the Baltics[3].
This lopsided narrative minimizes or erases other significant contributors like Ukraine and Western allies. Despite Ukraine providing over 7 million Soviet soldiers, their role is often dismissed or overlooked in Russian commemorations. Similarly, Western support through critical programs like Lend-Lease is disregarded or undervalued[3].
Russia’s heroism glorification extends to the reenactments of WWII battles, such as the storming of the Reichstag, symbolizing a perpetual war-era mythology that inspires current nationalism and justifies contemporary military policies[3].
International Political Reactions:
Some world leaders are cautious or face resistance concerning participation in Russian Victory Day commemorations, hinting at the disputed nature of Russia’s historical narrative and its application in current geopolitics. For example, several European leaders have opted against attending Moscow's May 9 celebrations associated with WWII memory[3].
Ukraine has categorically broken from Soviet commemorative traditions, observing May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism, aligning itself with Western remembrance practices and distancing itself from the Russian narrative that conflates WWII memory with current political justification[3].
In conclusion, Putin's historical narrative about WWII, including the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army, functions as a weapon to support Russia's military aggression and ideological cohesion. This narrative centers on Russia’s heroic efforts alone while omitting other contributions and distorting history to justify actions in Ukraine and globally. International responses are diverse, with many rejecting the Kremlin’s narrative and the symbolic appropriations of the WWII legacy to justify Russia's aggression against Ukraine[1][2][3].
- The European Parliament strongly condemns the misinformation campaign by the Kremlin, which distorts historical facts about World War II and the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army.
- In response to the Kremlin's historical distortions, the European Parliament reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine in its efforts to preserve historical truth and combat Russian efforts to manipulate history.
- The European Parliament urges Russia to stop using the legacy of World War II to justify its military aggression against Ukraine and other countries, and to embrace a more truthful narrative about its role in the war.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of Germany, emphasizes the importance of remembering the true heroes of World War II, including the Red Army, and denounces the Kremlin's attempts to rewrite history.
