Steinmeier will disputes Russian distorted historical accounts in his May 8 address. - Steinmeier to Counter Russian "Historical Distortions" in his May 8 Address
Get ready for a fiery debate! On May 8th, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's Federal President, is going to be the main event at a memorial service in Berlin. Preparing this speech has been no walk in the park, with conundrums galore given the anniversary's circumstances.
Steinmeier isn't shying away from tackling the elephant in the room — Russia's contention that its attack on Ukraine is a continuation of the fight against fascism. The Kremlin leadership is expected to bolster this interpretation during the upcoming celebration of victory. But Steinmeier will flat-out reject this view.
"The war against Ukraine has nothing to do with the fight against fascism," Steinmeier is expected to declare in his speech. "Putin's war of aggression against a free, democratic country bears no resemblance to the fight against Nazi Germany's tyrannical rule."
According to his speech draft, Steinmeier will label this interpretation as a "historical fabrication" that amounts to nothing more than an euphemism for imperial madness, grave injustice, and grave crimes. The Federal President's office also approves of the Bundestag's decision not to invite the Russian ambassador to the memorial service.
One interesting twist in Steinmeier's speech is the focus on Ukraine's contributions in World War II. He will remind us that millions of Ukrainians served in the Red Army and fought against Nazi Germany, and that the liberation of Auschwitz is part of Ukraine's historical heritage. Steinmeier intends to stress that countering the Kremlin's historical manipulations is essential.
Besides addressing Russia's flawed narrative, Steinmeier is expected to touch on other themes. He'll question the shift of the USA away from the community of Western values and the foundations of international law. To some extent, Steinmeier's speech manuscript refers to an "American breach of values." Additionally, he will address the rise of radical right and nationalist forces in Germany and elsewhere.
Steinmeier isn't oblivious to the political landscape. After all, he'll find himself face-to-face with the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) faction, which has doubled in size since the last federal election and now leads the opposition in the Bundestag. However, he won't address any parties by name as federal presidents typically don't engage in public partisan politics.
That said, Steinmeier won't shy away from warning against the perils of ignoring history's lessons. "Why should we have to endure painful lessons, or even endure them again, about what we've already experienced bitterly in our own German history?" his speech is likely to read. "We know that isolationism, aggressive nationalism, and disregard for democratic institutions lead us down a dark path."
On this 80th anniversary of the war's end, Germany's two major churches emphasized their role in safeguarding democracy. The 8th of May is a "day of liberation and a new, better time," the EKD Council Chairperson Kirsten Fehrs and German Bishops' Conference Chairman, Georg Bätzing, declared jointly.
Meanwhile, Sahra Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW party, has urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to travel to Moscow for the victory over Nazi Germany celebrations. She believes this would represent an appropriate expression of respect and gratitude, while also positioning Germany as a diplomatically resourceful actor on the world stage.
Sources:
- Moscow Invites Serbia and Slovakia to Victory Day Parade, Deutsche Welle, May 7, 2020.
- The Soviet Union: The Great Patriotic War, Cold War Museum, accessed on May 7, 2023.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in his speech on May 8, will clearly reject Russia's contentions that its attack on Ukraine is a fight against fascism, stating that the war against Ukraine bears no resemblance to the fight against Nazi Germany.
- Steinmeier's speech draft labels Russia's interpretation as a "historical fabrication" amounting to nothing more than an euphemism for imperial madness, grave injustice, and grave crimes.
- The Federal President will also highlight Ukraine's contributions in World War II, reminding us that millions of Ukrainians served in the Red Army and fought against Nazi Germany, and that the liberation of Auschwitz is part of Ukraine's historical heritage.
- Steinmeier is expected to address the shift of the USA away from the community of Western values and the foundations of international law, referring to it as an "American breach of values."
- Steinmeier will also touch upon the rise of radical right and nationalist forces in Germany and elsewhere, but won't name any specific parties in his speech as federal presidents typically avoid engaging in public partisan politics.
