Remembrance on May 8th: Bundestag excludes Russia from World War II commemoration

The Bundestag excludes the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus from the central commemoration on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on May 8. The parliamentary administration relies on a recommendation of the Federal Foreign Office, in which an invitation from representatives of these two countries are advised to do such memorial events.

Although the diplomatic corps, to which all the ambassadors accredited in Berlin, were invited, the press office of the Bundestag of the German Press Agency said on request. However, as usual, “the Federal Government’s assessment on the invitation of representatives” was taken into account. “This assessment caused the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Belarus not invited.”

Foreign Office fears instrumentalization of commemoration

The Federal Foreign Office had previously advised against the federal government, municipalities and commemorative councils to allow the participation of representatives of Russia and Belarus at the end of World War II. This was justified with the fear that Russia could “instrumentalize these events and to combine his attack war against Ukraine”.

Russian ambassador to commemorate Seelow’s heights

The Russian ambassador Sergei Netschajew took part in a memorial event on the Seelower Höhen east of Berlin on Wednesday. There, around 33,000 soldiers from the Red Army and 16,000 German and 2,000 Polish soldiers fell there at the greatest battle of the Second World War on German soil. Netschajew was not actively invited by the organizers, but was also not prevented from participating, but greeted in a friendly manner.

Ukrainian ambassador sees “mockery” of victims of war “

The Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makieev sharply criticized this procedure and encountered a Russian military badge that Netschajew wore the Sankt Georgs band. This is “a clear mockery of the victims – the victim of 80 years ago and the victims of today,” he told the dpa. The ambassador pointed out that 55 civilians, including 11 children, had recently been killed in the Russian attacks in Krywyj Rih and Sumy. “The man with the Georgs loop stands for the state who bears the sole responsibility for these war crimes,” said Makeieev.

From 2005, the Sankt Georgs band developed into Russia as the most important symbol of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The orange-black band also increasingly means support for President Vladimir Putin’s course. That is why the symbol in Ukraine is prohibited, other states of the former Soviet Union restrict the use.

Steinmeier holds the commemorative speech

The Bundestag officially announced the memorial event on Tuesday. “World War II was the most brutal and bloody war in history. We are reminiscent of and we don’t forget,” said the new Bundestag president Julia Klöckner. According to the information, the CDU politician wants to deal with the effect of war on women and teachings for today in a speech. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will hold the actual commemorative speech.

The representatives of the three other constitutional organs, i.e. the Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (SPD), Federal Council President Anke Rehlinger (SPD), which was then chosen according to today’s planning, will also take part in the commemoration lesson, and Stephan Harbarth.