Liberation from the Nazi dictatorship: Memorial lesson in the Bundestag at the end of the war 80 years ago

Complete military defeat, breakdown, liberation from the National Socialist dictatorship, new beginning – for all this is May 8, 1945. And at least in the western part of Germany, this day meant the start of a democratic future. The Bundestag comes together 80 years later for a memorial lesson to appreciate this historical cut.

Steinmeier wants to talk about teachings from May 8th for today

The central speech will give Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. What teachings are to be drawn from May 8th for today? According to the Federal Presidential Office, this will be a central question to which Steinmeier wants to give an answer. Bundestag president Julia Klöckner also wants to speak at the start.

In this context, Steinmeier will go into the Ukraine War and History Manipulation by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also wants to address the pressure on the international legal system not least by the US government of President Donald Trump and the strengthening of rights and nationalism in many western democracies.

Steinmeier wants to appeal to the citizens, not to be unsettled by it, explained the Federal Presidential Office. Rather, one should adhere to the principles of liberal democracy on the inside and the international community of states. Another message should be: there should be no conclusion. “Our story is a precious wealth of experience. We can trust this experience,” says Steinmeier on his website.

Ambassadors of Russia and Belarus not invited

The diplomats represented in Germany are also invited to the event in the Bundestag’s plenary hall, but not the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus. They are undesirable because of the Russian war of attack in Ukraine, although the Soviet Union was by far the most victims in World War II.

Capitulation certificate signed twice

The Second World War, unleashed by Hitler-Germany, demanded between 50 and over 60 million fatalities worldwide, the majority of them, of which. The Soviet Union met with around 27 million deaths. Germany lost about 6.3 million people, including many soldiers.

The war in Europe ended with the unconditional surrender of the German Wehrmacht, which came into force on May 8, 1945. Previously, British and American troops had occupied large parts of Germany from the west and Soviet soldiers from the east in losses. Many Ukrainians also fought in the ranks of the Red Army.

The championship certificate was signed twice-once in the French Reims and then again in the Soviet headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. It was already in Moscow after midnight, which is why Russia sees May 9th as the day of surrender.

80th anniversary is a unique holiday in Berlin

The 80th anniversary is a holiday in the state of Berlin. From the left point of view, it should become a nationwide legal holiday in order to give more space in Europe to commemorate the end of the Nazi dictatorship and the Second World War. “The day of liberation is already celebrated in many countries,” says a statement by the left-wing and parliamentary group of the left. “In addition to the day of the unit, also introducing a nationwide holiday in the sign of freedom, it would have a symbolic effect beyond our limits.”

The winning powers celebrate with military parades

The victory over National Socialist Germany is also celebrated in the capitals of the victorious powers. The largest military parade takes place in Moscow – but only on Friday. There was already a smaller parade in London on Monday.

Only in Washington there are no party plans. For this, US President Donald Trump wants to celebrate the date as “Day of the victory in World War II”-so far, May 8th in the USA was known as Ve Day (Victory in Europe).