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''Małgorzata Dąbrowska and Anne Sørensen''<br /> | ''Małgorzata Dąbrowska'' and ''Anne Sørensen''<br /> | ||
Edited by ''Christian Pletzing'' <br /> | Edited by ''Christian Pletzing'' <br /> | ||
World War II involved almost all of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region. Europe was the main field of battle and many countries in the Baltic Region were battlegrounds. The first countries in the Baltic Region involved were Poland and Germany, but in time all of the countries were drawn into the war with the exception of Sweden, which remained neutral. In 1944 the Third Reich began to fall as allied forces were winning battle after battle and all signs were pointing to German defeat. On 30 April 1945, Hitler committed suicide during the Battle for Berlin. On | World War II involved almost all of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region. Europe was the main field of battle and many countries in the Baltic Region were battlegrounds. The first countries in the Baltic Region involved were Poland and Germany, but in time all of the countries were drawn into the war with the exception of Sweden, which remained neutral. In 1944 the Third Reich began to fall as allied forces were winning battle after battle and all signs were pointing to German defeat. On 30 April 1945, Hitler committed suicide during the Battle for Berlin. On 7<sup>th</sup> of May in Reims, unconditional surrender was signed and the next day German forces surrendered in Berlin. Victory in Europe Day was established on 8th of May, but the Soviet Union and regions under its influence established Victory Day on 9th of May, according to Moscow Time. The differences between the World War II allies had become apparent even before the choice of the day of German surrender.<br /> | ||
Western Europe experienced Nazi occupation, while Eastern Europe faced two occupations – the Nazi and the Soviet. According to Winston Churchill’s famous speech in March 1946, Europe after World War II was divided into two parts by an Iron Curtain. Although for Western Europe, May 1945 might seem like liberation, for countries subjugated by the Soviet Union, it is not the only available interpretation. Celebrations in individual countries were shaped by which side of the Iron Curtain they were on. In countries dependent on the USSR, the date of 9<sup>th</sup> of May was celebrated, while in the others it was usually 8<sup>th</sup> of May. The day of Victory Day celebrations marked a form of enslavement for some countries.<br /> | Western Europe experienced Nazi occupation, while Eastern Europe faced two occupations – the Nazi and the Soviet. According to Winston Churchill’s famous speech in March 1946, Europe after World War II was divided into two parts by an Iron Curtain. Although for Western Europe, May 1945 might seem like liberation, for countries subjugated by the Soviet Union, it is not the only available interpretation. Celebrations in individual countries were shaped by which side of the Iron Curtain they were on. In countries dependent on the USSR, the date of 9<sup>th</sup> of May was celebrated, while in the others it was usually 8<sup>th</sup> of May. The day of Victory Day celebrations marked a form of enslavement for some countries.<br /> | ||
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Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were occupied by Soviet Russia from 1940, on the basis of an agreement between the USSR and the Third Reich, a secret annex to the protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.<br /> | Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were occupied by Soviet Russia from 1940, on the basis of an agreement between the USSR and the Third Reich, a secret annex to the protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.<br /> | ||
<loop_figure title="Museum of Occupation, Tallinn, Estonia" description="" show_copyright="true" copyright=" | <loop_figure title="Museum of Occupation, Tallinn, Estonia" description="" show_copyright="true" copyright="Photo: ZeekLTK, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tallinn_Museum_of_Occupation.jpg" id="5f5a33122d354"> | ||
[[Image:tallinn_museum_of_occupation.png]] | [[Image:tallinn_museum_of_occupation.png]] | ||
</loop_figure><br /> | </loop_figure><br /> | ||
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Examples of Antifascist-agitation against Volkstrauertag. From “Volkstrauertag Abschaffen!”, pamphlet from Antifaschistische Aktion Gotha, 2014. The arguments links to current German discussions of who were victims and who were perpetrators (''Opfer vs Täter'') during the Nazi era. <br /> | Examples of Antifascist-agitation against Volkstrauertag. From “Volkstrauertag Abschaffen!”, pamphlet from Antifaschistische Aktion Gotha, 2014. The arguments links to current German discussions of who were victims and who were perpetrators (''Opfer vs Täter'') during the Nazi era. <br /> | ||
<loop_figure title="'Volkstrauertag Abschaffen!', " description="pamphlet from Antifaschistische Aktion Gotha, 2014" show_copyright="true" copyright="Source: https://de.indymedia.org/2012/11/337534.shtml"> | <loop_figure title="'Volkstrauertag Abschaffen!', " description="pamphlet from Antifaschistische Aktion Gotha, 2014" show_copyright="true" copyright="Source: https://de.indymedia.org/2012/11/337534.shtml" id="5f5a33122d373"> | ||
[[Image:volkstrauertag_demo_2012.png]] | [[Image:volkstrauertag_demo_2012.png]] | ||
</loop_figure><br /> | </loop_figure><br /> | ||
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The executions of the captured resistance fighters were performed by shooting with rifles at the men, who were tied to wooden poles. Today this place is one of the monuments in Ryvangen, accompanied by a plaque with a verse by the Danish author and pastor Kaj Munk (1898-1944), who himself was killed by the Gestapo. In English translation the inscription is: “Boys you boys who died - you lit for Denmark - in the darkest gloom - a shining rosy dawn”. <br /> | The executions of the captured resistance fighters were performed by shooting with rifles at the men, who were tied to wooden poles. Today this place is one of the monuments in Ryvangen, accompanied by a plaque with a verse by the Danish author and pastor Kaj Munk (1898-1944), who himself was killed by the Gestapo. In English translation the inscription is: “Boys you boys who died - you lit for Denmark - in the darkest gloom - a shining rosy dawn”. <br /> | ||
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Speech 29<sup>th</sup> of August, 2003<br />To commemorate the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the end of the collaborative government, the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the liberal party Venstre gave a speech which caused intense discussions, because he criticised the Danish politicians for moral betrayal during World War II. He used this argument to defend an activist foreign policy and the Danish military participation in the Iraq War, which had started on 20<sup>th</sup> of March, 2003. | '''Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Speech 29<sup>th</sup> of August, 2003'''<br />To commemorate the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the end of the collaborative government, the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the liberal party Venstre gave a speech which caused intense discussions, because he criticised the Danish politicians for moral betrayal during World War II. He used this argument to defend an activist foreign policy and the Danish military participation in the Iraq War, which had started on 20<sup>th</sup> of March, 2003. | ||
:Ladies and gentlemen, | :Ladies and gentlemen, | ||
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:- From the web page Danmarkshistorien, danmarkshistorien.dk, Aarhus University. Translation: Anne Sørensen. Retrievable from https://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/anders-fogh-rasmussen-v-om-samarbejdspolitikken-29-august-2003/ | :- From the web page Danmarkshistorien, danmarkshistorien.dk, Aarhus University. Translation: Anne Sørensen. Retrievable from https://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/anders-fogh-rasmussen-v-om-samarbejdspolitikken-29-august-2003/ | ||
Hans Kirchhoff: “Fogh demonises history”, 16<sup>th</sup> of October, 2003 | '''Hans Kirchhoff: “Fogh demonises history”, 16<sup>th</sup> of October, 2003'''<br /> | ||
In his feature article from the Danish newspaper Information, Danish historian Hans Kirchhoff comments the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s speech. | In his feature article from the Danish newspaper Information, Danish historian Hans Kirchhoff comments the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s speech. | ||
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# Are there any World War II memorials or monuments close to you? When were they erected? How are events, people, etc. presented and depicted? Why? | # Are there any World War II memorials or monuments close to you? When were they erected? How are events, people, etc. presented and depicted? Why? | ||
# Is there a public holiday to commemorate end of World War II in your region? When and how do you celebrate? | # Is there a public holiday to commemorate end of World War II in your region? When and how do you celebrate? | ||
# Was there a change in the way of celebrating | # Was there a change in the way of celebrating 9<sup>th</sup> of May after 1989? What was the cause? How and why did it change? |
Małgorzata Dąbrowska and Anne Sørensen
Edited by Christian Pletzing
World War II involved almost all of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region. Europe was the main field of battle and many countries in the Baltic Region were battlegrounds. The first countries in the Baltic Region involved were Poland and Germany, but in time all of the countries were drawn into the war with the exception of Sweden, which remained neutral. In 1944 the Third Reich began to fall as allied forces were winning battle after battle and all signs were pointing to German defeat. On 30 April 1945, Hitler committed suicide during the Battle for Berlin. On 7th of May in Reims, unconditional surrender was signed and the next day German forces surrendered in Berlin. Victory in Europe Day was established on 8th of May, but the Soviet Union and regions under its influence established Victory Day on 9th of May, according to Moscow Time. The differences between the World War II allies had become apparent even before the choice of the day of German surrender.
Western Europe experienced Nazi occupation, while Eastern Europe faced two occupations – the Nazi and the Soviet. According to Winston Churchill’s famous speech in March 1946, Europe after World War II was divided into two parts by an Iron Curtain. Although for Western Europe, May 1945 might seem like liberation, for countries subjugated by the Soviet Union, it is not the only available interpretation. Celebrations in individual countries were shaped by which side of the Iron Curtain they were on. In countries dependent on the USSR, the date of 9th of May was celebrated, while in the others it was usually 8th of May. The day of Victory Day celebrations marked a form of enslavement for some countries.
Five of the Baltic Region countries were situated in Eastern Bloc, under Soviet supremacy. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were occupied by Soviet Russia in accordance with the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact from 1940 until German attack in 1941. After defeating the Nazi occupation, these three countries remained a part of the Soviet Union (although in Soviet narrative, the Baltic states voluntarily joined the Soviet Union). Poland and the German Democratic Republic (GDR – East Germany) stayed under the Soviet protection as satellite republics. Sweden and Finland did not stay under Soviet rule, and officially stayed neutral in the new division of Europe, and West Germany, Norway and Denmark joined Western world and became members of NATO. With the exception of the Scandinavian countries, liberation in 1945 was controversial.
The countries of the winning coalition were not a solid team. After victory over Germany, conflicts on the new division of Europe began and these conflicts soon became impossible to overcome. The Allies and Soviet Russia both began a show of strength and diplomatic eloquence, striving to maintain a fragile alliance. It was Winston Churchill who first used the term ‘iron curtain’ in relation to the postwar situation in Europe. His speech from Westminster College in Fulton (5th of March, 1946) became the symbolic beginning of the Cold War and the division of Europe into two hostile sides.
After 1945, Poland belonged to the Soviet sphere of influence and, just like in the rest of the Eastern bloc, it celebrated the Victory Day on 9th of May. Throughout the country, state celebrations were organised, combined with military parades and official speeches. Until 1950, it was also a public holiday. After the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989/1990, the state celebrations of this holiday were abandoned, but some of the towns (mainly located in the vicinity of military units) continued the tradition of celebrating this day. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, on the proposal of the President of the Institute of National Remembrance - Łukasz Kamiński: 24th of April, 2015. The lower house of parliament of the Republic of Poland adopted the law that the National Day of Victory is to be celebrated on 8th of May, simultaneously abolishing the National Day of Victory and Freedom celebrated on 9th of May.
National Day of Victory and Freedom by decree of 8th of May, 1945:
National Day of Victory celebrated on 8th of May, 24th of April, 2015
Justification for changing the names of the streets commemorating 9th of May from the pages of the Institute of National Remembrance
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were occupied by Soviet Russia from 1940, on the basis of an agreement between the USSR and the Third Reich, a secret annex to the protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
After Germany's attack on Russia, the Baltic States were occupied by Germany. When the USSR joined the Allies, soldiers of the Red Army freed these countries from the German occupation. Despite having no legal grounds to stay, the Soviet army did not leave the territory until 1990 and illegally occupied the Baltic states in accordance with the aforementioned protocol. The international situation of the Baltic states remained unresolved. Some countries did not recognise the incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR, while others accepted this hostile takeover.
Statement by the Acting Secretary of State of the United States of America, The Honourable Summer Welles, 23rd of July, 1940.
Appeal and Lord Nicholas Bethell – A Place to Stand by Anna Ferens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFSpEFnuG3s movie: Baltic
On 23rd of August 1979, the 40th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact, which was the basis for the Soviet occupation of the Baltic States from 1940, 45 citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent a public letter to the United Nations, Soviet Union, East and West Germany, and signatories of the Atlantic Charter. The main goal of the appeal was a public disclosure of the pact and its secret protocols and restoration of the independence of the Baltic states. The appeal had to wait and got only one answer from the European Parliament. A decision was made on 13th of January 1983 in support of its demands.
An article about Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt apologizing to Swedish neighbours, “Sweden 'indebted' to the Baltic states: Reinfeldt”, 16th of August 2011.
After the Iron Curtain fell and the Eastern Bloc countries regained their independence, some of them decided to rewrite their own history. The historical narrative has become independent from Russia and has often focused on the issues which had been previously omitted, i.e. unfavourable for Russia. Sometimes these changes have also brought changes in politics, culture and historical education. Russian officials sometimes accuse the United States and other Western countries of playing down the Soviet Union's massive contribution to the Allied victory, and President Vladimir Putin has often focused heavily on the Soviet role in his 9th of May speeches.
Parts of Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty article about celebrating Victory Day in Russia with West European leaders absent, “Putin Hits Out At U.S. In Red Square Parade Speech”, Last Updated: 9th of May, 2018
An official interview with President of Russia Vladimir Putin about Victory Day, 9th of May, 2015
In the aftermath of the World War II the defeated Germany was divided into two countries: The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), which became a democracy in the Western bloc, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR/DDR), which was integrated in the Warsaw Pact under Soviet dominance. Hence the two German narratives on May 1945 became very different during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the Reunification in 1990. In the GDR the commemorations were consistent with the post war narratives in other Communist states in Europe, where the USSR was described as the liberator from oppressive and unjust regimes. In both countries a tradition from 1920 in the aftermath of World War I was transformed. In the Weimar era, Volkstrauertag (People’s Day of Mourning) was inaugurated as a way to remember and honour the fallen soldiers and their families, as well as speaking for solidarity, reconciliation and friendship between nations. The date was decided to be the first Sunday (later the second) during Lent. After the Nazi government took over in 1933, national holiday legislation created Heldengedenktag (Commemoration of Heroes) and changed the focus from remembrance of the dead to worship of heroes, including demonstrating “the power and will to defence of The Third Reich”. Flags were no longer to be flown at half-mast, Christian elements and symbols were removed, and the celebrations evolved into massive Nazi propaganda shows. From 1939, it took place on 16th of March. After World War II, Volkstrauertag was reintroduced in West Germany, but to make a clear distance to the Nazi traditions, the date was moved to the end of the liturgical year (the Sunday nearest to 16th of November) instead of in the beginning, and the scope was widened to people who died from violence of an oppressive regime, not just war victims. In the GDR “Gedenkstunden für die Opfer des Faschismus” (Memorial Ceremonies for the Victims of Fascism) took place. Nonetheless, in official celebrations there was no focus on German soldiers and civilians who died in war. Victims of fascism were defined as Jews and Socialists/Communists, and the dead heroes were from the Soviet military. Since the Reunification of Germany, the new capital Berlin has been the arena for the central memorial ceremonies of Volkstrauertag, who follow the former Western German traditions. The aim of the day is described as being a way of expressing grief, consideration and reflection and advocating peace and reconciliation.
In West Germany, 8th of May 1945 was long regarded as a day of defeat, collapse and moral bankruptcy. It was not until the 1980s that the West German culture of remembrance began to change, so that 8th of May was also recognised as "Liberation Day". The much acclaimed speech by Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker on 8th of May 1985 made a major contribution to this process. To the present day, on the occasion of the commemoration of the World War II, discussions continue in Germany on how to distinguish between German perpetrators and German victims.
Das Totengedenken (the commemoration of the dead) is an official German text for use at Volkstrauertag, which has changed over time to include more victims. The text is read by the Bundespräsident in the Bundestag. This is the current version.
Opposition to Volkstrauertag
Examples of Antifascist-agitation against Volkstrauertag. From “Volkstrauertag Abschaffen!”, pamphlet from Antifaschistische Aktion Gotha, 2014. The arguments links to current German discussions of who were victims and who were perpetrators (Opfer vs Täter) during the Nazi era.
Speech by President Richard von Weizsäcker during the Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the End of War in Europe and of National-Socialist Tyranny on 8th of May 1985 at the Bundestag.
Denmark was occupied by Germany on 9th of April, 1940. During the first three years of occupation, the Danish government cooperated with the Nazi occupying power (protectorate government). After uprisings in August 1943 the government resigned, and an increasing resistance movement emerged, carrying out sabotage and anti-Nazi propaganda. On the night of 4th of May, 1945, German troops in Holland, North-Western Germany and Denmark surrendered to British troops, and from 5th of May at 8 a.m., Denmark was officially liberated. There was one exception: the island Bornholm, situated in the Baltic Sea, was occupied by Soviet forces who didn’t leave until 5th of April, 1946. The geostrategic position of the island combined with emerging tensions between the Allied forces made it difficult to reach a solution in 1945. Shortly after the war, Denmark was acknowledged as an allied partner and entered the UN and later NATO. In Denmark, liberation is celebrated on 5th of May with speeches, processions and wreath laying ceremonies at memorials, especially honouring the resistance fighters who lost their lives during the occupation. The night of 4th of May is by some people marked by putting candles in the windows to mark the removal of the blackout curtains, which were compulsory during the war. Since 1945 there have been many discussions on Denmark’s role during World War II, involving politicians, historians and the general public, and it has become one of the most controversial issues in Danish history. The pivotal points have been whether or not it was the right decision to cooperate with the Nazi occupiers; and the importance and extent of the resistance movement is also a topic of controversy.
Memorial park Ryvangen
In Ryvangen, north of Copenhagen, a memorial park was established in the summer of 1945 to commemorate fallen resistance fighters. During the occupation, German forces seized this military area and its barracks, and part of the drill ground was turned into an execution and burial site for Danish members of the resistance. Every year, there is a commemoration of the liberation on 4th and 5th of May, of the end of the collaboration with the Nazi occupation power on 29th of August, of the rescue of the Danish Jews in 1943 on 30th of September, and Christmas Eve is marked with speeches, songs and candle lights and flowers on the graves.
The executions of the captured resistance fighters were performed by shooting with rifles at the men, who were tied to wooden poles. Today this place is one of the monuments in Ryvangen, accompanied by a plaque with a verse by the Danish author and pastor Kaj Munk (1898-1944), who himself was killed by the Gestapo. In English translation the inscription is: “Boys you boys who died - you lit for Denmark - in the darkest gloom - a shining rosy dawn”.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Speech 29th of August, 2003
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the collaborative government, the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the liberal party Venstre gave a speech which caused intense discussions, because he criticised the Danish politicians for moral betrayal during World War II. He used this argument to defend an activist foreign policy and the Danish military participation in the Iraq War, which had started on 20th of March, 2003.
Hans Kirchhoff: “Fogh demonises history”, 16th of October, 2003
In his feature article from the Danish newspaper Information, Danish historian Hans Kirchhoff comments the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s speech.