German authorities are trying to avoid incidents during the Victory Day celebrations. Berlin has banned the use of Russian flags near Soviet memorials. However, for a large part of the citizens of Germany, Victory Day is of great importance. Therefore, despite the risks of provocations, many of them will go out to celebrate
Photo source: cdn.fishki.net
Germany has still banned the display of Russian and Soviet flags at memorials on May 9. A decision to this effect was passed by Berlin’s supreme administrative court the day before, RIA Novosti reported citing the German police.
We shall remind you that at the end of last week, the Administrative Court of Berlin lifted the ban on the use of Ukrainian flags in Berlin at the events on May 8 and 9 to mark the Victory Day. But the ban on the use of Russian and Soviet flags remains in force. The FRG lawyer Patrick Heinemann wrote about it on his Twitter (the social network is blocked in Russia).
It was initially announced that the use of Russian and Ukrainian flags in Berlin at the Soviet memorials in Treptow Park, Tiergarten and Schönholzer-Heide Park would be banned during the Nazi victory celebrations. It is also forbidden to sing marching and war songs at these memorials, or shout slogans “approving or glorifying” Russia’s military special operation in Ukraine.
The city’s police explained that such measures were taken to ensure “dignified commemoration of fallen soldiers of the Soviet army”. “This war (SMO – note by VZGLYAD newspaper) should not break stereotypes in Berlin, especially in connection with the symbolic date, should not go beyond democratic discourse and escalate into conflict or confrontation,” the law enforcement authorities said.
In Europe, Victory Day is celebrated on May 8, the day the German armed forces officially surrendered to the USSR and the Allies. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, so the surrender was agreed to by his successor Admiral Karl Denitz. Due to the fact that the surrender was signed in Reims at 10.30pm and took effect at 11.01pm, Victory Day is celebrated in Russia on 9 May because of the time zone difference.
At the same time, representatives of the Russian diaspora in Germany participate in rallies on 9 May. In recent years, the “Immortal Regiment” memorial procession has traditionally taken place in Berlin. Last year, the event ended peacefully except for a couple of incidents. After laying flowers at the Memorial to Fallen Soviet Soldiers, chanting “Thank you grandfather for the Victory”, “Fascism shall not pass” and “For the Victory”, there were several altercations between Ukrainian and Russian Berliners in the crowd.
“A large number of Russians and natives of Russia living in Germany will converge on May 9 to lay flowers at monuments to Soviet soldiers near the Brandenburg Gate and in Treptow Park. People will come to pay their respects to their ancestors. Those Germans who care about the ideals of friendship and reconciliation with Russia will also bring flowers to the monuments,” said German political analyst Alexander Rahr.
Rahr said there is less virulent Russophobia in Germany this year than in the past. Rahr is confident that the protesters are unlikely to violate police orders. “The German authorities will ignore the event, as they do every year… No pompous Victory Day celebrations, festivities and feasts are expected on May 9, as in previous years. But families will honour the memory of the dead and heroes of the Great Patriotic War in a quiet atmosphere”, said Rahr.
According to the interlocutor, wreaths and flowers will be laid at the monuments to Soviet soldiers, wrapped not only in the flags of Russia but also of Ukraine. “Ukrainians who are not Banderites will also come to commemorate their ancestors, though a day earlier, on 8 May,” the expert added.
However, the Russian-speaking diaspora is now split because of the hostilities in Ukraine, Rahr stressed. “The rift goes through families, leading to quarrels and divorces. There is also a very painful atmosphere in Orthodox churches. I admit that the Ukrainian diaspora will probably organise protests on May 9 in front of the Russian embassy, but the police will ensure order,” Rahr predicts.
“May 9 is considered in Germany, including – and among Russian Germans, as a day of liberation of the world from Nazism, fascism, and as a day of mourning for the dead. And this is despite propaganda in our media space, with the help of which people are trying to erase the memory of the victory and diminish the role of the Soviet Union. “I am glad that most Germans do not react to this propaganda,” said former Bundestag deputy from the Alternative for Germany, politician Waldemar Gerdt.
“There are more bans this year than before. But as far as I know, the Victory Banner has not fallen under the ban. I expect that many participants will march with it. On the whole, there are a lot of initiative groups and organisations in Germany that support the celebration of the 9th of May. It is unlikely that anyone will receive permission to hold the rallies, but our people do not need it either,” said the interlocutor.
“Those who go, of course, will be at great risk – they can, for example, be terminated from their rental agreement or fired from their job. In principle, in our country this is possible even for publicly expressing sympathy for Russia. Furthermore, members of the Ukrainian diaspora may organize provocations against them,” the speaker explained.
“Besides, the Ukrainian diaspora in Germany has strong administrative support. They are in the trend. Their communities, circles and blogs in the network are pumped with money. Therefore, on the anti-Russian wave they can afford bold actions against Victory Day marches. But the police will be able to nip such incidents in the bud,” Gerdt added.
“The bulk of those Germans and Russian-speaking people in Germany who always celebrate Victory Day, however, will gather in front of their homes, hold small picnics, remember the fallen, and toast to the victory and to the fact that such a war will never happen again. This is a special day for them,” he concluded.
Rafael Fakhrutdinov, VZGLYAD
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