Germany, Europe has marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War – DW – 08/05/2025

While Europe marks the day of the VE, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned against complacency. “The idea that it was only in history and that it does not matter now, is completely wrong,” he said, “these values ​​of freedom and democracy are counting today.”

The United Kingdom will mark the opportunity with services at Westminster Abbey – which King Charles III and his wife Camilla attended – followed by a minute of silence through the kingdom. A major concert at the Horse Guards Parade will be organized for 10,000 public members later in the evening.

Ally France will also mark the day with President Emmanuel Macron assisting in a ceremonial ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier of the Arc de Triomphe de Paris.

Despite the generalized recognition across Europe that May 8 is a day to celebrate an unprecedented phase of peace and freedom through the continent, today’s reality continues to throw a shadow of sadness.

While the relentless assault of Russia against Ukraine drags well in its fourth year and Europe is forced to massively stimulate defense expenses in the face of the assault of Moscow, European leaders continue to ring the alarm.

Among those who emphasize the disastrous situation, there is the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who declared on Wednesday to the legislators of the EU: “Once again, the war returned to our continent, once again, the cities are bombed, the civilians attacked, the families torn. Sovereignty, for democracy, just like our parents and our grandparents in the past. “

“The task that is seized today,” she said, “is the same as that of honoring it, protecting democracy, preserving peace.”

The new German Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, underlined the gratitude of Germany on Thursday to the Allied forces as well as the country’s responsibility to defend his hardly won freedom in Europe.

Wadephul said: “No day has shaped our history as May 8, 1945”, adding that it was the beginning of an “unprecedented peace phase” in Europe.

While recognizing that freedom was slow for many in Europe, Wadephul said: “Our freedom is the result of the enormous sacrifices of the Allied forces. For this, we are eternally grateful.”

Wadephul continued by saying: “The historic responsibility of this betrayal of civilization and the memory of the millions of victims of the Second World War launched by Nazi Germany make our responsibility to resolutely defend peace and freedom in Europe today.”

Not all Germans agree on the amount of recall in the history of Nazi crimes before and during the Second World War.

This division can be clearly visible in the infographic below, the supporters of the extreme right alternative for Germany (AFD) being much more likely to say that these crimes are too commemorated, while the supporters of the Left Party are more likely to say that the more must be done.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed a Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Kremlin Thursday before the massive military parade on Friday celebrating the end of the Second World War, which Russia celebrates on May 9. The two men have publicly affirmed their partnership, with Putin calling Xi his “dear friend”.

Putin repeated her assertion that the West distorted history in a way and declared that Russia and China would defend “historical truth”.

Putin, who sought to justify his war of illegal aggression in neighboring Ukraine by affirming that Moscow fights against the forces of neonazism, said: “With our Chinese friends, we will take care of the historical truth, protect the memory of the events of the years of war and counter-demonstrations of the demonstrations of neo-Nazism and militarism.”

China helped the efforts of the Russian war and has refrained from using its influence in Moscow to end the conflict, which began with a large -scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, and saw Moscow occupy large expanses of Ukraine.

The two then framed a wider image, Putin saying: “We develop our links for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and do not oppose anyone.”

XI, who said that China-Russia relationships became more and more confident, stable and resilient in this new era, added: “Faced with the international counter-current of unilateralism and hegemonic intimidation, China will work with Russia to assume the special responsibilities of the great world powers.”

The Second World War won tens of millions of lives and has devastated countless cities – including in Germany.

What places still testify to Nazi terror, where are the victims commemorated? Traces of the darkest chapter in German history.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the celebrations of the Second World War Victory Day in Moscow, where Russian chief Vladimir Putin welcomes 20 world leaders for a large military parade.

“It will be a parade of cynicism. There is simply no other way to describe it. A parade of bile and lies,” said Zelensky, while his country repels the invasion of Russia, now well in its fourth year.

The Ukrainian chief also used the opportunity to call to the allies to unite to fight against the assault of Moscow.

“Just as he did 80 years ago, when he finally became clear for everyone: evil cannot be appeased. He must be fought. Together. Resolutely. Force. With pressure,” Zelenskyy said in an address.

Follow our coverage for the last of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As an American soldier, George Leitmann, now 99, helped free Germany from national socialism.

Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, it seems a warning against the return of fascism.

Read George’s complete history and the warning here.

On May 8 marked a solemn day in Europe when the continent commemorates the end of the Second World War, a war which was launched by Nazi Germany and led to the death of tens of millions of people.

This number includes more than 6 million European Jews who have been murdered by the Nazi regime.

This year’s commemoration marks 80 years since Germany went to the allies and has come in the midst of warnings of an increase in anti -Semitism, racism and the extreme right in general through Europe.

Follow DW’s blog for the latest Berlin, London and Paris Thursday ceremonies.